Plenty of Gas in the Tank!
I remember a time when we were first married and we were driving to my parents. They lived about 30 minutes from our apartment and as we were leaving, Sari noticed that my gas gauge was on E. She commented on this fact and I assured her that we were good to get to Mom and Dad’s and I would fill up before we headed home. Mom was cooking supper for us and I was hungry. After we had driven about half way and passed about 20 gas stations, you will never guess what happened. Chug, chug, spurt, spurt and coasted to the side of the road! I did not make eye contact!
We were stranded and this was before cell phones. I got out of the car and walked to the nearest house and called my dad. I slinked back to the car and let Sari know that Dad was on his way with some gas. I still don't think I made eye contact. After what seemed like forever, Dad arrived, put gas in my car and we drove straight to the nearest gas station.
If Dad hadn't been there I don't know what we would have done. At that moment, we were totally dependent on my Dad to rescue us. Now, if we head out and Sari notices the gas gauge nearing E and mentions that we need gas. I look her straight in the eye and say, "Nah, we could get to mom and dad's easy!" And then drive to the nearest gas station.
Paul was given the incredible task of taking the gospel to the Gentiles. A task he was not going to be able to rely on his own resources, abilities or good looks to accomplish. He was totally dependent on God and he knew it. And he wanted the Ephesians to understand in their own life that God was more than sufficient to meet their every need and empower them to do what they didn't believe they could do. God’s dream for us, his individual vision for our life, the best he has to offer us is limited only by our ability to depend on his power and not our own.
Our ability to experience everything God has for us is limited only by our ability to depend on him for everything.
God longs to use each of us in a special way as he carries out his overall plan for this world. He longs to place us in places and positions to accomplish his dream. “His power at work within us”
So the question that begs to be asked is, What or Who are you depending on? Where does your dependence lie? Dependence means – relying on or needing someone/thing for aid support. And I don’t mean for help when you run out of gas – I mean the bigger questions. I mean for the really important things like future, purpose in life, value, worth and meaning. If we put our trust in things of this world or things that do not last we are destined for disappointment. Our dependence must rest in the person of Jesus Christ – everything else and everyone else will let us down. How confident are you in God's capacity to come through?
Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
We were stranded and this was before cell phones. I got out of the car and walked to the nearest house and called my dad. I slinked back to the car and let Sari know that Dad was on his way with some gas. I still don't think I made eye contact. After what seemed like forever, Dad arrived, put gas in my car and we drove straight to the nearest gas station.
If Dad hadn't been there I don't know what we would have done. At that moment, we were totally dependent on my Dad to rescue us. Now, if we head out and Sari notices the gas gauge nearing E and mentions that we need gas. I look her straight in the eye and say, "Nah, we could get to mom and dad's easy!" And then drive to the nearest gas station.
Paul was given the incredible task of taking the gospel to the Gentiles. A task he was not going to be able to rely on his own resources, abilities or good looks to accomplish. He was totally dependent on God and he knew it. And he wanted the Ephesians to understand in their own life that God was more than sufficient to meet their every need and empower them to do what they didn't believe they could do. God’s dream for us, his individual vision for our life, the best he has to offer us is limited only by our ability to depend on his power and not our own.
Our ability to experience everything God has for us is limited only by our ability to depend on him for everything.
God longs to use each of us in a special way as he carries out his overall plan for this world. He longs to place us in places and positions to accomplish his dream. “His power at work within us”
So the question that begs to be asked is, What or Who are you depending on? Where does your dependence lie? Dependence means – relying on or needing someone/thing for aid support. And I don’t mean for help when you run out of gas – I mean the bigger questions. I mean for the really important things like future, purpose in life, value, worth and meaning. If we put our trust in things of this world or things that do not last we are destined for disappointment. Our dependence must rest in the person of Jesus Christ – everything else and everyone else will let us down. How confident are you in God's capacity to come through?
Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Maybe you better check your tank!
Ted Harris
Associate Pastor