LifeLink Devotions for Thursday, June 27, 2024

For many people knowledge is power. See if any of these statements ring especially true to you.

1.      The more we can know the more we can control.

2.      The more we know the more we can predetermine outcomes.

3.      Planning requires knowledge, and life requires planning.

4.      Uncertainty is the characteristic of an unprepared person, and preparedness requires knowledge.

5.      I have a need to know.

6.      Knowledge brings security, and security brings peace.

These statements all have elements of truth in them, but they are not statements of faith. They are statements that would define the Apostles following the resurrection.

Acts 1:6-8 “So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The people asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” But Jesus refused to give them that knowledge, and instead told them that they were about to receive enough power to live without that knowledge while at the same time fulfilling an eternal purpose.

We must apply this instruction to both our personal lives and the life of our church. We have become far too concerned with knowing the outcome of every situation in our lives and in our churches. We refuse to take steps of faith because we have been trained by the world to walk by sight. What’s even worse is that we don’t even take the time to hear the voice of God telling us which steps of faith to take because we are so busy trying to figure everything out in our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When asked the question about the timing of His plan to restore the kingdom, Jesus simply responded with “You don’t have a need to know, you only need the power to be my witnesses.” This power is promised – we will receive it. It is so complete that when it comes upon us, it fully accomplishes its purpose in us – we will be witnesses. It is so fulfilling in us that we never need to question our lack of knowledge about the completion of the purpose – we just keep doing the work the power has equipped us to do.

In REAL people and in the REAL church, knowledge does not produce power; the presence of God produces power. As individuals and as a church we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the fullness of God abides in us. We experience the presence of God, and we are equipped with the power of God to accomplish His eternal purpose of being witnesses to the resurrected Christ. We do not know the answer to how long we must wait for His return, but we do have the power to do His work until He does. By faith, let’s step out boldly to accomplish God’s purpose.

Pastor John