Moving in Power and Growing in Character
Without character we have no credibility, without power our message has no validity
Preaching half a gospel is no Gospel at all. Bill Johnson said, “A gospel without power is simply not good news.” The standard of holy living has been drastically reduced in the name of what Dietrich Bonheoffer called “cheap grace.” Salvation doesn’t just come by the gospel it comes by obedience to the gospel. Listen to Paul the Apostle carefully. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 KJV “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” Most charismatic ministers don’t have the guts to say this, but this is the reality according to the scriptures. Let me propose to you that those who know God don’t just preach the gospel they obey it. If we wait until we are perfect to preach the gospel we will probably never preach it. However as we commit to obey the gospel from a sincere heart we become qualified to preach from the place of truth. As we set our hearts to obey the gospel we position ourselves for maturity. Maturity comes through obedience. As we obey the gospel we mature in Christ and he is formed in us. Maturity means we have the character and power of Jesus Christ consistently operating in our lives. Learning to walk in faith and move in power is what brings about maturity and stability. We should never follow signs and wonders; they should follow us because we follow Jesus. It's not enough to have power we also need character. The last thing the body of Christ needs is more flaky people. It's not enough to have character with no power. We need both character and power to properly re-present Jesus. We need his character when we are treated unjustly. We need his power when we are confronting impossibilities. Our love for others should cause us to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Our love for Jesus should cause us to bear spiritual fruit.
Obedience to the gospel is what makes us Christ-like. Obedience allows us to experience what God truly desires for us. The blood of a Lamb didn’t save Egypt in the days of Moses because they weren’t on the right side of the blood. Israel had to be inside the house to be spared from the Angel of Death. The Angel of death passed over the houses where the blood was applied. So if the Israelites were obedient to the word they experienced salvation even in the times of God’s judgment on Egypt. God’s judgment on Israel is what manifested his salvation for Israel. That is a great picture of the wheat and the tares. Two people in the same place, but one was on the right side of the blood. There is little talk in church about the blood of Jesus these days, and there is even less talk about what the blood speaks. Those who truly hear what the blood speaks are those who set their hearts to obey the gospel. If you desire to experience all the God has for you then obey what he says to you. The person who makes us holy is the same person who gives us power. Let's honor the Holy Spirit by living right and having compassion on people in need around us.
