August 19, 2023 … Jesus = God’s Power …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 232 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Lincoln Brewster singing … There Is Power … powerfully singing of how there is nothing less than God’s power in the name of Jesus.

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Highlight Passage: … Mark 4:41 [NLT] … 

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” 

… The disciples in the storm were astounded to see Jesus had the power to calm the life-threatening storm, which they could see was the power of God in this man Who was leading them.                                           

                         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Mark 4:35-41 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… John Mark’s testimony and witness of Jesus calming the life-threatening storms on the Sea of Galilee.                                                                .                     

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Reference Passage: …Matthew 28:18 [NLT] …  

18 Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 

… Jesus declares to His disciples (and to us) that God has given Him all authority and power from His Heavenly Father, creator of all.    

Reference Passage: …Acts 1:8 [NLT] …  

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  

… Jesus charges that God’s power will come upon all believers in Jesus as LORD.  

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 1:7 [NLT] …  </b>

 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy (and all Christians) that we Christians need not fear in life because we have been given God’s power thru His Spirit.    

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 1:2-3 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews declares the truth the eternal-heavenly power of God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ.    

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 1:3 [NLT] …  

3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence..  

… Peter teaches fellow Christians that our faith in Jesus as Lord gives us Christians all the power we need, thru God’s Spirit, the more intimately we know Jesus.  .

                                                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon  … AT THIS LINK … uses the story of Nik Wallenda, who in 1913 walked on a wire over a 1400 ft gorge over the grand canyon, … all the time praying to Jesus to calm his spirit and give him the skill to complete the dangerous walk. … which, BTW, he did.     

And one of the biblical parallels to the Wallenda story would, of course, be Mark’s witness and testimony of Jesus rising from His nap in their boat to calm the seas in that life-threatening storm, … much to the amazement of His disciples, many of whom were fishermen.  The disciples saw God’s power on display in this man, this man, Who had been leading them for quite some time, … seeing Him display the very power of God; and finally recognizing - at least partially -  that this “Jesus” was, in reality, their Messiah. 

But do we recognize, as the linked song teaches, … that we have in us - as Christians - the very power of God, … the power which raised Jesus from the dead.  And if any reader here with me has taken in - and meditated upon - the Scriptures above, … and like me, you believe God’s word is truth, … we have to come to the conclusion that many - if not most of us - have not utilized the power of Jesus in our lives the way HE, our Lord, has provided for our us.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your power to use in the storms of life.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use Your power in our storms, Lord.    … AMEN 

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.