The power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you. It’s time to move from a mindset of doubt to a mindset of faith—from “If I can” to “I will” through Christ.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:42] The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,
[00:00:49] rightly dividing the word of truth, and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.
[00:00:55] You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast.
[00:00:59] And now, here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus the Christ,
[00:01:08] to another edition of Words of Inspiration,
[00:01:12] where we explore the powerful truths of God's word and how they apply to our everyday lives.
[00:01:18] And today, I wanted to address why we sometimes live beneath the power that was given to us.
[00:01:27] Our topic for today is, If I Can.
[00:01:31] Our scriptural inspiration comes from Mark 9, verse 23.
[00:01:40] And reading from the New Living Translation, it reads,
[00:01:45] What do you mean, if I can?
[00:01:48] Anything is possible if a person believes.
[00:01:53] This powerful statement from Jesus challenges us to reflect on our own faith,
[00:01:58] and how easy it is to live in lack because of doubt.
[00:02:03] How often do we find ourselves struggling,
[00:02:07] doubting what God can do through us because of our circumstances?
[00:02:12] In Mark 9, a father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus, asking if he can heal him.
[00:02:19] The father says,
[00:02:21] If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.
[00:02:25] And Jesus responds with a challenge.
[00:02:28] If I can.
[00:02:30] It's almost as if Jesus is saying,
[00:02:33] Do you know who I am?
[00:02:35] Do you know what is possible if you believe?
[00:02:39] So many of us approach God with this mindset.
[00:02:43] If you can, God.
[00:02:44] If it is possible.
[00:02:46] But Jesus is turning the question back to us.
[00:02:50] It's not about what he can do.
[00:02:53] Because with God, all things are possible.
[00:02:56] It's about whether we believe in his power and whether we trust in his authority
[00:03:01] and the authority he has given us as believers.
[00:03:05] In John 14 and 12, reading from the New International Version,
[00:03:11] Jesus makes an incredible promise.
[00:03:14] Very truly I tell you,
[00:03:16] whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,
[00:03:20] and they will do even greater things than these,
[00:03:23] because I am going to the Father.
[00:03:27] This means that the same power that raised the dead,
[00:03:31] healed the sick,
[00:03:32] and calmed storms is at work within us.
[00:03:36] But the question is,
[00:03:38] do we believe it?
[00:03:40] It's easy to doubt the power we have as believers,
[00:03:43] especially when life's challenges hit us.
[00:03:47] Doubt and fear often creep in
[00:03:49] when we face obstacles that seem too big for us to handle.
[00:03:53] Things like illness and financial struggles,
[00:03:56] broken relationships or personal troubles.
[00:03:59] But these are the moments where we must remember that Jesus said,
[00:04:04] anything is possible if a person believes.
[00:04:09] Doubt and fear keep us in a mindset of lack.
[00:04:14] We start to live with limitations,
[00:04:16] thinking that certain things are beyond our reach.
[00:04:19] But Jesus didn't come to give us a life of limitation.
[00:04:22] He came to give us an abundant life,
[00:04:26] as it says in John 10.10.
[00:04:29] The fullness of life includes walking in the power and authority of Christ,
[00:04:35] overcoming fear, doubt, and unbelief.
[00:04:39] When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior,
[00:04:43] we were given access to a power greater than ourselves.
[00:04:47] Ephesians 3.20 tells us,
[00:04:50] Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
[00:04:57] according to his power that is at work within us.
[00:05:03] That power is already at work within us.
[00:05:06] But if we doubt what God can do through us,
[00:05:09] we limit that power.
[00:05:11] We let fear dictate our decisions,
[00:05:14] and we shrink back from the purpose God has called us to.
[00:05:20] Jesus never meant for us to walk in timidity.
[00:05:24] He gave us his spirit to guide us and empower us.
[00:05:28] In 2 Timothy 1 and 7, it reads,
[00:05:32] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear,
[00:05:35] but of power,
[00:05:37] and of love,
[00:05:38] and of a sound mind.
[00:05:41] So how do we overcome doubt and fear
[00:05:44] to walk in the fullness of who we are in Christ?
[00:05:47] The first step is believing in the authority of Jesus' word.
[00:05:52] We must remind ourselves daily of the promises of God
[00:05:56] and what he has already done in our lives.
[00:05:59] So the most effective strategies include prayer,
[00:06:04] because prayer helps align our hearts with God's will
[00:06:07] and strengthens our faith.
[00:06:10] When we bring our doubts before God in prayer,
[00:06:13] he replaces them with confidence in his power.
[00:06:17] Next is the word of God.
[00:06:19] Spending time in scripture reminds us of God's promises
[00:06:23] and his faithfulness through history.
[00:06:26] The word of God builds our faith.
[00:06:30] And finally, action.
[00:06:32] Faith without action is dead,
[00:06:35] as written in James 2 verse 26.
[00:06:39] When we step out in faith,
[00:06:42] even when we feel doubt,
[00:06:43] we invite God to show up and demonstrate his power in our lives.
[00:06:49] We must remember that the authority we walk in
[00:06:52] doesn't come from us.
[00:06:54] It comes from Jesus.
[00:06:57] It's his power working through us.
[00:06:59] And when we believe that,
[00:07:02] there's no limit to what God can do through us.
[00:07:07] Brothers and sisters,
[00:07:08] I encourage you to reflect on Jesus' words.
[00:07:12] What do you mean if I can?
[00:07:15] Anything is possible if a person believes.
[00:07:17] The power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you.
[00:07:23] It's time to move from a mindset of doubt
[00:07:26] to a mindset of faith,
[00:07:28] from if I can to I will through Christ.
[00:07:33] Don't let fear,
[00:07:35] doubt,
[00:07:36] and unbelief
[00:07:37] keep you from walking in the fullness of God's promises.
[00:07:41] Believe in the power that has been given to you
[00:07:44] and trust that through him,
[00:07:47] anything is truly possible.
[00:07:50] I thank you for joining me on today
[00:07:53] and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.
[00:07:57] Until then,
[00:07:58] God bless.
[00:08:05] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by
[00:08:08] C Squared Realty
[00:08:09] and New Gen Construction Group
[00:08:12] to help spread the gospel
[00:08:14] to the corners of the earth.
[00:08:16] If anything you've heard
[00:08:18] poured into your life,
[00:08:20] please share it with someone.
[00:08:23] You can find The Bible Speaks
[00:08:25] on Spotify,
[00:08:27] Amazon Music,
[00:08:29] Deezer,
[00:08:30] and many more.
[00:08:32] Follow us on YouTube
[00:08:33] at The Bible Speaks Online.
[00:08:36] You may contact Elgin
[00:08:38] at P.O. Box 5582
[00:08:42] Ocala, Florida
[00:08:45] 34478
[00:08:46] or by email at
[00:08:51] thebiblespeaksonline
[00:08:52] at gmail.com
[00:08:54] The Bible Speaks Online
[00:08:54] The Bible Speaks Online
[00:08:54] The Bible Speaks Online