The essence of power in today’s world especially in the Christendom can’t be denied, I am not talking about political power or other form of power, and instead I am talking about the real power – the power of God.
The only thing that validates Christianity is power and not doctrine, the church of Jesus was born out of the flame of Pentecost, the religious leaders of their days couldn’t stop them because of the proof they command.
When you received Jesus, you were give power to manifest as the son of God (John 1:12), this mean that power is required for our sonship in God to be established.
The Word said in 1 Cor 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
The only thing that validates God’s Kingdom in our lives is the manifestation of God’s power. That is why whenever the Word of God is preached by anointed men of God; God performs signs and wonder to confirm the message.
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Mat 12:28)
God ALSO BEARING THEM WITNESS, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Heb 2:4)
And they went forth, and preached every where, the LORD WORKING WITH THEM, AND CONFIRMING THE WORD with signs following. Amen. (Mar 16:20)
What God simply do is to confirm His Word with power, the only authenticate proof of our Christian faith is not doctrine but power.
This is because, by faith we are connected to the Living Vine (Jesus) and we are meant to partake and enjoy the same order of the supernatural that He enjoy while He was on the earth
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (Rom 11:16-17)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (Joh 14:12)
Why Power, this is because we are in war with the devil, who doesn’t answer or submit to powerless doctrine and words but to power
In Act 19:14, the Word talks about the sons of Sceva, they tried to use name of Jesus without being a part of Jesus – the Living source of power, Remember that without Him, we can’t do nothing (John 15:5), so Jesus is the Power House.
The devil asked them, Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you? This is because they don’t have identity with Jesus
So Satan doesn’t listen to doctrine, he respect power and this was validated in Psa 66:3
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (Psa 66:3)
Friend, it takes power for the devil to submit to you and since God has ordained us for triumph, it simply means that we have access to power to overcome the devil (1 John 5:4) The hand of God is the only thing that can prove that you are not serving a death God.
Access to Power
To access this power, we need faith. Let me paint a graphical picture from the Word of God that will help you appreciate the place of faith in moving the hand of God toward your direction.
In Luk 8:43-48, the bible told us of story of the woman with the issue of blood, everybody knows that story but I want by the help of the Spirit of God to paint a graphical picture from that small passage of scriptures.
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. (Luk 8:43-48)
Note in verse 48, the bible made us to understand that the woman was healed by faith thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
But let us look at how faith connected her to her desired healing. The bible recorded that when the woman acted on what she believed – her faith in Jesus (Mk 5:27-28), Jesus asked a question “who touched me?” and the Word recorded that Jesus asked who touched me for virtue is gone out of me.
The word virtue simply means power, so Jesus was saying that power has gone out of Me. This means that faith in God release God’s power into your situation.
In Luke 1:37(RV) “No void from God is void of power” There is power of God’s Word (Rom 1:17, Luk 1:45)
But what bring about the confirmation and release of the power embedded in the Word of God is faith
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Heb 4:2)
So if faith connects us to the power of God, then doubt is the circuit breaker. Circuit breaker is a device that cut the flow of power within an enclosed circuit or unit.
Let look at the scripture and see this truth repeated over and over again
Power to walk on water
Let’s examine why Peter failed in his walk of faith while walking on water
Mat 14:24-31
(24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
(25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
(26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
(27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
(28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
(29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
(31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
From verse 28 we saw that Peter asked Jesus to bid him to come unto Him on the water,
In verse 29: Jesus answered him saying “come”, this mean come to where I am on water. I want you to note something from that word “come” Peter didn’t asked Jesus to make him walk on water but his request was that Jesus should ask him to come to Him(Jesus) walking on water.
Then he acted on it [the word of the Master]. The bible said he walked on water to go to Jesus,
Hear this: anytime you caught a revelation from the word of God normally called the rhema, there is no need to pray about it, just believe and act on it, your action is the authentic proof that you believe God.
Why is it so? According to Psalm 119:18, God is the One that open His Word to you, so anytime you contact an insight from His Word. It is God speaking to you via His word, just act on it and have the result. Obedience of faith is the price to pay to access God’s blessing.
