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The Power of the Gospel
• Jeff Weddle • Romans 13:11–14, 1 Peter 5:8–11, Ephesians 1:7–23
The New Testament talks about power in the gospel. We might be tempted to think the gospel just has to do with getting saved—"I believe the story about Jesus, and then when I die I get to go to heaven." This view almost makes the gospel seem irrelevant for life.
Why do we need the gospel’s power? The gospel (the “good news”) is about so much more than what happens after we die. It’s about Jesus defeating the brokenness that has invaded His good creation, restoring His people to new life, and defeating death forever as He reigns as King. It means the hurt we see in the world, the sins that overtake us, and Satan’s evil work will all be crushed beneath the scarred feet of Jesus Christ. The gospel is powerful!
In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he talks about this gospel power. One reason God gives us power in the gospel is because we live in enemy-occupied territory. The Christian has three enemies: 1) our own sinful desires; 2) the sin
that has invaded the world, including lies, false philosophies, and sin-driven peer pressure; and 3) Satan, the prince of the power of the air, our great accuser who prowls around seeking someone to devour (Ephesians 2:2-3; 1 Peter 5:8).
How am I, with my little arms, going to fight against my sinful desires, the world’s broken system, and Satan and his forces? There’s no way on my own. But in the gospel, I am not on my own. I have put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14) and the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). He is always working His good purposes. He brought us victory through His life, death, and resurrection, and He promises to return to fully establish His kingdom, defeating sin, death, and Satan forever. With the same power that raised Christ from the dead at work in me (Ephesians 1:19-20), I can have victory over sin, the brokenness in the world, and the devil.
Paul prays for the church in Ephesus, not that they would get power, but that they would know the power they already have (Ephesians 1:15-19)! If you know Jesus, you already have His power. The Holy Spirit dwells in you, empowering you to follow Jesus and to rest in the hope of the victory He has already won. • Jeff Weddle
• Why do you think God would want to give us power?
• Where do you see brokenness at work in the world? In yourself? How can Jesus bring hope and healing to these places?
I pray...that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 < May 05, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
Like the Palm Tree
• Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Ephesians 3:14–21, Proverbs 10:30, Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17:7–8
I happen to live in a coastal area that is very windy. Oftentimes, the strong winds cause a lot of destruction by blowing away house roofs and destroying trees and crops in the gardens. At one time, the winds ravaged my maize garden, leaving the maize plants bent. So, I had to get sticks to support them so they would not fall flat and get completely uprooted.
However, I have noticed one particular tree that is never shaken by the winds— the palm tree. When other trees are torn out by the wind, the palm tree remains in its position, unmoved because of its deep roots that give it stability.
On our own, we are all like maize, easily bent and broken by the winds of life. But Jesus makes us like the palm tree. Proverbs 10:30 says, “The righteous will never be uprooted.” While all people do wrong and none of us can be righteous, Jesus—God in flesh—came to die on the cross for us and raise from the dead so that we could “become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we put our trust in Jesus, He dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. His power holds us fast. In Him, we are “rooted and established in love” (Ephesians 3:17).
In life, there are many winds that blow against us and cause us to fear, or even to wonder if God is really good. From strained relationships, to illness in our families, to financial hardship and natural calamities...so many things cause us stress and threaten our stability. When we feel like we are being blown away by the strong winds of life, when we need an arm to lean on for support, God is there. He holds us up (Isaiah 41:10), and He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-13). He also makes us part of His family, the church, so we can help hold each other steady when the winds come.
As Christians, we can be encouraged that we are deeply rooted in Christ, and we have our stability in Him. No matter how strong the winds may blow, nothing can move us from our position in Him (John 10:27-30). We will stand, and when the winds have stopped blowing, we will remain in our position in Christ Jesus (Matthew 7:24-29). • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni
• What has been causing you stress lately? Jesus invites us to bring all these things to Him in prayer. We can lay them at His feet, knowing He is big enough to take care of them all.
• What helps you when you’re stressed? Who is a trusted Christian you feel comfortable talking to about what you’re going through, such as a pastor, counselor, parent, teacher, or coach?
The righteous will never be uprooted. Proverbs 10:30a (NIV))
