"Personal Power"
TEXT: 2 Peter 1:5-7; John 15:5; Acts 2:38
TRUTHS:
1. Humanity is made in the image of God and possesses the power to change our temporary lives and circumstances. Every human has the power to change their: morality, knowledge, self-control, financial situation, health, friendships, ability to accomplish goals, and various other things in their personal lives. This is why many unbelievers have successful lives—they exercise their power to change the things listed above. On the other hand, believers can sometimes struggle in the above areas because they wrongly assume that God will just take care of those things for them.
2. Every person has faith (no matter what they believe). Faith is required to receive any and every worldview. No matter what that worldview may be, there is not a way to definitively prove it to be true. Therefore, faith is required. Christians, atheists, and those who adhere to other religions are all exercising faith.
3. In John 15:5, Jesus says that apart from Him we can do nothing. At first glance, this remark seems untrue (especially when we consider how much power we have to change the temporary world). Is Jesus mistaken or did He just forget that we are made in His image and possess that power? Neither. Jesus is talking about the eternal. The power we possess can only change the temporary world. When considering eternity and what happens after we die, we are powerless.
4. If you stand before God in judgment and are outside of Christ, you will not be judged based on your goodness (as many assume they will be). If someone is not united with Christ, they will be judged based on their potential for evil. No one can stand before God and make an appeal to be justified based on their personal goodness.
5. Resurrection power is required to impact our eternities. The temporary powers we possess won’t do anything neither will our attempts at goodness. So, how do receive resurrection power? Every person is required to repent to receive the Lord’s saving and resurrecting power (Acts 2:38).
TALK TO EACH OTHER: 1. What does it mean that every person outside of Christ will be judged based on their potential for evil? What factors limit or exacerbate that potential for evil?
2. How would you define what it means to repent? How would you explain it to someone who may not understand what it means to repent?
3. How should the children of God view their power to change the temporary world?
Pray as you feel led concerning the following area(s):
- Understanding repentance
- "Live Dead" Ministries / Bringing the gospel to unreached people groups
- Sudan (significant governmental changes could take place which would open up access for many unreached people groups to hear and be rescued by the gospel)