What’s at stake when we doubt the power of God?
What’s at stake when we doubt the power of God?
We live in a time and culture where reason is king.
Being rational people who are able to take stock of our surroundings and make accurate assessments of what we experience is highly valued.
I believe we face a great temptation as The Church in this age of reason and information.
We are tempted to doubt the power of God found in the name of Jesus.
There are many reasons we doubt the power of God:
- The fact that it doesn’t fit within our framework of reason
- The reality that many of us grew up with a limited understanding and experience of God’s power
- The fear of a power that we don’t completely understand
- The frustration that would be found if we prayed with authority and we didn’t get our way
- The experiences some of us have had where leaders abused the power of God towards manipulation
There are many barriers that we face. However, the fact of the matter is:
Rationalizing the power of God has become a part time hobby for many of us who are followers of King Jesus.
Rationalizing isn’t wrong. Doubt is not a sin.
I believe that Jesus meets us in our doubt and our incessant rationalizing as long as we intentionally continue to turn towards God to the best of our ability.
However, there is something serious at stake if we don’t accept both the IDENTITY as well as the AUTHORITY found in Jesus name.
When Jesus bestows him name upon us as co-heirs, as sons and daughters of his Father, we can experience a radical shift in our identity. We are unconditionally loved by the God of the universe who calls us his kids!
When we take up the name of Jesus as Christians (little Christs), we step into authority as well.
Our leader is the King!
Jesus says, “all authority on heaven and earth is given to me” and then sends us to represent that authority in the world as his Kingdom is coming around us and will fully come some day.
Jesus said in Mark 16:
These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
Some of these signs sound crazy! It’s because they are!
Jesus didn’t make this list as a check-list of things faithful followers will do. Nor is it an exhaustive list. Jesus is just expressing the kind of power that comes when we take action and pray in his name.
Grabbing snakes and drinking poison is not meant as a litmus test of faithfulness to God.
Please don’t try to grab a snake next time you see one. It doesn’t seem to end up well.
Jesus gives us this authority for one reason: To point to who God is and the Kingdom of God coming in our midst.
It isn’t for us to be able to do magical things or for a thrill, or some sort of supernatural experience to give us chills.
It is always for the purposes of the Kingdom of God.
When God’s Kingdom is advancing, I have seen people pray through the Holy Spirit in languages that only God and the angels could understand.
I have witnessed people being prayed for in Jesus name and experiencing complete healing.
I have prayed with others in Jesus name in a home where a 3 year old was being haunted by some sort of spirit of darkness in the form of an old man who was scaring him.
The next day the little boy said, “I saw Jesus carry the old man out and tell him he can’t come back into my home.”
It is a reality that there is a battle going on around us in the spiritual realm that we cannot see.
Between good and evil.
God and Satan
Spirits of light and spirits of darkness.
Most of that battle is in our minds and our hearts – lies we believe about God, ourselves and each other.
We don’t have to be afraid!
There is power in the name of Jesus and we have authority to pray in Jesus name against anything that is not of God and the reign of God’s kingdom.
There are many things God uses to bring healing including doctors, therapists, medication and so much more.
But we can’t let the tools God created in the physical realm keep us from ALSO praying with authority for what God can do supernaturally in the spiritual realm.
Let’s pray in Jesus name that God would strip us of the strongholds of fear, apathy, cynicism and doubt.
There is no other power that can release us from these strongholds except the power found in Jesus name.
Our freedom, and the freedom of all those God is seeking to save, is at stake if we continue to doubt the power of God.
So together let’s pray, as we see people in scripture pray:
“I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief!“
What’s at stake when we doubt the power of God?
We live in a time and culture where reason is king.
Being rational people who are able to take stock of our surroundings and make accurate assessments of what we experience is highly valued.
I believe we face a great temptation as The Church in this age of reason and information.
We are tempted to doubt the power of God found in the name of Jesus.
There are many reasons we doubt the power of God:
- The fact that it doesn’t fit within our framework of reason
- The reality that many of us grew up with a limited understanding and experience of God’s power
- The fear of a power that we don’t completely understand
- The frustration that would be found if we prayed with authority and we didn’t get our way
- The experiences some of us have had where leaders abused the power of God towards manipulation
There are many barriers that we face. However, the fact of the matter is:
Rationalizing the power of God has become a part time hobby for many of us who are followers of King Jesus.
Rationalizing isn’t wrong. Doubt is not a sin.
I believe that Jesus meets us in our doubt and our incessant rationalizing as long as we intentionally continue to turn towards God to the best of our ability.
However, there is something serious at stake if we don’t accept both the IDENTITY as well as the AUTHORITY found in Jesus name.
When Jesus bestows him name upon us as co-heirs, as sons and daughters of his Father, we can experience a radical shift in our identity. We are unconditionally loved by the God of the universe who calls us his kids!
When we take up the name of Jesus as Christians (little Christs), we step into authority as well.
Our leader is the King!
Jesus says, “all authority on heaven and earth is given to me” and then sends us to represent that authority in the world as his Kingdom is coming around us and will fully come some day.
Jesus said in Mark 16:
These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
Some of these signs sound crazy! It’s because they are!
Jesus didn’t make this list as a check-list of things faithful followers will do. Nor is it an exhaustive list. Jesus is just expressing the kind of power that comes when we take action and pray in his name.
Grabbing snakes and drinking poison is not meant as a litmus test of faithfulness to God.
Please don’t try to grab a snake next time you see one. It doesn’t seem to end up well.
Jesus gives us this authority for one reason: To point to who God is and the Kingdom of God coming in our midst.
It isn’t for us to be able to do magical things or for a thrill, or some sort of supernatural experience to give us chills.
It is always for the purposes of the Kingdom of God.
When God’s Kingdom is advancing, I have seen people pray through the Holy Spirit in languages that only God and the angels could understand.
I have witnessed people being prayed for in Jesus name and experiencing complete healing.
I have prayed with others in Jesus name in a home where a 3 year old was being haunted by some sort of spirit of darkness in the form of an old man who was scaring him.
The next day the little boy said, “I saw Jesus carry the old man out and tell him he can’t come back into my home.”
It is a reality that there is a battle going on around us in the spiritual realm that we cannot see.
Between good and evil.
God and Satan
Spirits of light and spirits of darkness.
Most of that battle is in our minds and our hearts – lies we believe about God, ourselves and each other.
We don’t have to be afraid!
There is power in the name of Jesus and we have authority to pray in Jesus name against anything that is not of God and the reign of God’s kingdom.
There are many things God uses to bring healing including doctors, therapists, medication and so much more.
But we can’t let the tools God created in the physical realm keep us from ALSO praying with authority for what God can do supernaturally in the spiritual realm.
Let’s pray in Jesus name that God would strip us of the strongholds of fear, apathy, cynicism and doubt.
There is no other power that can release us from these strongholds except the power found in Jesus name.
Our freedom, and the freedom of all those God is seeking to save, is at stake if we continue to doubt the power of God.
So together let’s pray, as we see people in scripture pray:
“I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief!“
Thanks Steph, what a great reminder! Nana liked it.