Who’s in Control Here? #submittedtoChrist

In my last post I talked about how Christ ministered on a different level than the Pharisees.  The power of God flowed out of Him without His control.  In the case of the woman with the issue of blood, it was even without the Lord’s knowledge.

Now that’s a definite problem for us in modern day Christianity.  We want control.  We want to be able to turn it on and off.  We want people to know who the power came from.

It seems to me that God wants us to be a hose, and we want to be a faucet.  This brings my mind back to a post I wrote months ago.  It was about II Timothy 3:5.

This was the verse in which Paul warned us that in the last days there would be those who had a form of godliness but denied the power.  If you remember, the Greek word for deny was a-rheo – not flowing.

So many people want to control instead of flow.  We cannot have that kind of attitude and be greatly used by God.  We must see ourselves as a channel of the Lord’s power, and not a container.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases…
Luke 9:1

This is the next logical step in this line of thinking.  Because the power of God flows, it can be given and received.  Jesus was able to give the disciples power because it flowed through Him.  This is good news for us also, because we have the same Holy Spirit living in us that Jesus had within Him.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

What a great verse!  Power is given by the Holy Spirit and we can receive it.  This seems a little too simple for our liking.  We try to make it so complicated.  So we have come up with all kinds of laws, disciplines, steps, and rituals that we say are necessary in order to walk in this power.

We have placed tithing, confession, and a whole host of other requirements in people’s path.  But the truth of the matter is that I must abide in Christ.  Then the power will flow through the Holy Spirit to me if I’m in a position to receive it.  It’s actually all about positioning ourselves correctly.  That’s what a majority of my blog is about.

I’m trying to get the church to reposition itself for revival.  That’s where we need to be.  In a position to receive the power of the Holy Spirit the same way that Christ did.  Then, the world will see the difference and be drawn to the Lord.  After all, it’s all about Him, not us.

Question: How would our church look different if we ministered like Jesus?

© Nick Zaccardi 2013

 

Continuing in Power #powerofGod

I have been posting about how Christ was tempted in the wilderness.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, He overcame all the assaults of the enemy.  But there’s more to the story than just the devil’s defeat.

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.  Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
Luke 4:13-14

The story goes on.  After the devil had done everything he knew to do, he was finished.  The enemy had totally drained his battery.  He had to leave for a while to recharge.

Jesus, on the other hand, didn’t miss a beat.  He’d been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days.  Then the Lord experienced a spiritual battle the likes of which we’ve never seen in our lives.

Was He drained?  Did he have to recuperate?  Absolutely not!  Jesus Christ came out of the wilderness experience just as powerful as when He entered 40 days before.

We need to walk in this kind of power.  But in order to do this we must let go of our reliance upon the promises and start acting like spiritual adults.  We need to truly tap into the full potential of the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work within us.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Ephesians 3:16

Without a doubt, this is the key – the Holy Spirit living within us.  Being led by the Spirit is the earmark of a son.  We must remain in Christ if we are to access this potential.  Christ is our example.

I don’t know why we’ve turned it around and made it all about us.  As if we have the power to change anything.  We think that if we find the right promise or confess the right Scripture verse, then a miracle will happen.  Maybe if we put together the correct formula of words in a prayer the power will manifest.

What’s the secret of how Christ consistently walked in the power of the Spirit?  It wasn’t confessions or formulas.  It was the time He spend remaining in the Father’s presence.  He prayed, He listened, and He obeyed.

It’s time for us to learn this lesson.  We need to stop looking for an easy way to tap into the Spirit while continuing to live for ourselves.  I need to submit to the Lord’s agenda for my life.  Time in the presence of God is the only thing that will bring about this transformation.

Question: What would have to change in order for you to spend more time in the Lord’s presence?

© Nick Zaccardi 2013