According to the Power

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

The early Christians knew the secret of living by resurrection power, and nothing else will account for the amazing effect they had upon the world of their day. They did not try to borrow power from the world, for they found they had all they could possibly need, available continuously from a risen, triumphant Lord. Resurrection power is available to every true Christian by faith. What is faith? It could well be defined as a human response to a divine promise. Faith is a sense of expectation, a quiet trust that another person will do exactly as he said he would do. The Bible tells us that Abraham was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised (Romans 4:20,21).

Many people think that faith has something to do with feelings. I don't feel like I have faith, they say. But faith has nothing to do with feelings, and takes no account of moods or physical conditions. Feelings come and go, rise and fall, but faith endures and perseveres, because it does not look to any human source for help. The object of faith is God alone.

The Christian, who believes that a risen Jesus Christ now lives within, confidently expects Christ to work through him or her. Christ will not necessarily be felt in an emotional way, but he will be present. He will make ordinary words and actions produce extraordinary results. He will take common relationships and transform them into uncommon accomplishments. He will do exactly as he promised: immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Surely this is the missing note in today's church activity. The church is still the church, still the body of Christ, but it has been brainwashed by the world to the point that it has forgotten the divine provision for reaching the world. The church will never again affect the world as it did in the first century until individual Christians begin to utilize the power of the resurrected Lord. This should be the most important thing in the world to all of us as Christians — more important than our standard of living, our worldly success, or anything else.

Lord, make us aware of your resurrection power and use it to accomplish great things for you in our lives.