Many years ago, I was struggling with what I saw in the Christian world around me. Something was off, very off, but I could never put my finger on it. During this time a friend of mine gave me some CDs with sermons on them by various men. As I listened to the sermons, something within me clicked. This is it! They have what I am looking for. However, I still could not define what “it” was.
As I listened to hundreds of sermons, I began to notice that aside from the core doctrines these men had varied beliefs on tertiary issues. Many of them were “wrong” on certain doctrines, yet they had a blessing from God that I did not have. I began to realize that I was more wrong than they were! What was it that they had? Power. Holy Spirit Power. This is the problem in our day, powerless Christianity.
God is a God of power; He spoke the universe into existence. By definition, He is all powerful. Jesus’ entire life was marked by miraculous power. This power was seen in His birth, His life, His death, and ultimately His resurrection. The early church began in power. It was sustained by power. Its power ultimately overthrew and Christianized the Roman Empire. This power is exactly what Jesus promised His disciples.
However, this power is almost completely absent in the church today. We more resemble the prophets of Baal desperately trying to stir something up than the simple Elijah calling fire down from heaven. If you compared the average Christian to the average non-Christian, you would find little difference as it relates to miraculous power.
What do we mean by power? The Greek word is the root of our English word “dynamite.” It is an explosive, uncontrollable, uncontainable power. It is a power that cannot be concealed or hidden. It is obvious to all people whether you have it or if you do not.
In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul speaks of his future visit to the church at Corinth. He knows that many people in the church are opposed to him. He makes it clear that he is not worried about their arguments, leadership style, or theology. He wants to see if they have spiritual power. Christianity is defined by the explosive power of God, nothing else.
We have made Christianity into something else because we lack the power of God. Instead of repenting and seeking this power we have tried to gloss over this glaring weakness with a façade of doctrine and tertiary issues. What we need though is the power of the Holy Spirit.
As you go through the New Testament, you will find that Christianity is defined by power. This power is demonstrated in:
- Holiness
Christians are to have a spiritual power that gives them victory over sin.
- Answered prayer
The Christian life is to be marked by miraculous answers to prayer.
- Boldness in evangelism
Christians are to be bold in our evangelism. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power.
- Conviction
People should fall under great conviction when they are around us.
- Fleshly weakness and suffering, yet spiritual strength
Even when we are going through suffering and our physical strength is failing, we are sustained by a strength that is not of this world.
Herein lies the question, “Is your life marked by this power?” If not, why not? Isn’t a power filled life promised to us by Jesus Himself? The answer lies in the most neglected member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Power. The church in our day desperately needs an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the rest of the summer, I will be writing and preaching on the power of the Holy Spirit. Will you join me in praying for God to move mightily in our midst?
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