The Lord Manifests His Power

Wouldn't you like such power also?

Can you even faintly imagine the thrill and exhilaration that resulted from such a use and display of power? My, my! I've got to tell you that sometimes I wish I could do that. I don't think I want to call attention to myself through such power, I just want to bless certain people with it. For instance, right now I wish I could quickly get to the Barents Sea up there in the Arctic Circle and rescue those 100+ Russian submariners trapped in their disabled nuclear submarine. They are over 300 feet below the water's surface with very little hope of getting out alive. Now don't you think it would be glorious if I or you could use God's power to rescue them miraculously? I do. Think of all the wonderful press and glory God would get if both you and I suddenly showed up out there, announced we have neither submersible nor rescue sub, but such as we have we will give. Then we jump into the water and....

Oh my. We could really imagine a fantastic scenario that would convincingly display God's power. Though that kind of imagining is rather silly, it does show how much we would like to wield God's power. So to answer the question above, Yes, I would like such power also!

As much as I would like to rescue those stranded men, I do not believe God has empowered me to do so. So I guess I'll just go my merry way and not fret about God manifesting His power through me. That strikes me as quite sane, logical and realistic. Don't you agree?

If you do, you shouldn't! You see....

If you are a Christian, you do have power!

A brother in my home congregation did a very powerful thing for me several weeks ago. No, he didn't heal me of my chronic allergy problems nor did he make it unnecessary for me to wear glasses. He didn't even touch the hood of my vehicle and immediately do a perfect job of rebuilding the tired, old engine. I'm sure he would be delighted to do all those things for me, but he didn't. In fact, he couldn't. But he did touch my soul in a very thrilling, healing, satisfying way. He simply said, "As far as I'm concerned, you can keep on teaching our Sunday School class." I never expected him to say such a thing, so I was deeply thrilled. Since our relationship has had its adversarial times, his comment brought a degree of healing. And since I had previously figured that if anyone were getting tired of my teaching it would be he, his commendation was also quite satisfying. Do you not see the power this Christian brother has?!

All Christians have that kind of power. Do not despise it! Use it! And use it often and generously. Be alert to the opportunities to bless, help and encourage others...especially at home, because there we tend to fail the most frequently.

Do you know what makes God's people stand out? Do you know what makes them effective for Jesus? Notice the last verse of this lesson: "They marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

My friend, to live with the power of Jesus you must be with Jesus!