Faith

by Debbie Wallis

the Ephesians 1 power? It’s the power that the Scripture actually promises you to have. The same power that brought Christ back from the dead is meant to be operating in those who are in Christ.

Resurrection is an ongoing thing in the life of the Christian, and that same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in you and me Is it, as Jesus said, flowing out of you as rivers of living water, touching those around you in your family, in your community? God's vision for evangelism was power Paul wrote to the people of Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 1: 5, “Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake ” The kingdom of God is not to be in word only, but in power. Evangelism is not only to be preaching the word, but demonstrations of God's power by your life. It’s the Holy Spirit that brings God's power and conviction to the spirit of a sinner.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:16 This light in you comes from Jesus Christ. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,” Ephesians 5:8 This light radiates from the power of God and is evidence of the Holy Spirit that resides in you as a child of God

The Gospel is very much linked to the power of God. In Romans 1:16, Paul says that it’s the power of God The power of God can flow through those who are saved by the blood of Christ Develop a lifestyle of worship and closeness with God so you can experience all that God has for you to experience. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13 If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior the power of God is already in you You have the Holy Spirit residing in you and you have the authority of Jesus Christ to do according to His will. You have in you the ability to do great things for the Kingdom of God Be a witness of God just as His disciples did to bring people to Christ

One of God’s attributes is power

He shares His power with His people. If you are born again you know a measure of God's power - but I'm asking you if you know

Contemporary Christian singer and song writer, Jeremy Camp, has a song called Same Power It has convicted me like a two edge sword I’m going to write out the lyrics in paragraph form so please read it as a statement. Let it apply to you, as a power filled follower of Christ, and what your role is in this world we live in today.

“I can see waters raging at my feet I can feel the breath of those surrounding me I can hear the sound of nations rising up. We will not be overtaken! We will not be overcome! I can walk down this dark and painful road. I can face every fear of the unknown I can hear all God’s children singing out; “We will not be overtaken! We will not be overcome!” The same power that rose Jesus from the grave, the same power that commands the dead to wake lives in us, lives in us! The same power that moves mountains when He speaks and the same power that can calm a raging sea lives in us, lives in us He lives in us! We have hope that His promises are true. In His strength there is nothing we can’t do Yes, we know there are greater things in store We will not be overtaken! We will not be overcome! Greater is He that is living in me. He’s conquered our enemy! No power of darkness, no weapon prevails! We stand here in victory!”

As the body of Christ, we show no signs we truly believe this same power is in us The atmosphere of our churches don’t resonate this same power We may sing Jeromy Camp’s song and even gain some confidence when we do but like my Nanny said, “The proof is in the pudding.” The only way to live the Christian life is by God's power The tragedy is: many of us have divorced ourselves from the supernatural source of the Holy Spirit We have, as Paul said to Timothy, 'a form of godliness that denies the power'. There is an absence of power in Christian lives Wickedness is raging like a nuclear meltdown and it’s going to take a supernatural life to withstand these trials We talk about what’s happening in our country and what our government is or is not doing and all along we have the power of the living God in us We can calm raging seas! God’s power cannot be miss use. Only true Christians have it inside to use and it’s only through the Holy Spirit making it available

I’m preaching to myself, also So far I have not walked on water and I have not commanded the dead to raise Having faith to pray and ask God to do something is not the same thing. I have faith and I use it. I have dormant powers that I haven’t tapped into.

“But I tell you the truth, it is profitable for you that I should go away; for unless I go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you,” John 16:7 The Holy Spirit was sent to be with each believer He is without the restrictions of a body, as Jesus had. He comes as our Helper and He gives us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me,” Acts 1:8

If you do not have a Bible please contact me at sfadebbie@yahoo com and I will provide you one.