Closing out this week, Jen Ervig shares a story about a woman who struggles to use a self-propelled lawnmower because she doesn’t understand how to use its power. It’s a great metaphor for today’s show on how people often struggle in life because they don’t understand or utilize the power they have through God. Listen to find out the hope there is for you to get out of this struggle.
Show Notes:
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Transcription:
Guest Host: Jennifer Ervig
Hi, I’m Jen and welcome to episode five of this week’s installment of the Bible for Busy People. I want to tell you a story and my new She Reads Truth, Christian Standard Bible that I got on the most recent Amazon Prime days, there’s a little story to demonstrate all that we’ve talked about this week. A wife’s tells of wanting to surprise her husband by mowing the lawn for him with their new self-propelled lawnmower. However, she’s quickly dismayed that the supposed easy to push machine is actually becoming increasingly harder to push and her strength is quickly diminished. She was exhausted and convinced there was something wrong with her, so she calls her husband to relay the details. His response? Were you holding down the self-propel bar? Unbelievable. She had the power all along but didn’t know it, become acquainted with it, yield to, obey it, and therefore prove she knows it, and renew her mind. In other words, gain confidence and appreciation of what was available to her. Therefore, she didn’t get to receive the sweet promises of an easy to mow lawn. What a bummer. How humbling. Everything you and I need to live is already ours. We don’t have to muster up our own strength. Stick to some beliefs and follow the rules. We need to tenaciously get to know him, do what he calls us to, and let our minds be renewed in the process. You say, yes, Jen, that’s great, but how do I get to know him? How do I know what my next best yes is? Let me tell you about a superhero secret. It’s called Holy Spirit Reveal. It’s sort of like Avengers Assemble. Read 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 with me.
These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
One time, I asked my dear friend how I could know what God was trying to say to me when all seemed so confusing. She reminded me that the Holy Spirit’s whole job is to reveal truth and provide power. She said that whenever I ask that question, I should summon the Holy Spirit in my best superhero voice, Holy Spirit, reveal! And that it would be his great pleasure to do so. Paul also wrote to you the Ephesians, something along the same lines. Let’s read Ephesians 1:17-20.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray 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 his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
Doesn’t that just sum up beautifully what we’ve learned all this week? Paul was telling the Ephesians that when he prays for them, he says, Holy Spirit reveal! because the Holy Spirit is the very same spirit of power that raised Christ from the dead and he dwells in us. Nothing can trump that power. That power helps us get to know him, to obey him, and then flourish in that never ending loop of being best friends, obeying him and having unlimited power. I don’t want to live exhausted and defeated, do you? I want all the precious promises that make life in him so sweet. I want to know Jesus and all he can do for me, like that sweet wife needed to know the lawnmower and all the power that was available to her so she could live her best lawnmowing life. I want to live my best God-knowing life. Well, that’s a wrap on this week’s Bible for Busy People. Thanks for allowing me to spend this precious time with you.
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