Sermon Central
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Where Is The Power?
Contributed by Vera Hughes on Feb 20, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus walked in the power of God. The church in this generation has gotten into freakiness, faultiness, and out right hype. But there is no real power of God being manifested. This message looks at how to find the real power of God.
Turn to Matthew 15:30 and I Corinthians 4:19-20 and Luke 10:19.
I Cor. 4:19-20
Jesus walked in the power of God. The church in this generation has gotten into freakiness, faultiness, and out right hype. But there is no power manifested.
God has stirred something up within me and I long, I yearn, I covet a move—not a move, a habitation of the power of God.
Are you hungry or are you happy where you are? You might not even want to see the power of God. You might be happy just being the way you are.
We cannot afford to live any longer with the power of God manifested in our lives.
There are some things we need to transcend to this generation and some we will need to leave behind.
It’s not going to those who don’t believe that God has power and have given to you. It is going to people who believe that God can do exploit.
Your deliverance tonight is guaranteed; if you feel it grab it. If you want to run, shout, do it. This is your day to see great power.
Why we don’t see the power of God:
1. Vessels are not living in the will of God and died (due to sin) before their time.
God is Holy. He wants us to be holy.
Lev. 10:3
God will get honor through us. The world is watching us. People judge God by us. If we bring reproach to God, he will judge us sometimes openly. He is Holy.
We have to get ruthless with sin.
Sin defiles and destroys. It poisons and pollutes. It curses and corrupts.
You need to truly repent. It produces a change of heart and causes a change in conduct.
Essence of repentance is that it produces deep-seated lasting change. It is the real key to sanctification. It is they key to a restore church.
Are you ready to get ruthless with sin tonight?
2. We have not accepted the redemption work of Jesus.
Jesus came to the earth to:
a. Provide redemption; release man from sin and the effects of sin.
b. Redemption – rescue from the bondage of sin.
Col. 1:12-14
Partaker - receive
Delivered - from past
Example: I put 100K in the bank, but never go get it. So I haven’t received it because I didn’t make a withdrawal.
The blood of Jesus made you fit.
Hath - he already did it.
Forgiveness - past, present and future.
Too many are wondering if healing is true, prosperity etc.,, because you are still begging (please, please, please).
Too many people are living by rules or by a list.
Jesus redeemed us from the works of the devil.
3. Many do not act on what they believe.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith - is the testimony we have in the power of God.
You must have faith for what you received and then activate your faith. (or do something)
When you believe you receive what you believe, then you will see manifestation of the power of God in your life.
I know you believe, but have you received since you believed?
Do you believe a chair can support your body? Then you receive what you believe when you sit in that chair.
The reason many do not act on what they believe is that they are cowards. You cannot be a coward. Sin makes you a coward. But you are no longer children tossed to and fro.
Sinners are cowards; believers are heroes. Sin has lost is power, but you must manifest the power by faith.
I Cor. 2:1-5
How do we manifest God’s power in this generation?
1) Through prayer.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Prayer transforms. Prayer gets results.
Jesus needed to pray, so we need to pray.
Heb. 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
It is focused faith and concentrated concern. It is praying with spiritual intimacy. It is making contact with God and staying in contact with God.
Prayer is not mindless repetition of religious mumbo jumbo.
2. Understand spiritual warfare.
To see the power of God in this generation, we must understand the levels of spiritual warfare.
