Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God:
Romans 13:1
We
know that one reason God demonstrates His power on earth is to reveal Himself
to man. Spiritual power delegated to
believers is also for this purpose:
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise , take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. Matthew 9:6-8
Through
a powerful Church [the body of Christ], God desires to reveal Himself to the entire universe:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10
The purpose of this revelation through power is:
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me. Acts 26:18
Jesus
combined the proclamation of the Kingdom of God with its demonstration. When
Jesus was questioned
"are you the one who was to come?" Luke 7:19,
He did not reply with argument or logic. He said:
. . . Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached. Luke 7:22
"are you the one who was to come?" Luke 7:19,
He did not reply with argument or logic. He said:
. . . Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached. Luke 7:22
Power
demonstrates the Kingdom of God in action. The miracles of Jesus demonstrated
that the Kingdom of God was at hand. They were illustrations of what the
Kingdom will be like in its visible form when the New Heaven and New Earth are
created:
¨ Casting
out demons signals God's invasion of the realm of Satan and his final destruction:
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Matthew 12:29;
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Mark 3:27;
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: Luke 11:21;
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31;
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:1
¨ Healing the sick looks forward to the day when all suffering will end:
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4
¨ Miraculous provision of food tells us of a day when all human need
will end:
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. Matthew 14: 19-21
¨ Stilling the storms looks forward to victory over the powers using
nature to threaten the earth:
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1
¨ Raising the dead announces that death will be forever done away
with:
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, . . . John 11:43-44
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26
Powerful
signs and wonders confirm the Word of God:
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy WORD. By stretching forth thine hand to heal: and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Acts 4:29-30
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Mark 16:20
The
power of God rested on Jesus to equip Him for ministry:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Isaiah 61:1
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, & healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him. Acts 10:38)
And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:22
This
same power was evident in the ministries of believers in the early church. Apostle Paul
said:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Ephesians 3:7
The
effectual working of God's power within you results in ministry. Your ministry
comes into being and develops into maturity through the power of God at work in
you. Apostle Paul said:
The
early Church was born in a demonstration of God’s power, not through great
orators or theological debate. This demonstration of God’s power permitted
their faith to be in God instead of the skillful speaking abilities of men. We should know that it is God that adds the unsaved to His body; not our speaking power. Peter and the disciples preached under the power of the Holy Spirit:
. . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47
. . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47
God's
power enables all areas of spiritual ministry: spreading of the Gospel,
ministering to the sick, oppressed, and those bound with demonic powers:
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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. Mark 16:17-18
And when He had called them unto Him, His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Matthew 10:1
You
are approved as a minister of God by the power of God:
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 7
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 7
(Biblical
Studies)
10/03/13
04/14/15
06/23/16
08/14/19
10/03/13
04/14/15
06/23/16
08/14/19
02/25/21
Blessings+
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