Meditate on this!
When
seeking to accomplish a task greater than one can legally do, a person
or group may say; “I come in the name of so-in-so who has the legal
authority. Emergency personnel do this all the time and their works
prove who they are, just as Jesus does in John 14:7-11
Power
in simple human terms is defined as motive or potential but I believe
that this is looking at the energy of the word from the bottom up and
not as God does from the top down. Notice if you will the statements of
Jesus in Matthew 9:1-8.
First He forgives the sin of the paralytic and He is charged with
blasphemy by the ambulance chasers. Jesus replies; “Why do you think
evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven
you, or say, arise and walk”? (Arise and walk looks easier, but the
statement lacks power and is not easily justified). Then Jesus says,
“That you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive
sins” He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house”. Jesus uses faith in His Father and neutralizes the scribes
accusations by using the same power used in forgiving and healing the
paralytic. So does this provide ample information about the power of
God? By His Word, God created the heavens and the earth, Genesis 1. By
His Word, He rebukes the wind and the sea and there was a great calm, Matthew 8:23-27. By His mercy we are not consumed, because His compassions toward us do not fail, Lamentations 3:22-23.
The apostle Paul puts the power of God into action with the words;
“LOVE never fails.” Walking in the power and authority of God with our
neighbor, friend or loved going in the healing power that overcomes the
world… faith working through love. A power that works from the top down;
1 John 4:17 through 1 John 5:1-5.
James
James 3:1
– For all teachers of the Living Word of God this is a verse that can
be very alarming. Early in my personal relationship with the LORD Jesus I
knew nothing of this verse. Then while preparing to teach in Hartford,
CT one Friday evening I stumble across the words, “receive a stricter
judgment. I though! Oh boy… I am in trouble now! As time has gone by (30
plus years) the LORD has calmed my heart over this subject and I hope
that for all teachers of the Living Word of God that your heart is calm.
Remember, Jesus calms all storms.
James 3:2
– none of us are perfectly mature, but in more places than here in the
Epistle of James we are challenged to be perfect and complete and to be
ready in season and out of season to give convincing evidence of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Why? Because there is, as the Day of the LORD
draws nearer a falling away of many who will not endure the solid
foundation of DOCTRINE. Many already today have fallen from truth and
have turned aside to contemporary fables, calling for reformed theology
as if it were necessary. Bah! Humbug!
What
is necessary then? Should we bridle the tongue and force ourselves to
speak only from the KJV as some would dictate? I do believe that all of
these translations of the Living Word of God has placed a dark and
confusing cloud over doctrine, but again 2 Timothy 4 does not mandate us
to teach from just the KJV, but as the apostle Paul charges Timothy by
challenging him to endure the affliction of those who apply a stricter
judgment to simply do the work of the evangelist and fulfill the
ministry that God has given you. This same charge applies to all who
preach the Word.
No comments:
Post a Comment