Christ the power and wisdom of God

“To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:24.

People today run after two things: miraculous signs and wonders, and knowledge. It was no different in Bible times. The apostle Paul acknowledged that “Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom”. (1 Corinthians 1:22). So when Paul preached Christ crucified as God’s solution to them, the message was “to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness”. (1 Corinthians 1:23) They didn’t understand how getting a revelation of Jesus and His death could give them the miracles they needed or the wisdom they wanted.

Beloved, we don’t have to run after miracles or wisdom today. We just need to run after Jesus because He is “the power of God and the wisdom of God”. The more we know Christ and Christ crucified, the more we will have the power and wisdom of God. Several church members have shared how they have seen the power of God blast financial debts out of their lives. Not knowing what to do about their debts, they looked to the Lord to deliver them. And the Lord was able to do so mightily because He is indeed the power of God. So if you are facing a financial debt, Christ has the power to remove the debt. And because He is also the wisdom of God, He will show you where you went wrong and teach you how to stay out of debt.

My friend, Christ is both the power and wisdom of God to us. As the power of God, He removes obstacles in our paths. As the wisdom of God, He continually directs our paths.

He sets the course for victory

“He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones” – Proverbs 2:7-8.

Are you facing a challenge or difficulty that seems overwhelming? When you stand strong and remain faithful to God, He promises to set your course for victory. And victory doesn´t necessarily mean everything is going to go our way all the time or work out the way we planned. The Bible says that the real battle we face isn´t in our circumstances, it´s in our minds. The enemy is after your thoughts. He´s after your peace and joy. He knows that when you have peace, it´s a sign that you are connected to the Father. When you hold on to your peace and choose to be joyful, you are walking in victory, and it´s just a matter of time before your circumstances line up.

Remember, God knew every person who would wrong you, and He´s already laid out your vindication. God knew every disappointment, and He´s already laid out new opportunities. God knew everything that would be stolen, and He has already laid out your restoration. Rejoice today knowing that He has set your course for victory in every area of your life.

Stay open for a new thing

“Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” – Isaiah 43:19.

If we are going to be all that God created us to be, we have to be open to change. Just because something worked five years ago doesn´t mean it´s still going to work today. We can´t get so set in our ways that we won´t try anything new. Many people today have lost their enthusiasm, or there´s no freshness in their life because every time an opportunity comes for change, for promotion, for increase, they shrink back because they´re not used to it. They don´t realize that´s what´s keeping them from going to the next level.

One thing I´ve noticed about successful people is that they know how to change with the times. They don´t get stuck in a rut doing the same thing, the same way, year after year. They´re constantly evaluating where they are and what they´re doing. They make adjustments so they can improve.

Decide today to stay open for the new thing God wants to do in your life. Remember, He´s promised to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Look for the new thing so that you can fulfill the destiny He has prepared for you.

Surrender

Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. —Matthew 16:25.

As a young girl, Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) wished she had blue eyes instead of brown. She even prayed that God would change her eye color and was disappointed when it didn’t happen. At age 20, Amy sensed that the Lord was calling her to serve Him as a missionary. After serving in various places, she went to India. It was then that she realized God’s wisdom in the way He had made her. She may have had a more difficult time gaining acceptance from the brown-eyed people if her eyes had been blue. She served God in India for 55 years. We don’t know for sure that Amy was more readily accepted because of her eye color. But we do know and believe that it is the Lord “who has made us, and not we ourselves” (Ps. 100:3). As we submit to His wisdom in everything, we can serve Him effectively.

Amy knew what submission was. When asked about missionary life, she replied, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.” Jesus said, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25).

Our lives are never more secure than when they are abandoned to God.

The Baseball game

Bob was caught up in the spirit where he and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.The next batter was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly Wisdom does not swing at Satan’s pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at Satan’s throws.The bases were loaded. The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said she sure did not look like much!

Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the air, let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head, and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord’s team won.

The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why. The Lord explained, “If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My grace can get you home. My grace is the one thing Satan cannot stop.

Stumbling block to stepping stone

“For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…” – Proverbs 24:16a.

Life is full of things that try to push us down. We all face disappointments and setbacks. Maybe you got some bad news concerning your health or maybe some other problems. That was a setback. It’s easy to get discouraged or lose your enthusiasm or even be tempted to just settle where you are. But if we’re going to see God’s best, we have to have a “bounce back” mentality. That means when you get knocked down, you don’t stay down. You get back up again. You have to know that every time adversity comes against you, it’s a setup for a comeback.

Remember, as a believer, the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you. There is no challenge too difficult, no obstacle too high, no sickness, no disappointment, no person, nothing that can keep you from your God given destiny. If you stay in faith, then God will turn what was meant to be a stumbling block into a stepping stone, and you’ll move forward as a champion full of faith and victory.

Stored up blessings

“Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” – Psalms 31:19.

Scripture talks about how God has blessings stored up for those that honor Him. Think about that. The question is, how do you see them released? Number one: by honoring God and keeping Him first place. Number two: by making room for them in your thinking by faith. You’ve got to believe that something big is in your future. You’ve got to declare His promises over your life. You have to see with your eyes of faith what God can do.

Why don’t you take the limits off God and say, “God, I don’t see how this could happen, but You are God. I know You have blessings that already have my name on them. Lord, I just want to thank You for Your far and beyond favor.” If you live like that, you will see God amaze you with His goodness, and you’ll receive those blessings He has stored up for you.

No Regrets

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10

I read a report from a nurse who takes care of people who are close to death. She asked hundreds of patients in the last twelve weeks of their life what their biggest regret was. The number one regret reported was, “I wish I had been true to who I was and not just lived to meet the expectations of others.”

How many people today are not being true to who God created them to be simply because they are afraid they’re going to disappoint somebody? They’re afraid they may fall out of someone else’s good grace. They worry about not being accepted into a certain group. I say this respectfully, but you cannot live trying to be who your parents want you to be, or who your boss wants you to be, or who your friends want you to be. You’ve got to stay true to who God has called you to be.

Today, make the decision to live life with no regrets. Surrender yourself wholeheartedly to who God created you to be. Let Him mold and shape your character. Let Him order your steps. As you submit your ways to Him, He will shine down on you, and you will live the fulfilled, abundant life He has prepared for you.

Time for God’s Favor

“That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life…” – Joshua 4:14.

I love the promise that God gave to Joshua. He said, “Joshua, today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites.” God was saying, “Today, I’m going to start releasing more blessings and increase.” But notice, there was a specific time in his life that God began to release favor in a new way.

Believe God wants to do the same thing for you. He wants to release His blessing and favor in such a way that it makes you great in every way. God is saying to us what He said to Joshua, “This day I’m going to begin to make your name great. I’m going to open the doors that no man can shut.” It is a set time for God’s favor. Get ready, make room in your thinking. Stay open to Him and keep an attitude of faith and expectancy because the time of God’s favor is here.

You are already Blessed

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1.

Today’s verse doesn’t say that the glory of the Lord is going to come on you one day, it says God’s glory is already on you. The word “glory” in the original language indicates, God’s favor, blessing and splendor is on you in a heavy way. It’s something that is tangible and has weight. Think about it this way, You are not less than, intimidated or weak; you are heavy with God’s favor. You are dripping with God’s goodness.

When you really understand that you are heavy with favor, then it’s easy to be heavy with expectation. It’s easy to believe for big things when you know God has favored you in a big way. It’s time for you to arise. It’s time for you to shine. Let that sink down into your spirit today because it’s time for you to arise and shine because His glory, His favor is heavy upon you.