Provided that Peter was in faith [believing God and act on the word of God] he was doing well, but immediately in verse 30 he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid[doubt] and immediately began to sink.
In verse 31 Jesus said o thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt
So doubt i.e. fear was the reason why Peter began to sink into the water. When Jesus spoke the word “Come” i.e come unto me walking on water. Power was released because wherever the word of the King is there is power. But it was not enough, Peter had to exercise his faith by acting on the word of Jesus and He was empowered to walk on water.
While he was in faith, He was in power but immediately doubt stepped in, power left. So power is not your problem, but doubt. At the instance of faith in God’s Word, power is released but the only force that can short circuit the flow is doubt.
Ministry of the Disciples
Let also examine why the disciples couldn’t casted the devil out in Mathew 17
Mat 17:19-21
(19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
(20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
So reason why the disciples couldn’t cast the devil is not because of power because in Luke 9:1
(1) Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Jesus gave them power over ALL DEVILS so the problem was not an issue of power but of lack of faith – unbelief, in verse 20 of Math 17 Jesus said ...because of your unbelief.
Then you may ask what about verse 21 ....by prayer and fasting. In Isaiah 58:6 talking about the benefit of fasting
Isa 58:8
(8) Then shall THY LIGHT BREAK forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
The light among other things in scriptures signify the understanding of the word of God[Psalm 119:18] and from Roman 10:17 faith come as the word of God come therefore it mean that as we fast we provoke the release of light of the word which then fortify our faith and conquer our doubt.
Disciples and the Storm
Let look at another case from scriptures
Luke 8:22-25
(22) Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
(23) But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
(24) And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
(25) And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
From this short passage of scriptures, the disciple waked Jesus up and He rebuked the sea and there was a great calm in the sea and then asked them where is your faith? This means they could do command the sea and it will obey them, because in verse 22 He said to them that let us go over unto the other side of lake.
So it means that no sea, storm or anything has power to drown them and stop them from crossing over to the other side of the lake, If they believe His word and act on it: [by being calm, not anxious and addressing the storm that the Master said that we should go over unto the other side of lake, so you can stop us, therefore stop and be calm in Jesus Name]. They wouldn’t had any need to wake up Jesus.
Jesus asking them where is your faith ? Means they can do the same thing He just did by faith in His word. Friend, you have seen from the pages of God’s Word that doubt is a dangerous weapon that the enemy uses against us to disconnect us from God and the power that we need to overcome the devil.
According to scriptures, prayer is a power generating house but it is the faith that makes it fruitful, I wrote an article sometime ago and I said prayer don’t heal anybody, it is the prayer of faith that heal the sick.
The reason why most believers have no experienced the power of God in their finance despite the fact that they are committed giver is because of lack of faith. Faith is all you need to connect, but doubt is all it takes to disconnect you from the flow of power.
Many people give up easily when they don’t see result without knowing that the power of God is at work behind the scene and when they cast away their confidence, the power is short circuited and the miracle flow stops
Refuse doubt, refuse fear, faith is a great living force the draw from the Living Word to produce living proof, the Word in Heb 11:2 that by faith the elders obtained a good reports.
Do you want good reports in your life, do you want the report of God’s Word to be vivid in your life then believe Him and His Word. The word said “Who have believed our report and unto who has the hand of the Lord be revealed”
Do you want to see God’s report of healing, prosperity, protection, health then believe the report. Doubt focuses on the report of the natural and men but faith focus on the report of God, what is written.
The natural report say that you are down with symptom but faith say I believe the report of God, God said that He Himself took My Infirmities, by his stripes, My healing is process, I may not feel it now but the healing power of God is working on my body, quickening me back to life.
It is all your decision, whose report do you believe – Satan report, man’s report or God’s report.
Remember every fact that is against the truth is fake, this because we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.
Look up to Jesus and say “Lord I believe your report, connect me to Your power through your Word and establish me in the good reports of your Word”