God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ who was frequently moved with compassion (Mark 1:41).
I remember standing at a sink at an airport quite a few years ago trying to wash my hands. I had already acquired the soap from the dispenser, but I couldn’t figure out how to turn the water on. I was pondering the situation when someone came up to another sink near me, acquired his soap, and began to wash his hands. He just acted like the water was running and when he placed his hands under the faucet the water came out. I chuckled as I thought, “One more new gadget.” I began to spread the soap and placed my hands under the faucet and, sure enough, the water started to flow.
I no longer hesitate in those situations; I’ve learned to expect the motion sensor to do its job. Not only does the water start when I place my hands under the faucet, but it stops when I remove them. Efficient, economical, simple. I expect it to work, and I proceed without doubt or concern.
That’s what we need to do in ministering situations. As fellowlaborers with God, we do our part, and He does His. If we have clear direction from His Word, we don’t wait on Him before we begin. We do our part expecting Him to do His. When we move our lips, throat, and tongues to formulate words we speak in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. We act, and He energizes the utterance. We speak the wonderful works of God and magnify God.
The simplicity that we learned regarding speaking in tongues should be applied to all the manifestations. In all the manifestations we act, and God energizes. We have become quite versatile and confident with speaking in tongues and we can do the same with all the manifestations. Confidence develops with successful experience. If we can learn to trust a motion sensor, surely, we can learn to trust the Lord God Almighty. When it comes to many of the things of God, action precedes results.
When it comes to operating the power of God in your life, you do not need to understand it all before you begin. Just start! When you begin God will energize. Your desire to operate the power of God is much more important than you knowing every detail about how to do it. Don’t let it get complicated. It is all as simple as speaking in tongues.
The power that it took to change Jesus to his exalted, glorious position at the right hand of God is available to each of us, as we believe. God wrought the power when he raised Jesus from the dead and set him at His own right hand. We are seated together with him. We can reign in life with Christ Jesus. God has moved! It’s now our move.
Ephesians 1:17-23:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge [the full acknowledgment] of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power [dunamis] to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energeia] of his mighty [ischus] power [kratos], 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality [archē; refers to the rank, dignity, or jurisdiction of a prince. It refers to the right to rule, to initiate actions and lead the way or champion a cause. It emphasizes the position.], and power [exousia; refers to the authority or liberty to do as one chooses. It emphasizes the authority.], and might [dunamis; refers to the potential power to effect the course of events of your life. It emphasizes the ability.], and dominion [kuriotēs; refers to lordship. It emphasizes allegiances. There is no allegiance of people or evil forces that can now effect you.], and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Now that’s power! Do you have the power you need? How does God work within you? “According to His mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” Can it really be that the power that brought Jesus to life and seated him at God’s righthand lives in us? Absolutely!
We need to see the truth with our hearts. Seeing things with our heads gives us information and gives us head knowledge which can puff us up (like it says in I Corinthians 8:1-2) if we are not careful. Seeing things with our hearts adds an emotional element…. It adds a depth of commitment…. It has strength and solidarity behind it. We want God’s Word to sink down into our hearts. We want to acknowledge God and work with God on a heart level, not a superficial one.
Knowing things on a heart level makes it personal, special, and the impact is immeasurably increased. The challenge before us is to open the eyes of our hearts today and see Christ seated at the right hand of God far above all else. As we acknowledge our ability and authority, we will act more resolutely. Being convinced of God’s will, will encourage us to pursue it at all times.