“And King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their request, and speak pleasant words to them, then they will be your servants always.” But he ignored the advice of the elders…” (I Kings 12:6-8a NASB)
Good morning! How about a few “Sunday School” type lessons about power this morning before you go out to worship? Let’s use Jesus as our example. Regardless of where it is that you find yourself in a position of power or even in the possession of power for an interim period or when you are a person in who temporarily assume a role of power, we need to use it like Jesus used power.
When Jesus demonstrated power over Satan’s temptation, He merely communicated facts. He did not let some egotistical view of His power get in His way. He factually stated in response to every temptation, just what the word of God said. He did not get ugly or undone, even when He told Satan to begone.
When Jesus healed the leper who came to Him to be made clean if He was willing, Jesus did not play any power games. He stretched out His hand and touched him saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” There was no inquiry. No intricate application was required for Jesus to review and critique and possibly criticize. Jesus did not respond by saying, “Don’t you see the great multitudes following Me? Don’t you see I’m busy?” No, Jesus used His power freely to heal the leper.
When the centurion came to Jesus asking Him to just say the word and His servant lying paralyzed at home, suffering in great pain would be healed, Jesus did not tell the centurion, “You figure it out.” No Jesus healed the servant that very hour. There was no procrastination to use the power that He had for a good purpose.
Jesus used His power to do what He was supposed to do, in the way that power should be used. In the case of Peter’s mother-in-law, he touched her hand and healed her. And He did not stop there, according to Scripture. It says, “And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.” Jesus did not withhold His healing power. Jesus did not limit his power but fulfilled the word of the prophet Isaiah, “He Himself took out infirmities and carried away our diseases. Again, Jesus did what He was supposed to do with His power. He compassionately served others.
Jesus was asleep when His disciples woke Him up for help when a great storm arose, and the boat was covered with waves. They beseeched Him to save them, and He did. He rebuked the winds, and the sea became perfectly calm. There is no record of Jesus thumping His chest, high fiving the disciples, or declaring, “See what I did!” None of that occurred. Jesus used His power to save and to stimulate His disciples to ponder, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Read these samples of how Jesus used His power and think of how they apply to you. Think of how you can use the lessons stated or implied or brought to light by the Holy Spirit; how they can help you as you use any power that you have. Whether in the halls of justice, the hallways at work, the hallowed place of worship, the haven we call home, or with those who hang around you and look at you as a person of power, try applying Jesus’ use of power. Remember these two facts: (1) Being in charge does not change your responsibility to act as a person who has been changed by Christ. (2) Being the head should not give you the “big head” and cause you to forget that Christ is the head of your life. Don’t ignore the wisdom you are led to like Rehoboam ignored the elders. It will not lead to a good end. Do right! One more thing! Just as you learned from the principles in the opening verses, take the principles you see in the closing verses too, where Peter is addressing leaders. These principles apply to us also when we are in “power.” Be blessed!
“I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.” (I Peter 5:1-3 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King