Thursday, May 31, 2012

By What Power?

My Utmost For His Highest

‘But we must first make sure that God’s “needs” and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, “. . . tarry . . . until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Once God’s “needs” in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His “needs” elsewhere.’ CHAMBERS

‘Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.’ (Acts 19:13-16)

Those verses describe some guys who were religious … and thought they would do what they had seen Paul do.  The only problem was, they lacked the power that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit.  They were trying to do something spiritual without the Spirit.  It’s like a soldier going into a battle without a weapon.  Do you think that those Jewish men understood why they failed?  They had a natural understanding of a supernatural event.

‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’ (Galatians 2:20)

Do you really understand the nature of your new life in Christ?  Being a Christian is not saying a prayer and then trying to do good things.  It is living your life to the glory of God .. not for self-satisfaction.  The people who were watching those men trying to cast out the evil spirits saw Jewish men, like Paul doing what Paul had done.  They could not see whether or not the Spirit of God was in them.  But when the man leapt upon them and they ran off, it was apparent that something was not right.

You cannot live the life of a Christian, successfully, without the power of the Holy Spirit .. doing things in your own power, by sheer determination … in your own wisdom.  Not going to happen.  In fact .. you are guaranteed to fail .. just as those men did … the things that you read in the Bible about the new life will never be a reality for you because you lack the relationship that is necessary to live your new life.  Paul wrote …

‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’(Romans 12:1-2)

God never intended for us to be independent agents .. but to be connected to Him through the Spirit .. Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Spirit … essentially saying, don’t try to go on by yourselves … I am sending you a Helper …. to live our life in Christ is to be totally dependent upon our relationship with Him … and

‘Once God’s “needs” in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His “needs” elsewhere.’  Spend time with Jesus today … Let the Word renew your mind and the Spirit lead you … and your light will shine before all men …

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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