Are you settling for a powerless Christian life?
Sadly a lot of us are. A lot of us are what Joyce Meyer calls "miserable" Christians with pitiful lives. Why? Because we are either ignorant or lazy or stubborn about accessing the power that has been given to us in the Holy Spirit. The same POWER that literally raised Christ from the dead is available to us, and yet Satan uses skillfully manipulates our lives to beat us down on a daily basis.
Ephesians 1:19-20 ...and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, NKJV
Romans 8:11 ...But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. NKJV
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV
Modern Christianity has made us scared of anything supernatural. The deception of false prophets has also made many skeptics when it comes to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. However when Christ left earth the one thing He promised us was POWER.
Acts 1:8 ...But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. NKJV
Modern Christianity is also a lot more about "talk". Many have a lot to say about the Christian faith but very few have the evidence of God's power to back up their words. Paul warns about this in 1 Corinthians 4. Think about it, even when sending out the disciples to preach repentance in Mark 6, their message was accompanied by the POWER of God manifesting in healing and deliverance.
1 Corinthians 4:20 ...For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. NKJV
Mark 6:12-13 ...So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. NKJV
This sad truth about modern Christianity should not surprise us though. In 2 Timothy Paul listed it as one of the signs of the last days; having a form of religion but no power. And Paul warned Timothy to distance himself from such. We should not tolerate powerless Christianity either.
2 Timothy 3: 1,5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:...having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV
So can Christianity be true without power? Based on my current understanding of scripture, my answer to that question is no. Therefore I refuse to have a Christian experience here on earth devoid of the manifestation of God's power through the Holy Spirit.
So what is this POWER? Its is that which manifests itself not only through miracles but also through true character transformation, and joy in the midst of tribulation. A lot of us do not experience this power because we grieve the Holy Spirit (flirting with sin, compromising on biblical standards), we are carnally minded (too focused on the worldly and fleshly desires) and we do not walk in the Spirit (lack of intimacy with God). Of these things the Bible clearly warns us.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. NKJV
Romans 8:11 ...for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. NKJV
Galatians 5:16 I say then; Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh NKJV
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