PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies);
ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND POWER FROM ON HIGH
Main
Text:
“Behold, I send the promise of My
Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power
from high”, (Luke 24:49).
INTRODUCTION:
The
eagerness of the Lord to empower individuals for services as one can notice in
the bible text does not suggest that He is prodigal of His Power. In other
words, God does not release His power through unholy or vessels of dishonor,
but through sanctified human vessels. Interestingly, He makes this Power
available through His anointed servants for the benefit of mankind when the
need arises. Jesus and His apostles, as well as, many preachers in the
contemporary world have been privileged for this honour. As a matter of
necessity, the world of today is highly in need of the power of God,
considering the ever-increasing spiritual warfare of the satanic kingdom
against the human race. However, to believe that every show of power in
churches and in evangelical meetings today comes from God is to believe a lie
from the pit of hell. It is in the light of the above that this write-up seeks
to highlights on the characteristics and reasons for the Power of God, which
this project although will refer to as Power from one High. To achieve the
objective, three sub-topics will be treated;
1.
POWER FROM ON HIGH
IS FOR THE CHURCH IN EVERY GENERATION
The
will of God for every generation is to meet both their physical and spiritual
needs. As such, He has constantly given equal opportunities to people of every
age. This makes unpopular the opinion that the “power of miracle” ended with
the apostolic era, since it negate God’s principle of fairness to all. In the
words of the Apostle Peter in (Acts 2:39), “the promise is to you and to your
children (Israel), and to all who are afar off (other nations), as many as the
Lord our God will call”, (future generations). The Apostle also highlights in
the preceding verse that the gift of power is given on the bases of;
(i)
one
repenting from one’s sins, (verse 38);
(ii)
one
being baptized in the name of the Lord, (verse 38)
(iii)
one’s
sins being remitted or forgiven, (verse 38), etc.
With the biblical assertions in focus, it
becomes clear that the power from on High is not given to people with dubious
character who have no intention to change or repent, and so, exposes the fact
that some people fake the power of God.
2.
POWER
FROM ON HIGH IS FOR MISSIONS AND NOT FOR MONEY MAKING
The basic drive in anyone who fakes the
Power of God is “self-enrichment”.
In most cases, the tricks exhibited by such individuals are not easily
detected. However, by fervent prayer and
unbroken relationship with the Lord, their hidden agenda are exposed.
Be mindful of such antics like, “god
revealed it to me”, “someone is against you”, “I saw you in a grave”, “you need
financial breakthrough”, “dream interpretations”, and things like these, as they
form some of the intrigues used by these agents of hell who always want to
deceive in the name of the Lord. By this, therefore, the writer also asserts
that the Power from on High is for;
(i)
missions
and not for personal gains, (Acts 1:8);
(ii)
free
deliverance and not for fees, (Matt. 10:8);
(iii)
the
work of God and not for sale, (Acts 8:20); etc.
Having noted the facts above, it then
becomes an act of wisdom for one to look before one leaps, for many false
prophets have gone into the world.
3.
POWER FROM ON HIGH
HAS NO ROOM LAWLESSNESS
One
impossibility with every false prophet is the character of God. It is always
easy to fake the gifts of God, but impossible to fake His character or nature.
Here lies the distinguishing factor that separates the false prophets from the
real servant of God. Jesus in an attempt to disclose the identity of the false
prophets remarks, “not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. For many
will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name,
cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I
will declare to them, “I never knew you”, depart from me, you who practice
lawlessness”, (Matthew 7:21-23).
The basic revelation in the above
narrated Words of the Lord shows that false prophets can;
(i.
prophecy
in the name of Jesus, but cannot possess His nature, (verse 22);
(ii.
cast
out demons also in His name, yet, without His character, (verse 22);
(iii.
perform
many wonders, yet in the web of lawlessness, (verse 22-23); etc.
On this note, be
wary of those who claim they have divine power, yet with evil tendencies. For
real men of God receive His Divine nature that frees one from corruption and
evil desires, before they receive His divine power, (II Peter 1:4). So, be
sober, and do not identify with any religious leader with questionable
character simply because of the ‘so called’ miracle.
In conclusion, this write-up also wishes to use this
medium to bring to the consciousness of the reader that the hallmark of every
blessing is getting into the kingdom of heaven. For, one who performs or
receives miracles, but ends-up with His final word, depart from me, you who
practice lawlessness”, will ever regret why one was created, (Matthew 7:23). BE WISE.
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