The Power of God

1Cor. 1:18 ¶ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Jesus Christ miraculously transforms lives. This transformation - becoming a Christian - is calledconversion. It is no mere change of outlook. It is the power of God at work in a person's heart and life. This power transforms bitter people into sweet people. This power enables people to forgive. This power gives hope to the hopeless. This power has a Name.

"Who do men say that I am?" asked Christ of His disciples (Matt. 16). That question rings down through the ages as great minds and great souls make fools of themselves with their woefully inadequate grasp of Christ's true identity. He was a man - but merely a man. He was no mere great teacher. He was no mere prophet. He was no mere martyr. He was God in the flesh (John 1). He was the eternal Son of God (John 3:16). He was the One who claimed to be Messiah that both Abraham and Isaiah looked forward to (John 8). He was born sinless (John 8:46). He was The Saviour of all people - especially those who believe. Jesus Christ is the Power of God.

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."First Timothy 4:10

Jesus Christ could heal the sick, raise the dead, set free the oppressed, deliver those held captive by self-obsession, confound the wise, satisfy the hungry, quench the thirst of the dry, and restore the once banished. Jesus Christ is the Power of God.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.Acts 10:38

God's Power can set you free today. God's Power can make you whole. God's Power can rescue you. Jesus Christ is God's Power. And this Power is transmitted through the preaching of the Gospel (Romans 1:16). Our faith in Christ does not reast on paltry human wisdom - it rests securely on the Power of God presented in the Gospel (1Cor. 2:5- "so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God"). The Gospel preached is no mere lecture. It is no mere talk. The Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Gospel is able to minister the Power of God to the weak, the weary, the broken, the hurting, the empty, the lost, the confused. Thus, it is only by the Power of God that living the Christian life is even possible.

For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God.
For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live
with him by the power of God.Second Corinthians 13:4

The world ridicules the Power of God. Yet the Power of God like an immovable mountain of granite stands firm in its witness to the world that it stands accused of deep idolatry and dire need of a Saviour. The Power of God does more than diagnose the natural human condition as utterly blind, arrogant and treasonous - it provides the solution to this eternally damnable condition: The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Second Corinthians 4:4

The Power of God confronts us. He calls out those things that think are beneficial to us because they bring momentary pleasure. Such things are found in bottles, boastings, beds, and bars. But the Power of God sheds bright and glorious light on them to reveal to us their true identity. He shows us that they are not our friends, but our most vile enemies. They not only don't care about us - they hate us and want to destroy us and are even prepared to sugar-coat their venom with laquers of pleasure and "fun". If we resist the Power of God's revealing light we end up mocking such convictions as "out-dated", "fundamentalist rantings", "hell-fire and brimstone preaching", "unloving", "intolerant" and "bigoted". All the while the Power of God is whispering in the ear of the unresistant, "...Sin no more." (John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." John 8:11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.")

The message of the Gospel, that we are all sinners in need of a Saviour, is "foolishness to those who are perishing". But to us who have yielded to Christ and accepted His diagnosis of our condition and then received His treatment - the Cross of Christ - it the Power of God to live radically transformed lives and to have our deepest needs satisfied. I was 15 when I first began to experience the Power of God. Over thirty years later I am still experiencing it. I invite you to yield to the Power of God.

Rom. 16:25-27 ¶ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Andrew Corbett