Being the Most Powerful Person in the Room

by Thomas Denegre

Today’s reading from Mathew 5:38-47

As a Christian, you are called to be the most powerful person in the room. I’m not talking about Bill Gates power, or President of the United States power, or a mafia boss power.  I’m talking about the power of God that is within us to change people and to change the world.  Let me tell you about Louie Zamperini.

In the true story called Unbroken, Louie Zamperini was an American Olympic runner from the 1936 Berlin Games.  In World War II his plane crashed in the Pacific and he spent 45 days adrift in a life raft. Hardly alive he was captured by the Japanese and was tortured for the next two years. Barely holding himself together after the war, he recounts his story to crowds of people.  But he must first numb himself with alcohol to tell his stories.  Living in a death-ward spiral in alcohol, Louie attended a Billy Graham crusade giving his heart to Jesus.  His life became transformed and renewed where he set up a powerful ministry transforming the lives of thousands. Truly, when his heart broke for Jesus, life, meaning, and power entered into Louie.

So let’s explore the nature of power.

To satisfy justice, Jesus explained the old way of tit for tat; or eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.  Throughout the ancient world the custom was revenge for a wrong against you.  This was the code of the sinner or the ungodly, (Psalm 1:1) who used their force of will upon one another. Force is not power.

We all know the outcomes of using the force of our will against another because for every push we impose we get one back.  Force always has a counter force.  Force seeks conflict and justification. Force is prideful, selfish, and brutish.  Force seeks to judge and condemn.  It results in polarization, not unity and its costs are high. Someone must always win or lose, whereby enemies are created requiring a constant defense. Being defensive is always costly as the anger, bitterness, envy, lust, and resentment will result in negative outcomes personally and culturally. This is the way of the sinner, the ungodly person, and the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23

Then Jesus tells us how to become the most powerful person in the room.  He said we must love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, “that you may be the children of your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:45) Finally, Jesus said, “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”(Matt 5:48)

Being perfect throws us all off, because we think it’s impossible.  Yet, we know our loving Father would never set us up for failure.  The Greek word here is 'teleios' and it can mean ‘perfect’ but it is more usually used to refer to maturity or wholeness. Research indicates the writers of the Vulgate translated the word into ‘perfectus’, when it really means “to be complete.” Or, to be made whole.

To understand this mystery the Lord brought to my attention two pieces of artwork.  In Japan, Kintsugi artwork will deliberately break a pottery bowl and mend it back with gold transforming it into a unique beauty.  The other artwork shows major cracks in a human sculpture with bright light shining through it.

The answer becomes obvious.  It is through our brokenness that our creator makes us whole and complete with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our brokenness does not come in our destruction, but when we open our hearts to God's love and trade in our pride for humility. In the same way, Louie didn’t become transformed and powerful until he opened his heart to Jesus. 

We become a unique beauty that radiates the light and power of God’s love.  By dying to Jesus, we admit to our brokenness, humility, failure, and incompleteness. We just can’t do things without God. By being born again, we become saints, (Eph.2:1-10) who are set apart to be with God. By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within us, the power of God transforms us while His power radiates through our cracks into to the world.

When Jesus said, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one,” (John 17:20-23) we become the most powerful person in the room as the same glory of God that filled Jesus, fills us.  Did not Jesus say we will be doing greater things than himself? (John 14:12)  By being broken to God, His glory and power is allowed to complete us and to transform.

As a son or daughter of God we must understand the power of God’s glory is within us. Unlike the sinner’s (ungodly) use of force, a son (saint) of the light knows God’s power is rooted in love, meaning, significance, and purpose. Rather than having a counter-power, power stands still. It is like a standing field, such as gravity, that does not move, for love, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, compassion, and generosity are always received and never reacted to.

By being in God’s power we find nobility of purpose and sacrifice are inspirational, giving life significance. Like water filling a sponge, God’s glory completes us, enables us, and nourishes us.  God’s power is self-evident in that life is more important than death, that honor is preferable over dishonor, that the constructive is preferable over the destructive, that forgiveness is preferable over revenge, and that mercy is preferable over judgment and condemnation.

We become the most powerful person in the room by allowing our brokenness or humility to reveal God’s power through non-judgmental love, understanding, mercy, and forgiveness. By extending these powerful forces to friend and foe alike, we allow God to disarm them while soothing their wounded heart.  By living in life union with Jesus, we are given the ability or power to see people as God sees them.  Compassion, wisdom, and mercy will arise in our hearts from Jesus to make us the most powerful person in the room to transform lives such that, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Transformed into His Likeness? Glory!

Romans 12: 1-2 – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

These are two of my favorite verses in the Bible. Note I didn’t say easy-to-do verses but loved nonetheless because they have given great hope that I can change.  As I give myself to God, I no longer need to hang onto dealing with life the way I used to – as those in the world who don’t know the Lord continue to do.  I no longer need to live in fear, feeling like I am on my own, making decisions based on my best guess.  In other words, I am called to live a counter-cultural life [ie transformed], as I was reminded by Pastor Buff in this sermon series.

I am being transformed to reflect Jesus’ glory: He is the radiance of God’s glory; I reflect that glory as I live in and with Him, being changed into His likeness by His Holy Spirit (see 2 Cor 3:18).  What a glorious thought!

I am reminded of the song, “I Will Change Your Name.”

I will change your name.

