Readings for today: Genesis 30-31:16, Matthew 10:1-23, Psalms 12, Proverbs 3:13-15
“And Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” (Matthew 10:1)
The gospel is not an idea. Not a philosophy. Not a moral code. It is quite literally the power of God. To receive the gospel is to receive this power. To believe the gospel is to be filled with this power. To lay hold of the gospel is to lay hold of this power. The power of God fills the life of every believer, granting us authority and dominion over all God has made. Jesus gave power to His disciples. As they went out proclaiming the gospel, they would cast out demons. Heal disease. Raise the dead. These signs and wonders would serve to authenticate the message they were preaching.
I have seen this in action. The church in Africa is growing at an exponential rate. The preaching of the gospel is accompanied by signs and wonders. The church planters we support are filled with power as they go forth. They cast out demons. They heal disease. They raise the dead. They survive beatings, stonings, stabbing, shootings, and miraculously recover. I have personally witnessed miraculous healings. I have personally witnessed resurrection. I have personally seen demonic spirits get cast out. To see the power of God in action is awe-inspiring to say the least. It brings me to my knees.
How do we access such power? By keeping the first and greatest commandment. Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The more we love God, the more we serve God. The more we serve God, the more He equips us with power for that service. The more we sacrifice for God, the more He provides for us. The more we relinquish to God, the more He is able to use us. The secret to the power of the early disciples or modern-day African church planters or persecuted believers in China is their whole-hearted devotion to Christ. They do not try to live a double life. They do not try to have their cake and eat it too. They understand that holding onto the things of this world while laying hold of the world to come will only pull them apart. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot live with a foot in both Kingdoms. You either give yourself fully over to Christ and die to self or you hold onto “Self” and lose your grip on Christ. There is no neutral ground here.
So that brings up a really hard question we all have to face...if we are not experiencing the power and presence of Christ in our lives then it is highly likely we have allowed some other “love” to gain a foothold. It could be a relationship we can’t live without. A lifestyle we refuse to relinquish. A preferred future we can’t let go of. A dream we won’t let die. It could be a sin we’ve allowed to enslave us. A lie we start to believe. How does one discern? How do we know? Engage in some healthy, prayerful self-reflection. Look at the life of Christ. What about Him do you find unattractive or unrealistic? Is there anything about what He teaches or how He lived that you find yourself resisting? When you hear His words and see His love, do you find yourself dis-believing on some level? Do you trust the lies of your own heart over the truth Jesus preaches?
This is where the rubber meets the road in the Christian life. Following Jesus is a lifelong struggle to crucify the flesh with all its sinful desires and allow the Holy Spirit to align us more with Christ. It is a long obedience in the same direction. A marathon not a sprint. It forces us to constantly grapple with our greatest enemy...Self. But here’s the good news! The more the “self” dies, the more the power of God manifests itself in our lives. The more the power of God manifests itself, the more the “self” dies. This is the promise of the gospel and it lies within reach of every single person who calls on the name of the Lord!
Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalms 13, Proverbs 3:16-18