Welcome to Hank’s Place
Last Sunday we celebrated Resurrection Day – He is risen, He is risen indeed, hallelujah!
Today I invite you to do your own study on the word “POWER” as found in the New Testament. The Kingdom of God is full of God’s POWER. When Jesus walked the earth, He ministered the word of God in the POWER of God. Signs, wonders, miracles, healings — they were common in His ministry. In Matthew 13:54 the people of His hometown said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous POWERS?” The word of God accompanied by the POWER of God.
In Mark 9:1 Jesus indicated the Kingdom of God was coming (to earth) with POWER, within the lifetime of those disciples. And in Luke 24:49, after His resurrection, He said, “And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with POWER from on high.” The promise of the Father was the Holy Spirit. He was absolutely needed to accomplish the mission of proclaiming the Good News to all creation – and the Spirit’s manifestation Jesus described as POWER from on high.
Luke again records Jesus speaking of this POWER in Acts 1:8, “but you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
This POWER in our own lives enables us to witness effectively. I am amazed at how theologians often are quick to deny this POWER as having value or even existence in the world today. Hey, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one,” 1 John 5:19. Doesn’t it make sense that God would bestow the greater POWERS of heaven upon believers who believe it in order to make ruin of the devil and his works? It does to me!
The Apostles had it – Acts 4:33 says, “And with great POWER the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.” That deacon Stephen had it, for Acts 6:8 says, “And Stephen, full of grace and POWER, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”
Paul had it. In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 Paul says, “and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of POWER so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the POWER of God.” And Paul also said genuine preachers of the Gospel had it too. That’s 1 Corinthians 4:19-20, “But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant, but their POWER, for the kingdom of God is not in words, but in POWER.
Dear friend, I know you want to share the Good News with others. So ask Jesus for this same POWER to enhance your testimony — because the world – out there, needs to – COME ALIVE!
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