You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast, lonely, or afraid.
 
I will change your name.
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one,
Faithfulness, friend of God, one who seeks my face

(and I might add, “One who bears My name”).

 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the hope of transformation, the promise of a new name, and the glorious joy of being a reflection of your Son’s glory. Amen

God Most High

Genesis 14:18-19 (NIV)
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
and he blessed Abram, saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth. Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The first temptation for this writer when praying about what God wanted written on these verses, was to address the mystery of Melchizedek. I must admit I did do a little research and was fascinated by some of what I read, but, this text isn't about the enigmatic person of Melchizedek. The readings this week are all about God Most High.

God delivered Abram's enemies into his hands and Abram returned as conqueror. Kings turned out to celebrate Abram's return and the king of Sodom was among them as was Melchizedek the king of Salem, a priest of God Most High.

Abram was God's servant and he gave God the honor and glory for the victories he and his armies enjoyed. We all need to practice this type of humility. When God fights for us and gives us triumphs we must point to Him and not to ourselves. My accomplishments in this life are not because of who I am, but because of whose I am.

Humility takes the focus off of us and our deeds, so that when people look at us they will see what God has accomplished in our lives.
Genesis 14:17-24

Coming Before Our God

Psalm 95:1-7

What does coming before God mean and what does it look like?

At times it may be on your knees, head in your hands and tears in your sorrow filled heart.

Another time it could look more like grateful hands raised upward for all God has offered you.

Possibly the first thing in the morning in the quiet of your favorite room, you engage in silent conversation with the Savior.

We present ourselves before the Lord in many ways and for numerous reasons, but let us be reminded that regardless of our location or stance, we are to preface our prayer and petitions with praise.  

Psalm 95:1-7 reminds us;

“Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.”

“”Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under His care.”

No matter what our prayer may be addressing, when we go to Him, we are acknowledging God as our Maker and caretaker.

Throughout the Bible, references are made to the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth.

Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Lord, we praise and worship you for all that you are and always will be. We honor your unconditional love for us, and unending faith in this world. Glory to you, oh great and mighty one!

Read/Listen to Psalm 95:1-7 

God at Work in People

                                                                    Acts 8: 26-40

God is consistently vigilant. He works through us. Many are used for His purpose, who have no idea they are a vehicle for the Lord. Our Savior utilizes situations both joyous and devastating to impact the lives of his beloved.

I urge you to search your heart and memory. Depending on your age, you may have more memories than you can recall. That’s ok. We will all be there at some point. When have you been at work for God?

As it states in Matthew 25: 31-36, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on the throne in heavenly glory………..He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the king will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Matthew 25: 40; “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

We are all coming from our own place in this world, and if we are still and listen to the Lord, can be honest about where we stand with Him. Each individual created by God has been dealt their own hand to play, and as Chuck Swindoll is often quoted: “Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we respond to it.” Our circumstances may be difficult, challenging, devastating, comfortable, pleasant, and even euphoric at times, but no matter where we are now, it will not last. Life is a journey of hills and valleys. We are to give, share, and pour out our help to others when we can.

Philip took the opportunity in Acts 8 to explain the scripture reading to an Ethiopian official, and he in turn was baptized and received the spirit. We may not be baptizing and preaching the gospel in the same way Philip did, yet the way we conduct our daily lives is a testimony to who we are and whom we serve.

Read/Listen to Acts 8: 26-40 

Using Our Gifts

Acts 6: 1-7

We are all gifted. Some of us seem to have gotten in the right line and received many more gifts than others, but the fact is, we have all been blessed with the talents God intended for us. At what point we discover, and put these talents to use is our choice.

1 Peter 10:4 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

In today’s passage, seven men were chosen because they were known to be “full of the spirit and wisdom.” They combined their energy and together caused the number of disciples in Jerusalem to increase rapidly.

We do not have to be “full of the spirit and wisdom” to be a warrior for Christ (though it might help).  We simply need to make ourselves aware of the grace of God, and what vehicle he has given us to use as a means to serve Him, serve others, and bring honor and glory to Him.

In order to live a life of service, we are not required to be missionaries, pastors, or elders. We must be who we are, growing where we have been planted, and sharing the good news with a sincere heart. 

“Let The Glory Of the Lord Shine Among Us!”

Read/Listen to Acts 6:1-7

Prayer is Working

Psalm 114:7 (NIV)  "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob..."

We are brought to our knees when finally we recognize the power and majesty of our God.  Reading the jaw-dropping stories of creation and deliverance from the books of Genesis and Exodus, we come face to face with a great big God. But a God whose moves not only peppers the sky with billions of stars and parts formidable seas, but a loving God who also removes small roadblocks we encounter.

When we turn to God daily for our needs, He cares and will respond.  When we are watching for Him, it doesn't take long before we recognize His hand in our lives.  He is not like a puppeteer, pulling our strings and moving us along the path he has selected.  He is like a parent who wants us to choose, who has been preparing us for the day we can take off our training wheels and navigate the road, keeping our balance with only a hand here and there, extended for support.

What is waiting in the wings this week?  We don't know our future, we don't have a clue what might take us by surprise, but God does.  But also, there is nothing we can't overcome with God's help.  These are easy words to say but they are true.

To tremble at God's presence means to recognize God's complete power and authority and our frailty by comparison.                                                               Life Application Study Bible.

Read/Listen to Psalm 114,115,116