© Derrick D’Souza Photography
Have you ever wondered why the church as a whole, more often than not, seems so powerless when it comes to doing the mighty works of God? 1 John 4:17 says that …In this world we are like Him (which means that we are supposed to be like Jesus).
We have heard ‘how to heal the sick’ tapes, attended multiple sessions on evangelism, memorized the ‘10 points to have great faith’ and much more. However in spite of all our efforts, the current church at large is still denied of the power that the early church demonstrated when it comes to healing the sick, raising the dead and setting the captives free.
I like how Paul plainly puts it in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5…My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
What is the missing ingredient?
…That despite the many leaders who are well-equipped, highly motivated and experts in the knowledge of the Bible, the church still eludes a demonstration of the raw, actual power of God. It’s like we have built most sophisticated rocket, but it is out of fuel or we have built the power station and are ready to light up several cities, but the fuse is out!
It’s all about love
I believe “love” is that missing ingredient or fuel that can bring life and light up our dreams and desires to do the works of God. Here is the number one reason why 1 Corinthians 13 was written: To show us that no matter how much knowledge we posses of God, and no matter how much faith we have in God, it all comes to a halt when we are out of love.
‘Love’ should be the basis for all that we do. The ministry of Jesus was motivated by compassion and love for people which reached out and healed the sick and set the captives free (Mathew 9:36-38, 14:14; 15:32; 20:34).
The Bible tells us that God is love and whoever walks in love lives in God and God in Him. (1John 4:16)
A challenge
Dear friends, walking in love like Jesus did will be one of the most difficult and challenging goals of our lives, because it involves ‘our will’. This means we will need to walk in love regardless of our circumstances. But if we are to be like Him and represent Him on this earth ‘with power’ then we would need to love like Him. For God has poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5). Remember Jesus had unlimited power; however it was always released and motivated by his compassionate love for mankind.
I pray that every Christian, including myself, moves in great power by releasing this unlimited love God has poured out in our hearts through his Holy Spirit.
Teach us dear Holy Spirit,
How to restore with acts of kindness,
And how to heal with words of love,
How to bless instead of curse
How to forgive when it hurts
How to overcome, when all fails
And how to love instead of hate