Reflection questions:
Have you been trying to push through physical challenges—whether exhaustion, illness, or weakness—on your own? How can you invite God into those struggles?
What are some habits or patterns in your life that might be harming your physical well-being? Are there areas where you need His strength to make changes?
Are you trusting God with your physical limitations, or are you frustrated by them? How can you surrender control and rely on His provision?
Have you ever felt like the disciples in John 21—going back to what you know because you’re struggling to see how God could possibly be working? How might He be calling you to trust Him more?
What specific spiritual struggles—such as doubt, temptation, or unforgiveness—do you need to bring before God? How can you open yourself to His transforming power?
Do you believe that the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in your life? How can you live with greater faith in that reality?
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Sample Prayer:
“God, help me honor my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and the gift that it is, and give me the strength to steward my health well. Help me break free from unhealthy habits that only You can overcome. Jesus, draw me closer to You in ways I can’t manufacture on my own. Give me a hunger for Your Word, a passion for prayer, and eyes to see you at work around me.”
Hi everybody. This is Pastor Chuck Allen and I want to thank you so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast where we're in episode two of of this series Pastor Bobby and I have entitled what Only God Can Do. Just kind of a real catch up from yesterday. In case you missed it, we live in a remarkable age of human achievement. Walking on the moon, mapping human genomes. I mean, things like artificial intelligence, connecting everybody through, you know, a little device that sits in our hand. I mean, but there's still the thing. With all the human advancements we've had, there's still some things that only the creator of the universe can do. I mean, there are areas of our lives where no matter how hard we try, we just simply can't manufacture the outcome necessary. I think we ought to get super specific. I've heard Bobby say this multiple times, that when we pray specifically, we can expect specific responses from God. He wants us to talk with him, so why wouldn't we? So I think maybe rather than the just big picture of, well, God can do anything. And knowing that's true, what if we were to allow him to step into our life and do the very specific things that, that, well, we could trust him with. But oftentimes we just don't because our go to is to do what we know to do. Today I want to take two specific areas. One, physically, in our own bodies. What can God do for me is the same thing he can do for you is strengthen and sustain our body, helping us steward our health as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Now, when kids ask me, well, Chuck, how does Jesus come live in someone's life? Well, it's the spirit of God. So God, God the creator, looked at man who became sinful. He sent God the Son to become our Savior. Jesus the God the Son, when he resurrected from the dead and returned back to heaven to sit beside God the Father. Now, today, that Holy Spirit, when you trust Jesus lives inside of you, therefore your home is his temple. You see, our physical bodies matter to God. God created them. He dwells within them. This is his spirit. This is his home. But there's times when our body faces limitations, illness or disease or weakness and we just can't overcome them on our own. That's when we need God's supernatural strengthening and healing touch. James.
He literally said we should call on spiritual leaders and ask them to lay hands on us, pray for us and anoint us with oil. A picture of what the Spirit of God can do. Friend, this isn't about whether you're working out enough, moving enough, or eating right. This is about honoring God with all we are because it's where he lives. But not just physically, also spiritually. What God can do for us is he can draw us closer to Him. It's a deepening of faith and a transformation of our life through his presence. Micah 6. 8. My life verse says we're to act justly. In other words, make wrongs right. We're to love mercy. We're to walk humbly. Our spiritual growth isn't something we manufacture through sheer willpower or determination. It's the work of God's Spirit within us. Only God can transform our character to reflect a life that's more like Jesus. So when you think about the areas in your spiritual life where you feel stuck or stagnant, maybe you're struggling to forgive somebody who's hurt you. Maybe you're battling with the same temptations over and over again. Or maybe you simply feel distant from God or unable to sense his presence like you once did. These are places where we need God to do what only he can do. I think back about when John 21. After Jesus had been crucified. The disciples, in fear, went back to doing what they knew to do. They went back fishing, and they fished all night long, and they caught nothing. But then Jesus appears on the shore and tells them, cast your net on the other side. I mean, these guys are professional fishermen. They're like, what in the world? Jesus. So they did, and there were more fish than they could pull up. The story isn't about fishing. The story is about that God can and will provide. We just have to trust and listen and follow him. And when we do, then we find what Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that's at work within us. That's the God that we serve, a God of immeasurable power. So as we continue this journey toward Resurrection Sunday, let's remember the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available for us today. Paul, he prays in Ephesians one that we would know that immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might. That's resurrection power, y'all. And it's available to work in your life physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, in every way of your life. So whether it's physical, whether it's spiritual, we're still working on the temple. So in the coming weeks we want to explore all the different dimensions of God's power working in our lives. But for today, I want you to start by honestly assessing where you need God's intervention most. What are you facing that feels impossible without God's help? What dream has he placed in your heart that you know you can't fulfill without Him?
There's something about walking humbly that recognizes apart from the power of God. I can't do this. The psalmist writes in Psalm 62:8 Pour your heart out to God, for God is our refuge. What a beautiful thing. And as you pray, remember the words of Jesus in Mark 10:27 with man this is impossible, but not with God, all things are possible.
Lord, today we come to you acknowledging our limitations and celebrating your limitless power. In the areas where we've reached the end of our resources in our mind and in our physical bodies, would you show up and do what only you can do? Strengthen our bodies according to your will, draw us closer to you spiritually and prepare our hearts in these coming weeks to experience your resurrection power in super fresh ways. We love you Lord, and we trust you. In Jesus name, Amen. I'm Pastor Chuck and I'll be back tomorrow as we continue our journey toward Resurrection Sunday. Until then, remember that the God who raised Jesus from the dead is working in your life right now, doing only what he can do. God bless you friend. Go in peace. Bye now.
