SUNDAY SERVICES:

Living in Florida in the summer and in Orlando in particular (the lightning capital of the world), we know a little something about losing power. Then add in the hurricanes, I am sure you all remember that little gal named Irma. Many of you spent days without power. Sometimes when we look at the church as a whole or at our individual Christian lives, we and the world looking at us might ask, "Where's the power?" In the lessons this week God wants to remind us that there is no shortage of power with him.

Through Elisha God invites the man from Baal-Shalishah to feed a hundred men with his small tithe of bread and grain when he really brought only enough for Elisha. This came with the promise that there would be some left over. According to the word of the Lord it happened just as Elisha spoke. Our God has the power to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine.

In the Gospel Philip basically says, "Really Lord?" "All we have is five loves and two fish from this little boys lunch." Jesus thanks his father for them and feeds the multitude. Our God has the power to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks from prison to this church which he loves and who are afraid because of the persecution that has come on Paul, and they see that same persecution coming towards them. Paul in his prayer points them to God's Spirit who lives within them and reminds them that our God has the power to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine.

Are you in a personal spiritual power outage? Are you skeptical about what God can do with who you are or with what you have to offer him? Are you afraid of what is coming down the pike? Paul in his prayer for the Ephesians identifies three aspects of God's power that answer the question of, "Where's the power?" for the follower of Jesus in their personal life and for their witness to the world. Come praise God this Sunday! He has the power to do exceeding abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine!

God bless,