Power is in the Relationship…

Written By Jimmie Burroughs

There have been many very powerful people who have lived on earth; many who maintained a power by forcing others through fear tactics or dominance. The kind of power I speak of is the opposite; it is the power of love.

The most powerful person to ever live was Jesus Christ the Lord. His power was exerted through love. He never amassed any material things on earth though it all was created by him. He could turn water to wine and heal the lame and the blind and even raise the dead.

He offered his power to those who followed him and they also were able to heal the sick and do many wonderful and powerful works.

On one occasion when Jesus was in the presence of the Scribes and Pharisees, his disciples had attempted to cast out a demon from a young man and had failed:

“And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. [Jesus is talking here to his disciples.]

¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

²¹Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:14-21)

In verse 21 Jesus said that this kind of demon only goes out by prayer and fasting. Since he did not pray before casting out the demon, what does it mean?

It is through consistent prayer that a relationship is established and built with God, therefore power to do powerful things. The disciples had been going about doing powerful and wonderful things but their confidence had apparently shifted to themselves rather than a dependence upon God.

So Jesus is telling them if they were to experience power they must build it through a relationship with God and that being through prayer.

The power I’m speaking of is not necessarily the power to cast out demons as did the disciples; they were given that particular power for a purpose for the time. The power we have through Jesus the Lord is a power to live life to its fullest with the greatest of purpose and meaning. It is the power to become the best person possible as we live on this earth.

We live in a time when integrity, love and concern for others and their needs isn’t so prominent. Dishonesty and lawlessness is everywhere. It has become difficult to find those you can trust with everything including your very life. A person who truly experiences the power of God in their life is not often found but when they are their power with God is amazing to behold.

God blesses people with this power in different ways. Some become wealthy and use their wealth to minister and support ministries around the world. Others receive the power to lay down their lives in service to the Lord in foreign lands. Others sacrifice the convenient life to live and serve in a third world country.

Some serve in small country communities and are unknown except for the few that experience their power and their love. Some are just individuals who have little but who take it upon themselves to express their love to others through their kindness and good deeds.

To just be in the presence of these is a blessing; they have an aura of the presence of God. They never hurt others; they serve others to help them have a better life.

It is our primary purpose in life to add value to the lives of others through the things we are able to do. For many it may be just the simple every day things like being a caring father or mother dedicated to raising their children up to also to respect and contribute to others. Or it might be a husband or wife who makes it a point to help their spouse to have a better life. Some serve in their communities adding to the lives of others with little or no recognition. They all are those who experience the power of God working in their lives.

The truest definition of greatness is in the terms how much a person’s life has contributed to the welfare of others.

I know that is not the general attitude of the multitudes that are looking to take from others any way they can, destroying others lives in the process. Their life revolves around stealing value from others rather than adding value. They break up homes, steal others wealth, molest little children, and in general blaspheme the very name of God himself.

We may wonder why God allows it to go on. There will be a day of reckoning one day and according to Scripture those who have done their evil works will give an account and accept their eternal reward for the hurt they have brought on others, which is an eternal separation from God and his love.

On the other hand the reward of those who experienced God’s love and shared it with others on this earth will experience the presence and love of God eternally.

You could be one of those who thinks that you have already done too much and sinned to much against God to ever turn around but that is not so. I have a friend who lives in Florida who was convicted for first degree murder and spent 23 years in a Federal Pen before being released. He received the Lord while still in prison and it changed his life completely.

He now serves to help other prisoners to find the Lord and to get their lives turned around. This man was a murder, an armed robber and gangster but he was forgiven and changed by the Lord. It is never too late for anyone as long as there is still life. God wants to forgive you and empower you to serve him and others.

Whether or not people believe in God or not matters little concerning truth. And the truth is that all things are God’s; he created all things and all things belong to him. According to Scripture, everyone will bow before him and recognize him as the God of the universe; maybe not in this life but in a time after death when it will be too late for the reconciliation of their eternal soul.

Remember: Power is in the Relationship…

If you are interested in learning more about a relationship with God read the article: http://jimmieburroughs.com/?p=897

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Jimmie Burroughs is the author of JimmieBurroughs.com ; get more tips on personal development: www.JimmieBurroughs.com

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