I want to continue the discussion I began in my last entry. If you haven't read it I will wait until you do before I continue......some of you are sure slow readers......OK that got everybody caught up? The subject is power. Not just any power, but I'm talking specifically about the power of God. I have been reading books about people's experiences and interviewing men and women about the times God has manifested Himself in their lives. I have become convinced God wants to move today as He did in the past. Too often when I hear preachers speak about the power of God it is often in the past tense. Sort of like being shown the remains of an old church as the tour guide speaks of how great things used to happen in the church centuries ago. I have even heard one Christian radio host say that we don't experience the power of God anymore because we have His Word. It's like the power and the presence of God cannot co-exist with the Word of God. I strongly disagree. I believe they work hand in hand with one another. They are two sides of the same coin if you will.
Jesus was the Word of God incarnate. In John 1 John writes, "the Word was God" speaking of Jesus. Then in verse 2 he says, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." That's the power of God. Paul writes in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation." Once again associating the power of God with the Word of God. Acts 4:33 says that with "great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus". Two verses prior the Bible says that "the place where they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke Word of God with boldness."
The two were never meant to exist in a vacuum. I believe that where the Bible is taught and preached that it should be coupled with the presence of God and where His presence is known His power will be evident. A great example is D.L. Moody. Listen how remembers a day that God manifested Himself in his life.
"My heart was not in the work of begging. I could not appeal. I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York- oh what a day!- I cannot describe it. I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name...I can only say that God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of HIs love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different; I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you should give me all the world."
I spoke to a gentleman just yesterday who was a student at Asbury College in Kentucky when the great move of the Spirit broke out unexpectantly years ago. It seems that during chapel service a young man asked if he could stand and give a testimony. In his testimony he confessed his sins and sought God's forgiveness. In moments hundreds of students filled the aisles weeping. It was not until 17 days later that this great move of God relented. The school held no classes for 10 days. The revival broke out in the city as well as on the campus.
I firmly believe God is going to do this again. He is waiting for true repentance and broken hearts. God has not changed. He wants to be known and experienced. His power has not diminished. Pray with me that we are a part of that movement of God. That we remain flexible enough to move when He says move. To be sensitive to His prompting and to stay pure in our motives. If we desire His presence then His power will surely follow.
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