HOPE, INHERITANCE AND POWER, A THREE-FOLD LOVE GIFT FROM GOD

HOPE, INHERITANCE AND POWER, A THREE-FOLD LOVE GIFT FROM GOD
Text: Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
“18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength…”One of my pastorates was on the east coast 13 miles from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Oh my, what an educational place to pastor. I still have many friends that live there, like Jeff McDowell and Don Hedman who are still working at the Kennedy Space Center, more commonly known as “The Rocket Ranch”. Whenever there was a Space Shuttle launch, all the surrounding towns swelled by the thousands. When there was a night time Shuttle launch, or when word slipped out about a “Delta” rocket night launch, the skies would light up, and the sounds that shook our windows and filled the air, to me still remain incomparable. Honestly, I can’t explain it well enough, you just had to be there.

I learned that the “Delta” rockets and the Space Shuttle Solid rocket boosters (the SRB’s), all burn a fuel mixture that creates such explosive power, that those massive birds can leave their earthly perches and be propelled into the vast skies and be totally out of sight in just minutes. Simply put, as the fuel burns, it then turns into a gas that causes a powerful pressure to build. Ultimately that pressure is pushing out in all directions. Naturally, the rocket is open at the bottom end so the gas burns and escapes because the pressure is building inside, and that in turn releases that power, causing the rocket to be propelled in the opposite direction.

Usually every “Delta” rocket or every Space Shuttle that launches has a very valuable “Payload” that it takes into outer space, for some very specific science related purpose. Of course the astronauts are the most valuable payload any rocket, or solid rocket booster and external tank could ever propel into space.

It’s that process that got me thinking. When we read the Word of God, we see that God provides to us His wonderful payload. He has all the power we need to accomplish any mission He gives us in our Christian walk. The key to the success of our ventures is our faith. Our faith is the key ingredient in the power of God. The more we grow in His love and the more we mature in our Christian walk, the more power He provides to us daily.

As we daily read the Bible it becomes clearer all the time that the greatest power that God gives to us is the power of His wonderful love. His love is a force like none other. His love is what led Him to the cross to die for our sins. His love gives us our hope. His love is what gives us a promise of a heavenly inheritance, and His love is what gives us the power we need to do whatever He needs for us to do, as we follow His will. As God guides our life’s ship, He also provides for every mission. That is our three-fold love gift from God; Hope, Inheritance and Power.

On this busy Tuesday be sure your launch pad is pristine. Let nothing block the power of God in your life. Make yourself available to whatever mission God has for you. Be sure that your faith is always at the ready. You never know when God will call you to launch out into a new area of service.

Your mission today is to have a great day and do all you can to stay on course in your mission the rest of the week.
Ready? Three…Two…One… Blast off!

Pastor Darryl