By Rev. Gamaliel B. Filio
General Evangelist
LIVE POWER
The CHURCH OF CHRIST has POWER. Not ordinary power. But power that comes from on high. This is power that does not merely come from God but is OF GOD. This is power that is found in every individual church but, ironically in some, remains LATENT power. It must not continue to be so, but must be developed and used. It must translate into ACTIVE Power.
POWER FROM ON HIGH
The Church can only function and overcome the world when it is powered by nothing else but the Holy Spirit.
It should not be man-driven for the power of man cannot overcome the forces of evil. Rather, it should be God-powered through the power that Jesus promised His disciples. “…..but tarry ye in the city of Jeruzalem, until you be endued with the power from on high.” Luke 24:49
Neither should it be concept-driven because concepts change as time goes by. Concept refers to the ways we use to accomplish a plan, project, or endeavor. There are old concepts and there are new concepts. But we all know that what is new now will be old ten years after because new concepts will surely come that will be replaced also years later.
There are people and concepts that are right and there are those that are wrong and misleading. The big number of people following a person and his concept is not a gauge of right or wrong. Because wide is the road towards perdition. One should not do something just because it is the “in thing” at a particular time and conversely one should not be so fanatical about traditional things.
The Church holds onto something that never changes – THE WORD OF GOD. 1 Peter 1:24-25
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
KJV
THE POWER TO DISCERN
The power to discern and to understand comes from the Holy Spirit that must be endued in every Church and in every Christian.
1 Cor 2:9-10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
KJV
ENDUING THE CHURCH WITH POWER
When Jesus left the church his disciples lacked knowledge, capability, courage, finances, personality and leadership. They had no power to accomplish the Great Commission that Jesus commanded them. But he promised them power from on high.
God fulfilled His promise on Pentecost Day. On that blessed day, the Holy Spirit was manifested by “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” and “cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,” and the Church was endued with Power. This is the beginning of the SPIRIT-POWERED CHURCH. Acts 2:1-3
Today, the Church will almost always lack knowledge, capability, courage, finances, personality and leadership. But it has overcome these because it has power that comes from on high to enable it to accomplish the Great Commission. A promise was given and the promise was fulfilled by God on Pentecost Day. The Church must run and yes fly by this power source.
General Evangelist
LIVE POWER
The CHURCH OF CHRIST has POWER. Not ordinary power. But power that comes from on high. This is power that does not merely come from God but is OF GOD. This is power that is found in every individual church but, ironically in some, remains LATENT power. It must not continue to be so, but must be developed and used. It must translate into ACTIVE Power.
POWER FROM ON HIGH
The Church can only function and overcome the world when it is powered by nothing else but the Holy Spirit.
It should not be man-driven for the power of man cannot overcome the forces of evil. Rather, it should be God-powered through the power that Jesus promised His disciples. “…..but tarry ye in the city of Jeruzalem, until you be endued with the power from on high.” Luke 24:49
Neither should it be concept-driven because concepts change as time goes by. Concept refers to the ways we use to accomplish a plan, project, or endeavor. There are old concepts and there are new concepts. But we all know that what is new now will be old ten years after because new concepts will surely come that will be replaced also years later.
There are people and concepts that are right and there are those that are wrong and misleading. The big number of people following a person and his concept is not a gauge of right or wrong. Because wide is the road towards perdition. One should not do something just because it is the “in thing” at a particular time and conversely one should not be so fanatical about traditional things.
The Church holds onto something that never changes – THE WORD OF GOD. 1 Peter 1:24-25
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
KJV
THE POWER TO DISCERN
The power to discern and to understand comes from the Holy Spirit that must be endued in every Church and in every Christian.
1 Cor 2:9-10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
KJV
ENDUING THE CHURCH WITH POWER
When Jesus left the church his disciples lacked knowledge, capability, courage, finances, personality and leadership. They had no power to accomplish the Great Commission that Jesus commanded them. But he promised them power from on high.
God fulfilled His promise on Pentecost Day. On that blessed day, the Holy Spirit was manifested by “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” and “cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,” and the Church was endued with Power. This is the beginning of the SPIRIT-POWERED CHURCH. Acts 2:1-3
Today, the Church will almost always lack knowledge, capability, courage, finances, personality and leadership. But it has overcome these because it has power that comes from on high to enable it to accomplish the Great Commission. A promise was given and the promise was fulfilled by God on Pentecost Day. The Church must run and yes fly by this power source.
3 comments:
WELCOME UNIDA TRAVELLER! Come and participate! God chose us to be in a Spirit-Powered Church.
I am glad I found this blogsite. I consider the church as the most conservative institution on earth and it is quite refreshing to find you here in the thick of the fight, so to speak.
Have you read the book “Future Shock?” It contends that the future is here already. After reading this I worried about the church. How can it cope in such a situation?, I asked myself. But when I read you, I am assured. Yes, I believe also that it has power but I did not realize that it is power that is inherent in itself because Christ is the head of the church.
Thank you.
To BFR: Welcome traveler! Read on! There will be more about the Church later. And yes, I have read “Future Shock!” Don’t worry, the church will cope, simply because Jesus Christ will equip the church fully-armored for royal priesthood with the KAISA Spirit face-up to the future!
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