Well… we aren’t the same are we? We have HOPE, Faith, Love. But do we know anyone who really walks in the power of Love? Godly love? I suppose I know a few. I certainly don’t claim to be one of them. How can a Christian be an example to the world if we are powerless? The Kingdom of God is one of Power, but we portray a weakness to the world. An unwillingness to truly stand up and say “NO” to sin, and unwillingness to stand up and say “Yes I trust Christ” when it is needed. We keep our mouths shut, hoping to win NC to Christ through action alone. Praying that our lives will be “good enough” to draw others to Him. But we all know it isn’t about good behavior, it is about redeemed behavior and a right heart.
Whatever happened to the Power of signs? How did Christians become afraid of the Power of the Holy Spirit in their lives? Are Christians any healthier? any more successful? any more good? Sometimes I look around and feel like the newest wave in Christian Evangelism is to act, look, and seem like just any other person. To deemphasize the differences between us. To emphasize the similarities, but this makes no sense to me. Are we not new creatures? If we are new creatures how do we seem different? Why can’t the rest of the world sense a Christian from forty paces? We should be basking in the power of the Holy SPirit to a man! not just SOME of the disciples of Christ, but the whole body ought to be full of power and glory, praising our Lord, talking about Him. We as the church ought to be significantly influencing the world, but as I look around I see us shivering in the church afraid of the homosexuals, and the adulterers, and the fornicators, worried we will get our white gloves dirty with sin.
Well, these white gloves, the white gloves of Christ never get dirty, they spread whiteness and goodness on whomever they touch. Greater is He that is in US than he that is in the world. We aren’t going to be contaminated!
Deepen your relationship with the Most High. See what He has for you. It is surely something of power, and might, something befitting the Lord Everlasting. WE are joint heirs in the Kingdom of Christ, we are little princes and princesses of the Lord. We share all the gifts of Christ among us. Greater things shall we be able to do now that He has gone to the Father. Where are the greater things!!??
Let’s not be afraid of our power, let’s not be afraid to stand up for Christ. Let’s not keep our mouths shut! If He is consumming your life you should be walking in His power, you should be talking about eternal things, about the Saving God. Others should know you are a Christian from forty feet. Look like one, smell like one, talk like one, LOVE like one. Don’t hide it in the mannerisms of the world. Don’t pretend
to be a NC when people are looking for a Christian who has power to stand up for what they believe, not back down.
I believe that the church has a duty to its members, to equip the saints with the full armor of God, with the power of the Holy Spirit. But the members have a duty too. A duty to deepen their personal relationship with Christ. We can’t just sit around listening to nice Sunday messages anymore, we have to be hearing from God ourselves everyday. It is still about a PERSONAL relationship, after all.
I have begun on this same journey. One of personal relationship with God. I pray everyday, and I know it to be a gift of God. But God is no respecter of persons. What He gives freely to one He will give to another if we only ask and yield. ANd anyway, it isn’t just about praying, but of relying, depending on Christ. God is still the Provider and we are still the ones He provides for. A walk of daily conversation and daily dependence on Christ will lead us all into that power. Some people think that by daily we mean that daily time of devotions and prayer set apart for God alone. But God is bigger than our prayer closets, He is waiting to be let into the light of our daily life. Waiting for us to invite Him into our other rooms. When we learn to pray without ceasing, and to be thankful for everything and to yield in all ways, we will find that, this God of power and might is an awesome God indeed, and He uses us for His glory. Others will begin to see true change in us, we will have a confident step, a hope, and air of peace about us. And when we touch power will flow from us. When the Holy Spirit is truly in charge of every aspect of our lives we will see God manifest in the world, we will see people come to the Loving Saving God readily.
–Meg