Walking in Power

Walking in Power

(1Co 2:1)  And I, obrethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony God.

(1Co 2:2)  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

(1Co 2:3)  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

(1Co 2:4)  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

(1Co 2:5)  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

We all know that the Apostle Paul had perhaps one of the greatest minds in antiquity.  I constantly hear intellectuals defend their position that carnal knowledge it’s place in the kingdom of God by using Paul’s intellect to qualify their position.

The problem with that tact is that it is only a half truth, which is the same, in my opinion, as a lie.  Truth can not be shaded or twisted or bent.  There is no such thing as a half truth or a little while lie.  Truth is pure just as Jesus was and is pure.  Truth is not a matter of opinion nor is it subjective.

With that in mind let’s look at what Paul has to say about his own intellect.

He said that he was declaring the testimony of God, not with his intellect, enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.  We continues to state that our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, for too long we have been told that this power which Paul is speaking of is not for the church today.  We are also being told that this power was exclusive to our apostolic fathers and was never intended for the church today.

I submit to you that this is a lie straight out of the pits of hell!
It is totally un-scriptural and even in a carnal sense completely illogical.

These same people state that God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow and in the same breath they say that His method of drawing people to Himself is not the same.  You see, what these people are doing, willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, is shutting off the kingdom of God and the power within it from the body of Christ.

If God deemed that this power was necessary in the beginning why would it not be so today?  Has the condition of man changed?  Is he somehow less depraved then he was in ancient times?  I don’t think so.  In fact biblical history shows that the condition of man after the fall continued to worsen.  His depravity became so great that after the prophet Malachi there was some 600 years of silence from heaven.  Mankind was so depraved that God simply turned His back on them and didn’t even speak to them through His oracles, His prophets.

So if anything the condition of man continued to worsen and there is absolutely no evidence that this pattern has even remotely changed up to this present time.  All we have to do is look around at the word today to see that this truth is self evident.

Why is the body of Christ in this powerless condition today?

Because they put the wisdom of man and their own understanding before the written word of God and the wisdom imparted to us by His Holy Spirit.

There is not one single place in scripture which even remotely indicates that God has changed His method of salvation and the transformation of believers.

What is prevalent within the church today is false faith based on what I call experiential Christianity.
That is to say that the faith of many is based on what they have seen or experienced.  This is not true faith it is a carnal form of faith.

(Heb 11:1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The word “hope” in scripture does not carry with it the same meaning as it does today in modern English.  In fact the Greek word elpizō literally means to expect something.  In English when we say; I hope my prayer is answered, it implies that it may not be answered.  There is a question as to weather it will be answered.  In the Greek the word means that our prayer has been answered and we wait in expectation for the manifestation of our petition.

This verse also tells us that true faith is based on things which are not seen.  If we believe in something because our natural eyes have seen it, our natural ears have heard it or our natural mind understands it, it is not true faith according to scripture.  It is a carnal form of faith.

The truth is that this carnal Christianity has existed within the body of Christ since the beginning and is recorded in 2 Tim.

(2Ti 3:1)  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

(2Ti 3:2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

(2Ti 3:3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

(2Ti 3:4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

(2Ti 3:5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(2Ti 3:6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

(2Ti 3:7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Also Note:

(Isa 29:13)  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

(Mat 7:15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

(Mat 23:27)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

(Mat 23:28)  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

(Tit 1:14)  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

(Tit 1:15)  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

(Tit 1:16)  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

You see Brothers & Sisters even in the times of the early church this carnal Christianity was present and thriving.  However the Word of God says:

(2Ti 3:8)  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

(2Ti 3:9)  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

(2Ti 3:10)  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

(2Ti 3:11)  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

The word of God is the light which exposes the things which are hidden in the darkness.  This form of godliness will be exposed and we can be delivered onto the truth.  We can walk in the Spirit in power.

So says the Word of God!

(Joh 14:12)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

(Joh 14:13)  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(Joh 14:14)  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

(Mar 16:15)  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

(Mar 16:16)  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(Mar 16:17)  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

(Mar 16:18)  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Notice here that Jesus says “He” that believer on me, the works that I do shall he do also.  He did not say only the apostles.  He said he who believes on Him.  This power does not come from us, it comes from Jesus Himself.  In verse 14 Jesus says that what we ask in His name “I (He) will do it.

