I
was in a forum recently where the convener talked so passionately about how we needed the power of God.
How
the power of God can bring an end to all the challenges we are facing right
now. How the demonstration of the power of God can bring the much needed crowd
to our churches. How the power of God can terminate the lack we are presently
facing, because when the crowd comes, money comes. About how Elijah demonstrated
the power of God. How Jesus demonstrated the power of God. How Paul
demonstrated the power of God. Oh, how we need to cry for the power. How the
power will solve all our problems. And on and on he went. Oh! How much we need to
fast and pray for the power of God, He finally concluded as he led us in prayer
to cry out loud for the release of
power.
As
I sat there I was pondering over the lamentation. And I could not agree more
with what he said. Truly, the crowd will come. Our churches will be filled. Our
pockets also will be lined. We will become popular. In fact, we will become
celebrities. There will be fame. And we will have lots of fun! And then what?
Will
that not be the end of it all?
One
day the Lord asked me whether I wanted a good life or a great life. I asked him
for the difference. He said a good life is good. You will have everything;
everything money can buy. You will be rich and prosperous. You will have fame. But
a great life may not be that good. But you will have an inheritance, not only
in heaven, but also in this world.
Truly
Jesus demonstrated the power. And the crowd came. But how many of that crowd
remained after his death? There is no doubt about it; power demonstration will
bring the crowd. But if care is not taken, that is what they will remain. Crowd!
People who only come to watch. I once stumbled on this verse of scripture which terminate every quest for power:
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. John 12:37-38, NIV
Wow! I'd thought power would do everything for us. Nay! Power will only bring a crowd of spectators. And when the "show" is over, to thy tent oh Israel!
But if we want to do a lasting work, we’ve got to sit down, like Jesus with the twelve, and labour over the people. At one time in the ministry of Jesus, there were about five thousand men present, not counting women or children. But only 120 remained when he left for heaven. Where were those five thousand men? Where were those uncountable women? They’d gone the way they came. Only the people He labored over remained. Only the disciples remained.
But if we want to do a lasting work, we’ve got to sit down, like Jesus with the twelve, and labour over the people. At one time in the ministry of Jesus, there were about five thousand men present, not counting women or children. But only 120 remained when he left for heaven. Where were those five thousand men? Where were those uncountable women? They’d gone the way they came. Only the people He labored over remained. Only the disciples remained.
Yet,
the way of discipleship is not popular. It won’t make you famous, not even with
your disciples. Because disciple and discipline go together. But that is the
way. That is the only way for us to do a lasting work. That is the only way to
truly multiply the church. The way of discipleship is the method of Jesus. Though
it is slow, but it is sure. Jesus was only able to turn out about 120 of them
after three years of labour on earth. But those 120 would later turn the world
upside down, right side up. Discipleship!
If
you want quick result go for power. But if you desire a lasting work, go
the way of discipleship.
I don’t
know what your hunger or thirst is for right now. Maybe you are also hungry for
the power of God. But nowhere in the Bible does it state that we need to thirst
for power. Yes, he said they should tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they
be endued with power from above (Luke 24:49). But he meant the baptism of the
Holy Spirit, which most of us already have.
One night,
in the midst of several night vigils in a row, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the
General Overseer of RCCG, was crying and asking God for power like of old. God had to stop him and asked,
the one I gave you what have you done with it? With bewilderment, he asked God,
which power? And God said, “the one you received when you got baptized in the
Holy Spirit!”
We don’t
need more power, but more presence--the presence of God.
Instead
of crying for more power, what my Bible says is that: "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do
what God requires; God will satisfy them fully! (Matt 5:6 GNT). Our hunger and
thirst should be for righteousness; how to be right with Him, how to be in
alignment with His will and His way. When that is our thirst, and hunger, we
shall be filled. In fact, we shall have all our needs met. Jesus goes further: “Instead,
be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he
requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things” Matt
6:33-34 GNT
Friend,
the first call in the Christian life is to be with Jesus. The issue of power is
only secondary. It is as He wills, not as we will. When He deems fit, He will
give to us.
He appointed twelve — designating them apostles — that
they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to
have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14-16 NIV
Oh, how we need to spend time with Him. How we need to hunger for His presence
like David (Psalms 42 & 63). How we need to pant for His presence like the
deer! How we need to seek Him above everything else, not to get power but
because we just want to do His will. I leave you with the words of David in
Psalms 27:4
One
thing I ask of the Lord, this is
what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the
Lord and to seek him in his
temple. NIV
