OUR ALMIGHTY POWER SOURCE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.

1 Chronicles 11:4-9

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

After David was anointed and declared Israel’s king, he didn’t waste any time claiming the holy city of Jerusalem for God and his people.

Of interest, we read where Jerusalem wasn’t even called that at the time. The city was called Jebus mostly because the Jebusites were its inhabitants. As David approached with his Israelite army, the Jebusites expressed a confidence that they would be able to repel Israel’s new king and his men. I’m sure what the Jebusites hadn’t factored in was that God was with the Israelites and His power was far more than they could ever start to withstand. In other words, the battle was won before it started.

And so it was. David and the Israelites made quick work of the Jebusites and captured the fortress, calling it the city of David. It is also referred to as Zion with 1 Chronicles, Chapter 11 being the first place in the Bible we see the name used.

Because Joab had led the successful attack on the Jebusites, he was appointed commander-in-chief over the Israelite forces and while David was building up the city around the fortress from the terraces to the surrounding, protective wall, Joab was busy restoring the rest of the city which would become Israel’s holy center.

David was fully entrenched as Israel’s leader and scripture tells us that once in Jerusalem, his power grew, not because of his own might but rather because the Lord was with him.

This is a great encouragement for us today as we read about David’s successful ascent. For we have available to us a power source unlike any made my man, a power source that is unlimited and almighty. That power source is the Lord

How unlimited and almighty?

Think about the opening words of the Bible.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1

What greater display of power have we seen than this?

God, with the power of His hands, made the amazing expanse of the heavens of which no one knows the limits. That would have been incredible enough but He wasn’t done there for the earth was next and we should stand awestruck every day in considering that what we know about our world was all put in place by the power of a Master Designer, a Master Designer who was just getting started. You only need to read through the rest of Genesis, Chapter1 (and I recommend you do regularly), to continue to gain a full appreciation for what God’s power made possible.

Again, that power source is always available to those who place their faith and trust in the God who created them.

What do we gain by God’s power? The scriptures easily answer the question.

1. We gain hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

2. We gain strength.

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

3. We gain confidence.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:17

4. We gain ability.

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

5. We gain blessings.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

6. We gain eternal life.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 1 Corinthians 6:14

David gained prominence because the Lord was with him. God had selected him to rule over Israel and as long as David placed his trust in God, God would ensure he was empowered to succeed.

The Bible refers to others who benefitted from the power of God:

1. Jotham, a king who would later rule over Judah after the kingdom of Israel became divided.

Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6

Like David, Jotham led under the authority of the Lord, steadfastly walking with Him as he led Judah and as a result gaining power.

The same will happen for anyone else who is in a position of leadership and walks steadfastly with God in the performance of their duties.

2. Daniel as he turned to God to help him interpret the dream of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar:

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king.”  Daniel 2:23

Daniel was in a tough situation. The king wanted him to interpret his dream. Daniel couldn’t do that without God’s help and that help came in the way of power and wisdom from God to be able to share the true meaning of what He had imparted on the mind of the king.

3. Mary, a virgin who would conceive the Savior of the world through the power of the Lord’s Holy Spirit:

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”  Luke 1:35

God’s power can do amazing things, even plant the seed of a Savior into a willing, humble virgin woman who was fully committed to His service.

5. Stephen, one of the seven men selected to assist the apostles in caring for the people so they would be freed up to perform their gospel ministry.

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8

We read more about Stephen that any of the other six men chosen to include his execution by stoning for his belief and trust in Jesus. Before that death, Stephen left a lasting impression, performing great signs and wonders among the people, and in doing so, displaying the very power of God that he was filled with.

Friends, we’re not living a life that is void of power. We can gain all the strength we need to make it through whatever circumstances we might face. We can do amazing things, not by our own might but by the might of God given to us. We can be miraculously empowered by God for special purposes, leaving others in awe and amazement. We can gain a wisdom and understanding beyond what this world can comprehend.

All we need do is walk steadfastly with God, placing our full hope in Him. This will ensure we are always plugged into our almighty power source, now and forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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