Which 3 things has God given Christians? (1/3) - Raising Zion
A child of God will need to learn to walk like one. God has given three things to Christians to navigate this life.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
1. Power
2. Love
3. Sound Mind
I’ll share the first feature briefly in this post, and touch upon others in subsequent ones.
People love power. Power helps get work done. Power also corrupts.
When we read the OT, we clearly see why God took the (called) Israelites through the wilderness journey. They were ungrateful, and kept murmuring and complaining. God revealed His power to them, rescuing them from Pharaoh, and leading them without a problem in the wilderness. So Israel may know and glorify God rather than their own intellect or abilities.
And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:17)
In the NT, God has given us the power, followed by the infilling of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, everywhere he leads us.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Why do people love action movies so much? Specially, Superman or Avengers, etc. Because people love power. They feel gratified emotionally when they see good getting it’s victory over evil and bullying. Children grow up wanting to become Super men. Only to get frustrated when reality hits them.
God has given Christians power through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A separate experience after the Born Again experience. Not to harm others, but to save themselves and others from the end to come.
Think about it! James Bond or Secret Super Agents can only save the body.
A Christian is called to save souls, for eternal life.
What did Jesus do with power? What is expected from us to do with that kind of power?
The power of the Holy Ghost helps us to grow, as we are daily filled with joy and peace, abounding in the hope of the Lord. Enabling us to pursue Holiness and true righteousness.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)
The power of God, in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is given to us, to;
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4: 18,19)
- Preach the gospel to the poor (those seeking the Truth)
- Comfort the broken-hearted
- Deliver the captives from demonic possessions
- Recover sight to the blind – that the light of the gospel may open their eyes
- Bring freedom to those who are in hurt, and suffering due to unresolved trauma
The initial born again experience is only the beginning of Christian life, this experience of power is a promise given to all children of God (Acts 2:39). Every Christian must seek it as they preserve their body, the temple of God, in purity.
