Message of the Week: The power of God

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the power of God in your life?

There is a woman named Hannah who would love to share that with you. We learn in 1 Samuel 2 that Hannah is barren and has been harassed mercilessly by the other woman in her husband's life. While the other woman had children, Hannah, who wanted to be a mother, desperately cries out to God as the other woman taunts her.

God grants the desire of Hannah's heart, and she gives birth to Samuel, who will be one of the most powerful people in the nation of Israel. He carries the temple through the trauma of an unfaithful family of priests, he is the last of the Judges, the first of the succession of prophets and founder of the school of the prophets where David learned psalmody while fleeing Saul.

Samuel anoints both the first and second king of Israel and continues to be the one God speaks through to guide and direct them. Talk about a proud mama! The power of God gave Hannah the desire of her heart plus more than she could ask, think or even imagine. God definitely has power to bless us.

God also has the power to judge.

We like to talk about the fact that we shouldn't judge each other, but the rest of that thought is that there is a Judge. We learn from this same passage that God judges pride and arrogance. We learn that God can send poverty and even death. Yes, our God has the power to both give and take life.

We also learn that he shatters those who oppose him. Sounds like the old version of God that we don't like to think of in our modern world, but God hasn't changed, only our perception of him.

The same God who has the power to judge found a way to get around the law where we were condemned to death. He found a loophole; we call it grace. He took our punishment so we could experience his best. As powerful as God is to judge, he offers us a way to participate in this grace so he can redirect that power into blessing.

God has the power to bless you in every way. God loves to bless. In fact, Scripture says God's eyes roam the Earth looking for those whose hearts are fully committed to him, so he can bless them. Those who have stumbled he blesses with strength. God blesses us by meeting needs, both physical and spiritual. He is our resurrection and our abundant life. God can provide the blessing of wealth and even honor and favor. If you have ever struggled to do the right thing, we also find in this passage that God will help you prevail. God's power to bless is limitless.

So, how do we unleash this power?

This is Christ the King Sunday.

When we talk about the Kingdom of God, we are talking about the place where God's will rules.

Who is king in you life? You or God? How is that working out for you? Do you want to see God's power unleashed in your life? It's not determined by karma or luck, but by the power of God to bless those who are faithful to him. God's blessing is limited only by your obedience. Blessings have long-term effects. God's power is unleashed in the world when we, his body, are ambassadors of his kingdom.

We fulfill our calling as ambassadors by submitting to his will and bringing his message to others. God's power is unleashed forever when he returns in power.

May you experience the power of God's blessings in your life, today and every day!

Yuba City First United Methodist Church 3101 Colusa Highway Yuba City, CA 95993