The early church had few resources but had great power.
How did they do it? They had no computers, tablets or smart phones, yet thousands were saved at a time as they preached the gospel. Multitudes were healed and filled with the Holy Spirit! They did have one resource that made them so powerful:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And THEY REALIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.
Acts 4:13
They had been with Jesus!
How wonderfully simple and yet, profound - THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!
Can it be that the key to an overcoming Christian life be that simple for us today?
Religious activity does not automatically impart power to us - unless we make contact with Jesus!
There are many theological experts who know the words of the Bible inside and out - but do not know Jesus.
Many in the world pray profusely and consistently - but do not know Jesus.
Bible study and prayer are only effective if they are a means to an end. That end must be to make contact with The Living God! That is not to say that seeking God is never a discipline or will always yield a spectacular, personal visitation from Jesus. But our mindset in seeking Him must lead jus to Jesus!
This quest to be with and know God, of necessity, includes the willingness to be absorbed by Him!
James tells us that the attitude in prayer is paramount to its effectiveness!
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
James 5:16b
Many strive to seek God on their own terms. Some want God to be available like the genie in Aladdin's lamp. Others attempt to press God to mold the world according to their personal point of view. Still others hope to be rewarded for their religious efforts but do not surrender to His will. If we are to truly experience spiritual intimacy with Jesus, there must be a willingness to yield to God and be changed, molded, and transformed by His Spirit,
We can only seek God with this mindset! If we want God to be at work in our lives, we must surrender our own ways and allow His ways to permeate our hearts. Bible study can be misused as ammunition to argue our personal world view. Prayer can be an attempt to master God and twist His arm to do our bidding. But it simply does not work that way!
It is only when we make contact with The Living God through Jesus that we will begin to understand the Bible and be effective in prayer.
We can easily fall into the trap of learning the rules of church. We know what the Bible says on various issues. We have our prayer times. We know how to act and what to say - but have we been with Jesus lately?
The disciples were uneducated men but THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!
Education can be a wonderful tool. There are educated men and women who have been with Jesus and regularly spend time with Him. There are also men and women, highly educated in theology who do not know Jesus at all. Others may know Him but have drifted toward resting on their accomplishments and have forsaken personal time with Jesus!
If you and I really want to experience the power of the Christian life, the secret is simple.
WE MUST BE WITH JESUS!
GOOD-HEARTED DISCUSSIONS ARE WELCOME AND HIGHLY ENCOURAGED!!!
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