Faithfully July 2024: God is more powerful than any problem

I come before you today with hope. Lift up your heads. See with your own eyes that God is more powerful and present than any problem.

Didn’t God wake us up this morning? No one else keeps our hearts beating while we sleep. Wherever we sleep, in a building, tent or car, God gives us each breath. It’s not us who tells our arms and legs to move, to stretch and shake off tiredness. Also, we have a sense of which way is up. When we stand up, our physical body knows it’s place in space. We know balance and our relationship to other objects around us.

The same with your spiritual body. Imagine yourself lying on the couch. When you decide to get off the couch, you don’t roll over toward the couch’s edge and extend your hands toward the floor. You don’t propel yourself onto the floor hands first so that you end up doing a handstand. At least, that’s not usual. The usual way is to follow the way we have been shown by others, the way that works.

To apply this to our spiritual lives, sometimes we get tired. We just want to rest. We choose to stay home instead of going to church. We choose screen time as something that makes us feel good.

I know tiredness, but if we just stay on the couch, then time will continue and some day we’ll die. Our lives’ purpose will remain undone. What good will we have done? What will people say when they remember us?

I promised you hope. Help is available. You are not alone. The battle to wake up and get up is already won. Your part is to accept the victory. The victory is ours for the taking. The battle was fought on the cross of Jesus.

Someone had to take on death, face down the devil and accomplish our freedom. We couldn’t do it. Just like we can’t keep our hearts beating, we don’t have the power and authority to go toe-to-toe with Satan.

Jesus, the living son of the One and Only true God, wrestled the enemy and won. When we believe it, we can live that victory.

Believe: Jesus loves you so much, he fought to the death for you. Consider: He didn’t stay dead. He’s alive today. Ask Him if He’s the answer to your situation. Some of us should have been dead already, but God sent angels to protect us. Remember: Jesus loves you more than you can imagine.

Would you like to hear more about Jesus’ love and power? Victory Outreach Salem is offering a free car show, followed by a live show, “Blood In, Blood Out”, 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Salem Armory Auditorium, 2310 17th St. NE. Even before or after the event, if you want to talk, give us a call at 503-881-2550.