Experiencing the Power of God
God’s Power is Dependent on Faith – Part III

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:53-58

Key Verse: Matthew 13:58
And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

In his writings, the Apostle Peter is very clear about the essential element of our faith when it comes to experiencing God’s power:

And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (1 Peter 1:5)

This verse says that God wants to protect us by His power. It might sound like a silly question but what do we need protecting from?

We need protecting from our own weaknesses like our tendencies to fear, worry, and get angry. We want protection from physical dangers, as well, but physical dangers are not as frequent as the negative emotions that plague us. The good news is that whatever the dangers are, God has the power to protect us.

It is the first four words of this verse that I want to zero in on: “And through your faith…”. This promise of protection is only for those who have put their faith in Jesus and walk daily in that faith.

When fear starts to consume your thoughts, there is only one way to truly fight that fear… by your faith in God’s promises. When worry and anxiety cover you like a dark cloud, it is your faith in God and your faith in His promises that can clear those clouds away. When someone treats you poorly at work or someone cuts you off on the road to your work, only one thing can slow your anger and help you respond as a loving Christian … it is your faith in the words of the Bible, God’s Word!

Let’s get brutally honest, when we are living with anxiety, fear, or anger, the problem is not God and His promises. Read what the Bible says about God’s promises:

For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the One whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” He always does what He says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory. (2 Corinthians 1:19-20)

Once you believe that God tells the truth then you can work on the real problem, which is your faith. Let the Apostle Peter’s words ring in your ears: “And through your faith…”.

God knows that your fears, anxieties, and frustrations are unnecessary, He knows that He has the answer to all your problems.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery programs know that “denial” stops people from moving forward. Denial that our faith is weak stops God from doing all that He wants to do in our lives!

Father, help me to grow my faith in Your promises. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.