Where’s the Power?

I remember reading the book of Acts and wondering, “Where is that power in the Church today?”

The power to heal all manner of disease. Open the eyes of the blind. Cause the lame to walk, and deliver those oppressed by demons.

It’s in Matthew 16:13-19.

Right where we left it.

In this passage, Jesus begins by asking his disciples who others were saying he was. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Read that description again.

Where is THAT church?

Two things to note here. One, it’s His church, and secondly, He will build it!

Upon what? The revelation of who He is.

The Jesus of Scripture is the 2nd person of the Trinity. He is God eternal who has no beginning and no end.

He is God.

Any, and all others are a Jesus created by flesh and blood.

There are many today who serve a Jesus of man’s creation. A false Jesus. There can be no power in this church because the life of God is not present. The power Jesus promised comes from the revelation from the Father of who he is, not who man says he is.

And for those who believe Jesus is both fully man and fully God, the objective of the church has become distorted. Instead of fulfilling the directive of advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth, we are consumed with the affairs of this world. Instead of being on the offensive and storming the gates of hell as Jesus intended, we find ourselves on defense, justifying our pursuit of things the Word explicitly tells us not to. Setting our minds on earthly, temporal things that will soon pass away.

Churches have also been built, not by Jesus, but by men. Men who in some cases reach celebrity status and become the object of worship, building their own, earthly kingdom. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor, labor in vain.” (Psalms 127:1)

I too have been guilty of this.

I share more of my personal story in the video, but the Holy Spirit revealed I was both in the congregation of the church of Ephesus, as well as the church of Thyatira. (churches in Revelation) I had left my first love, and tolerated the spirit of Jezebel.

I knew I needed to repent, and do the things I did at first.

I’ve known that for quite some time.

I’ve always said if I were God I would have given up on me a long time ago.

But thankfully I’m not, and grateful He never does.

It took many years for me to return, and repent of the things of which I tolerated.

But I’ve finally quite running.

In some ways, it’s like 1982 all over again. Doing the things I did at first.

Loving Jesus. Loving the Word. Believing God for the miraculous.

And ready for the church that will storm the gates of hell.