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Super-Powered God

As a young boy, I always dreamed of having superpowers. I would try to fly by jumping off a swing set. I would attempt to lift the TV remote with my mind when no one was looking. I even tried to walk through walls—without much success.

What if you had access to a power that gives you strength, wisdom, and self-control—helping you overcome impossible obstacles, restore broken relationships, and find true peace?

What if I told you that you do?

The Bible teaches us a few powerful truths:

We can do the things that Jesus did:

John 14:12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." — Jesus

We do it through the empowering of the Holy Spirit:

John 14:15-17 "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." — Jesus

We are given gifts for the common good:

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 "Now to each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another knowledge, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."

Though this is not an exhaustive list, it gives us a glimpse of what it means to have the Spirit living inside us. The reminder for us all is that the Spirit gives us strength—not so we can boast, but so we can receive His gifts with open hands, ready and willing to share them.

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This past weekend was our Empower Weekend, where we spent time as a congregation listening to the Spirit and practicing the gifts He gives.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me through others. He gave people words I needed to hear. He gave them pictures and dreams that I, too, have had before. And lastly, He filled me with immense hope. In the midst of my own doubt, fears, and pain, He spoke to me through others and lifted me out of the valley I had found myself in—leading me into the green pastures of Psalm 23.

His global Church is marked by His Spirit, and He’s not done yet.

Imagine a group of people being led by the Spirit—encouraging each other, forgiving, truly loving unconditionally, and extending that love even to our enemies. Imagine breaking free from the normalcy of Canadian individualistic culture and instead becoming the family of Christ we were designed to be.

This is only possible through Him.

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One of our prayer priorities this year is Spirit Empowerment.

While it is not something we can "manifest," it is something we can seek and desire.

1 Corinthians 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy."

Join us in praying for Spirit Empowerment—not for boasting or as an achievement to unlock, but for the ability to follow the way of love, the way of Jesus, that truly changes the world.

We love You, LORD. Amen.

Pastor Garrett