ABSOLUTE POWER...

•    ELECTIONS our chance to choose local leaders in power
•    power tends to CORRUPT (Lord Acton)
•    Brazil OFFICIALS entangled in corruption

1) GOD’S POWER IS PRIMARILY FOR A DWELLING NOT A DOING

•    need divine power for Christ to dwell in our HEARTS
•    God’s goal – to fill us to all Christ’s FULLNESS
•    is Jesus truly “AT HOME” in my life?

2) GOD’S POWER SEEKS EXPRESSION IN LOVE AND ONENESS NOT DOMINATION AND MANIPULATION

•    power to KNOW Christ’s love in all its dimensions
•    need to be careful to creatively SPEAK the truth in love
•    “If it’s not FUN it’s not Scouting” / “If it’s not LOVING it’s not Christian”
•    whole body built up as EACH part does its work
•    oneness involves treating others as subject, not manipulated as OBJECT
•    keeping unity / peace requires making an EFFORT
•    beware METHODS and teaching of cunning schemers
•    maturity involves reaching UNITY in the faith

3) GOD’S POWER FINDS ITS OUTLET IN GIVING NOT GETTING

•    Biblical definition of great gain: godliness with CONTENTMENT
•    Christ has given us GRACE and GIFTS
•    Jesus’ emptying: humbled self to become nothing, DESCENDED before ascended
•    marks of Christian character: humble, gentle, PATIENT
•    Christian power/love means I’m a like a BEARING WALL for others
•    church given leaders who protect flock, LAY DOWN their lives
•    role of leadership: prepare / equip saints for WORKS of service / deaconry / ministry
•    building not bricks-and-mortar but a BODY

LINCOLN, A POWERFUL PRESIDENTIAL ANOMALY

•    POTUS interrupting national business to attend to CHILDREN
•    I destroy my enemy when I make him my FRIEND