Finding the Power to Change

Have you and your mate (or your parents, or your children) ever fought over something and one or the other of you said, “This is how this always goes. I should have known how you would respond.” And truth be known, they were right, even though you didn’t admit it to them. When that thought comes, has it ever been followed with the thought, “Well, that’s just the way I am. Like it or lump it. Accept me or leave. That is the way I am wired?” Have you ever thought that when the reference was not another person, such as your mom or dad, or you children, etc? Have you ever thought that about God, and about what you thought he expected of you? To love and to give; to lead and forgive; to pray and bless those who have wronged you?
Have you ever thought, “Well, God, I wish things were different and that I was a more ___________ (fill in the blank yourself) person. But I am not, and I am just going to have to accept it. And so are you!” At this point is where the explanation often comes, “This is the day/age of Grace.”
What people often mean when they say that is that Grace is when God doesn’t look at what we have done, and judge us according to what we deserve. Actually, that is partially true. He does allow anyone and everyone access to His Presence through prayer. And that is an aspect of grace. But grace is not an excuse or a coverup for sin or weakness. It is power to change. It is the power and strength and personality of Jesus Christ transmitted/transfused by his beating heart into our immediate weaknesses, changing us from one who had continually failed on certain points, to a person graced with the ability to say no to sin and yes to God’s requirements. Read Romans 6 concerning the effect the cross can have on us. Then read 2 Corinthians 12: 9-14. It defines grace as the power of Christ and the strength of Christ. He has enough power to change you and help your relationships with God and people.
The Blood of Jesus can cleanse you from ANY sin and deliver you from ANY weakness. The Blood of Jesus can cleanse and free your offended conscience even when you are still feeling torn, and weak and guilty before God. His blood, which was shed in an act of substitution and guilt-payment, gives you ACCESS to God if you will only believe it and accept it.
Think of it. Open access for common people. Free access for poor people. There are many, many, wealthy people who are paupers, spiritually. Either way, it is the man or woman, boy or girl that knows/recognizes their poverty in spiritual things that Jesus accepts and helps.
Don’t you remember the Beatitudes? Listen to them from the New Living Translation:
• God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
• God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
• God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
• God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
• God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
• God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
• God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
• God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. (Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in Heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.)

Oh, Man! You are not stuck in your past, in your sins, in your personality, or in your family-inherited weaknesses and tendencies.
The Blood of Jesus will cleanse anyone who recognizes their weaknesses as sin and confesses them to Jesus in prayer. You can do that right where you are. God can hear you anywhere, and turn your place into his place, in an instant.

The Blood of Jesus has the power to change you from what you are by birth, to all that He planned for you to be, before this earth even existed.

There is an old song that we used to sing in church when I was growing up called “Power in the Blood.” Even if you know the words, read through them slowly and let the hope they bring penetrate your heart. We have “know-it-all” Christians who are failing to honor Christ in their lives and ministries, because they supposedly already know all of this… The song goes like this:

• Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood! Would you, over evil, the victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood!
• Would you be free from your passion and pride? There’s power in the blood. Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide. There’s wonderful power in the blood.
• Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? There’s power in the blood. Sin’s stains are lost in its life-giving flow. There’s wonderful power in the blood!
• Would you do service for Jesus your King? There’s power in the blood. Would you live daily, His praises to sing? There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Chorus:
• There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the blood, of the lamb. There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb.

There is hope for you!
There is power, for the preacher who can’t clear his mind of sinful thoughts… And, for the prisoner, who has never before tried to be pure. Come to Jesus, right where you are, right now. Tell him what you are facing. Ask him to deliver you from temptation and the control of the Evil One. He has already paid the price for your sins. He is waiting for you to ask and then wait quietly in his presence for his answer. You will be shocked!!!!!!!!!!
Later.