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Have you ever wondered why you are living in this time-period, this country, in your particular family, surrounding issues and why God saved you?  I realize this may be a strange question to many people but I have thought about this many times throughout the years.  When I ponder this, I begin to appreciate that God chose me specifically, for such a time as this.  He chose each one of us and strategically placed us in the optimal position to fulfill his vision, write his story and complete his plans.

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”  John 15:16-17 NIV 

“…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:14 NKJV

Okay, so I get the basic plan, love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love my neighbor as myself. I love the mandate to build relationship and bear fruit that will last to glorify God, loving God is the first and greatest commandment.  So, what is God’s plan to establish this here in American right now in the body of Christ and how do I fit into it? 

“Let love be your highest goal...” 1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT

I listened to one of our pastors’ speak about various issues facing the church and one in particular stood out to me as possibly one of the greatest challenges facing the American church today.  We are a people that are so well educated that it is difficult to move out of rationalization and tradition into an experiential relationship with God.  I am not talking about “warm fuzzies” but a relationship that brings us into communication and movement with his Spirit flowing through us.  Please do not get me wrong, I love and encourage education, goal setting, tradition and common sense planning.  It seems at times the above principles overshadow the freedom to move with his Spirit.

 ^“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  Luke 10”19 KJV

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”  John 6:63 NLT

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”  Ephesians 6:10 NLT

Think about the “American Dream” and how treading upon demons and scorpions can sound ridiculous unless you are watching “Lord of the Rings” or some other movie.  As for, the Lord’s power, many would say, “I am a self-made man, I built this, obtained this, I did it myself.” 

In the book, Dressed to Kill by Rick Renner he discusses being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  Below are a few sentences that really enlightened my view of the resurrection power available to every believer today.

 “The word “power” is taken from the Greek word “kratos” (kra-tos), and it describes what I have come to call “demonstrated power.”

The very same, exact identical kind of power that God used when he raised Jesus Christ from the dead, it is the very same, exact, identical power that is now at work in us ---we have resurrection power! 

Because the word kratos is normally used to denote a demonstrated or outwardly manifested kind of power, this tells us that when this power begins to operate in us, it immediately seeks an avenue of release so that it might demonstrate itself.

In other words, this power doesn’t come to us in order to sit idly by and do nothing.  This power comes to accomplish some kind of superhuman task.” ~ from the book: Dressed to Kill, by Rick Renner (pgs, 107 & 109)

Amazing, consider this mighty power of the Lord residing in you and begin to ask him what the superhuman task is that he wants to accomplish through you personally.  Some people have a calling to minister in missions, schools, marketplace, as well as in the church. 

“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”  1 Corinthians 4:19-21  NLT

^“ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power  that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.“ Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

“This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”  Zechariah 4:6 KJV

The possibilities are endless and I will discuss this later but I want to get back to the American church. Now consider this mighty “kratos” power at work in us as we gather together with other believers.  What could possibly happen when Christians gather in unity to worship and seek God? I sincerely pray there is expectation building up inside of you. 

Consider God may want to bring healing and dealing of issues within the body of Christ before going out to the world or those less fortunate.  Can you say, “It is me standing in the need of prayer?”  This is transformation, not to be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by renewing your mind.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.”  1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NIV

“God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.  Praise be to God!”  Psalm 68:35  NIV

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
    and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
 To all who mourn in Israel’ he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.” 

Isaiah 61:1-4 NLT

 “Faith works by Love.”  Galatians 5:6

How could this possibly change the culture of many American churches today if we began to see ourselves as vessels of God’s power and put our education aside for God to use as a tool, if he so desired?   What would happen if we put aside the ideals that encourage people inside the church to hide their own issues and only quietly discuss them with a professional counselor or an ordained pastor, so no one else knows?  While this appears to be righteous, it actually robs people of accountability, relationship and freedom available through a loving body of believers.  Openness promotes humility, healing, accountability, relationships, honesty, unity, breaking strongholds of pride, selfishness, shame and encourages common folk to move in the gifts of the Spirit. I am not in any way suggesting that we advertise all of our problems in front of the entire congregation but rather than hiding, we encourage people to obtain help within the body of Christ. It is okay to confess your sin one to another and receive healing.  We are human, we do face struggles, and it is a lie from the enemy that says, “If people really knew they would reject you.”  It is only as we honestly share our struggles with other believers that we can receive the love through them. What could happen if churches in American began having trainings, forums, meetings, studies and/or support groups to discuss every day issues such as Godly business practices, relationship struggles, drugs, sex, gangs, and other real life problems?  It might prevent some from devastating falls, build strong support and allow people to comfort one another with the comfort that they themselves have received from God, building unity in the body. 

When the church is in unity, we march off into victory conquering the enemy.  There is a “kratos” (demonstrated superhuman power) within us, the Holy Spirit and he desires to release his power so we can walk in our calling.  It begins with the humility of admitting that we are in the need of prayer, receiving that prayer and then going forth to testify.

I believe that we will see this happening in our churches and that the world will once again look at the church as a place to come for help.  When I use the term church I mean, people are the church, we meet in a building.  When we put the Gospel shoes on our feet, the world will be drawn to Jesus Christ and instead of the church going to the world for help, the world will once again seek the church for help. Jesus said that if he were lifted up he would draw all men unto himself.

 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.  And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27 NIV

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”  John 16:13-15 NIV

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:13

 “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”  Revelations 19:10 KJV

Yes, I believe the church is coming to a place where the manifestation of the Spirit will flow through us individually and corporately.  God is at work in the hearts of people right now building deep relationship and preparing us for his coming revival.  Many of our youth will stand as strong warriors against the kingdom of darkness.  Some will be leaders in the marketplace, inventors, healers, missionaries, musicians, artists, etc. and will carry the power of God wherever they go.  If you are a young person and sense God is planting something inside of you; go for it with all of your heart.  Obey him, read the Word, pray and ask God questions.  He says he will teach us all things and is the one that has knowledge of witty inventions.  For example, if you want to be an engineer, designer, inventor, or whatever; study, pray get into the Word of God, ask him questions, journal and obey him.  You are full of his resurrection power and it is an explosive power seeking an avenue of release through you.    

 ^“ For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.”  Proverbs 8:11-12 KJV

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  John 14:15-17, 26-27 KJV

If you are a banker, custodian, doctor, mother, secretary, adult, or father in the faith, God has a plan from the foundation of the world.  Life is not over, it is just beginning because we have an eternity to live for him and serve him.  It is amazing to me that scientist say we only use about 10% of our brains.  When I hear that statement, I think yes here on earth but we have an eternity to grasp the wonders of God, which are beyond comprehension.  I believe we will continue to learn and grow even after we leave this planet and join the great cloud of witnesses.  God is bigger than anything we can possibly imagine and his plans for us exceed our wildest dreams. 

God wants to demonstrate his power through us now and has some superhuman tasks to accomplish through us.  We are his vessels and avenues of release. 

Go forth in victory mighty church of the Living God; you have resurrection power within you. 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Prayer

Lord, allow your “kratos” (demonstrated superhuman power) that resides within us to be released through us that we may walk in the calling that you have placed upon us and demonstrate who you are.  Lord, what are the superhuman tasks that you have called each one of us to do?  Please teach us your ways and manifest your resurrection power through us.  Lord, let us be deeply rooted in you that we might produce an abundance of fruit that brings glory to you and your Father.  Rid us of self-centeredness and prepare our hearts to bring glory to your name, teach us to love with your love and walk in obedience to you.

Deborah Neiberger

expressionsofheartland@gmail.com