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He's Got All The Power You Need!
by Karin Paparelli
There's a worship song that was made popular a few years
ago. The lyrics stated, "My God can never fail, He's been proved
time and again, Trust Him and see, He's got all the power you need. He's
never early, never late. It takes courage, it takes faith, Trust Him and
see He's got all the power you need!" How true those words are yet
why do so many of us lack the power we need?
I can't speak for you, but I can speak for me. I want more. More faith
to believe bigger, more love to cast out all fear, more courage to stand
taller, and more power to do great exploits for the Kingdom of God. I'm
tired of wimpy faith. Is that what Jesus died for? No! He said He came
to give us abundant life, not just eternal life but a better life on earth
too. Why don't we see that among our brethren? I believe the answer lies
in several conditions.
First we need faith. Jesus moved in power because He believed that His
prayers were answered. Indeed He did not doubt that His Father was able
to do that which Jesus asked Him to do. Without faith it is impossible
to please God. Do you really want to please God? Even if it costs you
something? It will.
That brings us to number two, your will. Are you willing to submit to
God? Are you willing to submit to those He has placed over you? Your pastor?
Your elders? Your parents? Your husband? Come on, be honest. God will
not entrust His power to you if you cannot submit. For authority will
come only as you submit.
Number three is not unlike number two, obedience. Are you an obedient
servant? Does God have to ask you twice? Or do you immediately respond?
Have you laid down your plans for His? Have you cleared your agenda to
allow room to do His will, in His time? The word of God says that obedience
is better than sacrifice.
That brings us to number four, sacrifice. Yes there is a price to pay,
power does not come cheap. You will need to be willing to sacrifice everything.
Yes I said everything. Jesus said if you are not willing to leave father,
mother, children, spouse that you are not fit for the Kingdom of God.
Wow, what did He mean? Are we to simply walk away from our earthly responsibilities?
No, God expects us to be good stewards of all He's entrusted to us including
our families. Rather Jesus was saying that if you are not willing to lose
any of these for my sake, if you choose another before Him, you are not
fit. For our God is a jealous God, and He will never be content with second
place in your life.
Are you still interested in power? Good. Because that is God's will for
you in Christ Jesus. We are to be more than over-comers. And that brings
us to the next condition, prayer. But not just any kind of prayer. Prayer
according to the Father's will in the authority of Jesus' name. Do you
know the Father's will? If not spend some time in His word and find out.
I'll give you a few hints. . . It is God's will that none should perish
but that all should come to repentance (1 Peter 3:9). It is God's will
that we "go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation"
(Luke 15:16). It is also God's will that His body should be in one accord
(John 17:23). It is God's will that we bear much fruit (John 15:5). It
is God's will that we extend mercy, that we stand firm, that we are patient
and kind, that we do not provoke anger, that we forgive, that we release
captives, bind the broken- hearted, that we feed the poor, give clothing
to the naked, shelter to the homeless. There is so much more I can say,
I could fill all of the pages of this newspaper with the will of God for
His followers. But instead I charge you, read the book. It is far better
than anything I could ever write.
If you feel confident that your life reflects these principles and you
are praying in accordance with God's will and you still lack power, fast.
To fast is to submit the flesh to the spirit. It's to deny yourself of
the most basic of life's necessities and pleasures. Take your body and
submit it to the Holy Spirit and see what wicked, foul, carnal desires
rise up within you. It is indeed a form of purging. This is the final
act of complete submission to God. To give up your daily bread and feast
on the word of God. Jesus fasted. He fasted forty days before He began
His ministry. He also fasted throughout His time in ministry. Once the
disciples came to Him while He was in Samaria and urged Him to eat but
He answered them saying, "I have food to eat that you know nothing
about". He explained that His food was to do the will of the Father
and to finish His work. Make that your food too.
This is not a formula. This is simply following the Master. He alone determines
the course your life shall take. But trust me in this, if you fully submit
to God, you will have vision for your journey and food for your soul.
You will have strength for your trial, love for your neighbor, and a continuous
prayer on your lips. The Lord Himself will bestow upon you His wisdom
and understanding bathed in humility. He shall equip you to do all that
He has commissioned you to do here on earth. And you shall indeed do those
things in Power. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit
of Power. . .! May you walk in His grace (with power). Thy Kingdom come!
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