Message to the Church
Power… what we are taught to rally to. I often ponder as I read the scripture of what God must think as believers seek out more power from Him. “Make me strong in this fight”… “give me strength that I might endure”… “Lord give me strength”… How does this pursuit serve us? Is this a biblical approach to God? The questions continue for me…
Let me be clear, God gives His people power. However, it is not sparing, nor is it in measure, though we treat his dispensation as such. His power is more akin to breathing air. It’s abundant everywhere. We don’t pray that we might have more air, do we? The concept is the same… when we believe power is given to us and signs follow. These signs are His virtues in us as Kingdom citizens, allowed by God to declare His realm and reign. So then why do we pursue power?
It is here and now that I want to introduce to you the concept of modernity. The concept of Christian modernity is not new. In fact, the idea was birthed in the 17th century. Modernism is the philosophy that elevates humans to the apex of authority. Postmodernism, its successor, suggests that objective truth cannot be determined. Modernism (also referred to as the Enlightenment) believed it could rescue civilization from dark superstition and Christianity by stripping away all sources of authority except that of humans.
Both modernism and postmodernism has crept its way into the ethos of christian thought and expression creating a people who view themselves as the apex, only under God will they be submissive, as long as He answers them when they want.
The “ancient of days”, also known to us as Yahweh, did not conscribe us into His realm and kingdom for us to be filled with pride. The enemy of our souls is the one who lusts for power. So much so that he thought he could usurp God with his own plan.
So God in His genius laid down a set of boundaries. He told man all these things that you desire I will give you but there is a key to unlock its full potential. The key to having His power flow through you in unlimited ways is through the pursuit of understanding our own weakness before Him. For the scripture declares: ”But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.“ - 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
So here we are… resting in the clear voice of the Holy Spirit, that power is not the goal, understanding our weakness before a Holy God is. So the obvious question now is; how do you become weak? The answer is in letting go… It is our instinct to find a way to self preserve. In doing so we find any means by which to survive, both mentally and physically. However, our realty as new creations in Christ is that, He is our protector, provider, and strong tower. It is not power that saves us, it’s Him. The key to open the gates of His fortified city is not words, it’s our hearts recognition of our own weakness.
WE NEED HIM!!!
His attributes already belong to us, but if we act as if our inheritance is something we earned, you disqualify the very nature of the one who gave it to you in the first place.
So what am I saying? Humble yourself and recognize that you are created and desperately in need of Him daily. You already have His power, but the power is not the goal. Knowing Him is the goal and the only way to do that is through weakness.