Then we have Mark 16:17 which tells us about the signs who will follow them that believe.  There is nothing in scripture which even implies that this power was exclusive to the apostles or had ended at any time after they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

In addition we have the entirety of 2Corinthians which deals exclusively with the gifts of the spirit to contend with.  Why would Paul put this teaching to parchment if it was not intended to be preserved and used by future generations?

The words as recorded in Mark 16 were the last words spoken by Jesus before he accended to the Father.

(Mar 16:19)  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

(Mar 16:20)  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Notice in verse 20 that “they went forth and preached” and what they were teaching (the word) was “conformed with signs following”.   The signs were needed to confirm that the words being spoken were true and that the men speaking them were of God.

Now think about this for a moment.  If Jesus simply spoke, and those words were not followed by signs, who would have believed he was of God or from God?  If the apostles just preached the word and did not demonstrate the anointing which was upon them, who would have listened?  Who would have believed?  In either case, no one!

(Joh 10:24)  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

(Joh 10:25)  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

(Joh 10:26)  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

(Joh 10:27)  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

(Joh 10:28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(Joh 10:29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

(Joh 10:30)  I and my Father are one.

Jesus told the Jews that “the works” that He did in the Fathers name “bear witness of” Him.

He also points to the precept of the Father and Him being one.  That He was in the Father and that the Father was in Him.

Now watch this.
This is so powerful.

(Joh 17:20)  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

(Joh 17:21)  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

(Joh 17:22)  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

(Joh 17:23)  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

(Joh 17:24)  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

(Joh 17:25)  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

(Joh 17:26)  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

This prayer that Jesus is offering up to the Father is what I call the true Lords Prayer.

It is basically broken up into two sections.  The first is our Lord praying for the Apostles.

Joh 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Notice here that Jesus says: “I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me.  Those people for whom Jesus is praying are the apostles.

(Joh 17:12)  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

The first half of this prayer is to the Father for the apostles.  Jesus expands the scope of this prayer in verse 20.

(Joh 17:20)  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Now the prayer is “for them also which shall believe on me through their word”.

Are we not the people Jesus is speaking about here?  Did we not come to believe in Jesus through their word which was His word?  So this part of Jesus prayer is for all of those, throughout the generations, who came to him through the word of the apostles.  Which is every man after Jesus ascended to the Father.

(Joh 17:21)  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

(Joh 17:22)  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

(Joh 17:23)  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

(Joh 17:24)  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

(Joh 17:25)  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

(Joh 17:26)  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Jesus is petitioning the Father that WE may be one as He and the Father are one!  He continues to state that he gave us the glory that He was Given by the Father.  It was given, We have it.

Now watch this.  GLORY to God!

Verse 23: I in them and thou in me.

(Joh 10:30)  I and my Father are one.

(Joh 17:22)  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

(Joh 17:23)  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jesus and God the Father are one.  The Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead.  The Holy Spirit lives within each and every believer.  Therefore the fullness of God, in all three persons, dwells within all of His children.  Amen?

Now here is the question of the hour:

Did God do all of this for us so that we should walk the Earth for the sole purpose of glorifying the Father as Jesus did, spreading the gospel of the kingdom, without the same power as Jesus had and the apostles had?

Brothers & Sisters you are children of the most high God.  You have within you the fullness of God living within you.  Do you believe, even with your carnal mind, that God did this and we are to walk the Earth powerless?  Do you believe that we are supposed to be God’s light onto the world and be just like the world?  Do you believe that God expects us to do what Jesus did and what the apostles did without the same power?

It wounded be like trying to change a car tire with a screw driver and a Popsicle stick.  It just doesn’t stand to reason much-less align with biblical truth.

So Brothers & Sisters, it’s time that we know who we are as children of God and cast off the lies of the enemy.  We must trust in the word of God which says that we have the same Holy Spirit within us as Jesus and the apostles did.  We have the same power within us do do the same works as they did.

What we need to do is unlock that power of the kingdom which has been shut up by false doctrine which caused us to believe that we are without the power of Christ.  We must, as is written in the word, turn away from such who have this “form of godliness and deny the power thereof” (2Ti 3:5).

Only then can we truly walk in the spirit.  Only then can we truly glorify our God, not with words but with power so that the world will know that we belong to Him and that He is Lord of all of creation.

In closing Brothers and Sisters, it has been said in our time that talk is cheap.  I submit to you that this is no less true back in the time of Christ as it is today.  We are to be doers of the word and not hearers only.  The word says that Jesus gave us His glory and power so that we can glorify the Father as He did.

God Bless You All.

Walk in the Spirit and in the Power of God!  Amen!

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