Gospel

GOD'S POWER AT WORK IN YOU PART 2

by Tolubori Ayo-Alabi
06/30/20
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GOD'S POWER AT WORK IN YOU (PART 2)

In my previous post, I said the power of God is in you. The question is how and when did the power get in you?

For the answer, I would like you to see this beautiful chapter and verse of the Bible, Rom. 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jews first, and also to the Greek."

Praise God! Did you see that, the gospel of Christ is the power of God. Amen! The day you heard the gospel of your salvation, which is, the good news of Jesus Christ (His death, and resurrection) and believed it, it produced faith in you, for salvation. Therefore the gospel is the power of God that saved (raised) you.

The moment you were saved, God's power was made available in you through the Spirit, meaning that you were raised from spiritual death, just as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was raised up by the same power. This is what it means to be "Born Again".

2Cor. 13:4
"For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."

John 5:25
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. "

Eph. 2:1
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

Can you see now, that God's power in you isn't some mystical, feel good disposition, but rather the presence of Christ in you through the Spirit. This power is God's gift of grace to you, because you are the son of God, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 3:20
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us"

Hallelujah! God's power is at work in you.

Now that you know that God's power is in you? How do you use it?

It is useless to have a sum of money in your pocket without knowing you have it, especially when you have an urgent need to be met. Same way, you can't use the power you don't know you have. Hence, the need to know how to activate this power for effectiveness.

Activating the Power of God in You.

1) The Knowledge of Christ
Beloved, grow exceedingly in the knowledge of Christ. The more you grow in this knowledge, the more you are strengthened, and rooted in your convictions of Him. And this knowledge of Christ is the awareness of everything in you in Him, including His power.
Beloved, there are many knowledge out there, and many ways through which people interpret the Bible these days, but what really matters to your growth, and the effectiveness of your faith is the exact and precise knowledge of Christ, nothing more!

Dancing around phony knowledge or people who invest precious time showing 17 mysteries of the Kingdom will jeopardise your growth in Christ.

Christ is no more a mystery and shouldn't be a mystery to the saints. Through the Spirit, the Apostles have demystified Him, who was concealed in the scriptures (the Old Testament books), and they have revealed Him in the Epistles written to us (the Church) so that our eyes of understanding can be enlightened in the knowledge of Him. Hence, the need to be diligent by the help of the Holy Spirit in being studious, that you might grow richly in His knowledge, and the consciousness of His power (2Pet. 3:18). Amen!

1Cor. 2:12-13
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

2Peter 1:3-4
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

2) Prayer
Prayer activates the power of God, which is already in you. The Bible says in James 5:16b "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Amplified version rendered the same verse thus; "...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]."

Jesus, our perfect example was a man of prayer. He started His ministry with prayer and ended with prayer. Likewise, the Apostles gave themselves to prayers for effective life and ministry. So if you will be effective in living up to God's expectation in life and ministry, then you must be given to fervent prayer.

Every step Jesus took in ministry was successful because He was given to prayer, and the exploit He did in ministry were results of a consistent prayer life. The Gospel account of Jesus revealed this truth. The Bible tells us of different accounts of Him praying all night, and waking to pray in the early hours of the morning.

No wonder Jesus had a powerful ministry! Well, you may say, "but God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and power", yes indeed, God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and with power according to Acts 10:38, but Jesus would not have been able to dispense this power for service which He was anointed for, if He had not given Himself to prayer.

Luke 6:12, the Bible says;
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. "

It is important to note that immediately after spending all night praying, the next verse says He called His disciples together and chose twelve whom He called Apostles.

What happened during His prayer time, that made Him to know who to chose and who not to?

Another instance was shortly after Jesus multiplied bread and fish, He sent His disciples away, and departed to a mountain alone to pray.

The Bible records that by evening when Jesus was done praying, He was left alone, the only boat reserved for Him to journey had been tossed into the middle of the sea because of a great storm which arose. Jesus had no other choice but to walk on water, and you know what? He did! Remember, He had just finished praying, power was made available to do the impossible.

Matt. 14:23-26
"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear."

Even when He raised Lazarus from the dead, the Bible says He said "...Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me." See John 11:41

I dare say that the major reason people receive great prophecies declared into their lives and ministries, but never see them fulfilled is because they don't birth these prophecies by understanding in the place of prayer. Remember even Jesus did the same during His earthly ministry, how much more us?

I used a phrase in the above paragraph, '...by understanding in the place of prayer', I would like to buttress more on this. Remember I made mention of 'The knowledge of Christ" as my first point in activating the power of God in you. Now, I would like you to know that prayer must be anchored on right knowledge (understanding of the knowledge of Christ) and right belief system in order for it to be effective in power and purpose.

Let's take a look at the Apostles in Acts 4:24-33, and see how this was perfectly demonstrated.

"And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 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. When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."

From the above narrative, we see the prayer of the Apostles, how it was birthed by understanding of the knowledge of Christ, and what great and immediate result that was generated. The place shook, and the Apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word of God with boldness. It went on to say with great power the Apostles gave witness of the resurrection of Christ. Hallelujah!

I have had a mindset in time pass which was not according to the accurate knowledge of Christ, and with this mindset, I had prayed fervently. What did I get? Well, the result was not impactful for ministry, although my life was straightened out in some areas.

Mark 4:24
"And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given."

But labouring in prayer with the right foundation (which is the accurate and precise knowledge of Christ) makes the man in Christ! In it is the fulfilment of prophecies, and purpose concerning him. Just as our Lord Jesus Christ finished strong, anyone given to prayer in the knowledge and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will be very effective in life and ministry, and such an one will finish strong. Distractions will be taken out of the way, the knowledge of Christ in his heart will increase, purpose will be strengthened, the gospel committed to his trust will thrive, ministerial doors will open (although, there may be adversity), discipleship of souls, and evangelism will be productive, and lastly, his eternal reward will be sure! Amen

Eph. 3:7-8
"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. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

Col.1:27-29
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

Rom. 12:12
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."

Col. 4:2
"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."

1Th 5:17
"Pray without ceasing."

To be continued

I call you blessed