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Power
of Works
In a seminary missions
class
Herbert Jackson told how
as a new missionary
he was assigned a car
that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem
he devised a
plan. He went to the school near his home
got permission to take some children
out of class
and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds
he would
either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious
procedure for two years.
Ill health forced the
Jackson family to leave
and a new missionary came to that station. When
Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started
the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete
the new missionary interrupted
"Why
Dr. Jackson
I believe the only
trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist
stepped into the
car
pushed the switch
and to Jackson's astonishment
the engine roared to
life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there
all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to
work.
J.B. Phillips paraphrases
Ephesians l:19-20
"How tremendous is the power available to us who
believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God
his life and
power flow through us.
Ernest B. Beevers.
One New Year's Day
in the
Tournament of Roses parade
a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It
was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of
gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company.
With its vast oil resources
its truck was out of gas.
Often
Christians neglect
their spiritual maintenance
and though they are "clothed with power"
(Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.
Steve Blankenship in God
Came Near by Max Lucado
Multnomah Press
1987
p. 95.
In his book Sit
Walk
Stand
Watchman Nee describes a preaching mission to an island off the South China
coast. There were seven in the ministering group
including a sixteen-year-old
new convert whom he calls Brother Wu. The island was fairly large
containing
about 6
000 homes. Nee had a contact there
an old schoolmate of his who was
headmaster of the village school
but he refused to house the group when he
discovered they had come to preach the Gospel. Finally
they found lodging with
a Chinese herbalist
who became their first convert.
Preaching seemed quite fruitless
on the island
and Nee discovered it was because of the dedication of the
people there to an idol they called Ta-wang. They were convinced of his power
because on the day of his festival and parade each year the weather was always
near perfect.
"When is the procession
this year?" young Wu asked a group that had gathered to hear them preach.
"It is fixed for January
11th at 8 in the morning
" was the reply.
"Then
" said the new
convert
"I promise you that it will certainly rain on the 11th."
At that there was an outburst of
cries from the crowd: "That is enough! We don't want to hear any more
preaching. If there is rain on the 11th
then your God is God!"
Watchman Nee had been elsewhere
in the village when this confrontation had taken place. Upon being informed
about it
he saw that the situation was serious and called the group to prayer.
On the morning of the 11th
there was not a cloud in the sky
but during grace
for breakfast
sprinkles began to fall and these were followed by heavy rain.
Worshipers of the idol Ta-wang
were so upset that they placed it in a sedan chair and carried it outdoors
hoping this would stop the rain. Then the rain increased. After only a short
distance
the carriers of the idol stumbled and fell
dropping the idol and
fracturing its jaw and left arm.
A number of young people turned
to Christ as a result of the rain coming in answer to prayer
but the elders of
the village made divination and said that the wrong day had been chosen. The
proper day of the procession
they said
should have been the 14th. When Nee
and his friends heard this
they again went to prayer
asking for rain on the 14th
and for clear days for preaching until then. That afternoon the sky cleared and
on the good days that followed there were thirty converts. Of the crucial test
day
Nee says:The 14th broke
another perfect day
and we had good meetings. As
the evening approached we met again at the appointed hour. We quietly brought
the matter to the Lord's remembrance. Not a minute late
His answer came with
torrential rain and floods as before.
The power of the idol over the
islanders was broken; the enemy was defeated. Believing prayer had brought a
greatvictory. Conversions followed. And the impact upon the servants of God who
had witnessed His power would continue to enrich their Christian service from
that time on.
Roger F. Campbell
You Can
Win!
1985
SP Publications
pp. 35-36.
CONDITIONS OF POWER.
Ⅰ. Saved by Christ’s grace. “ Thou hast
neither part nor lot in this matter
for thy heart is not right in the sight of
God” (Acts 8:21).
Ⅱ. Standing in Christ’s acceptance. “ The
Gospel……which also ye have received and wherein ye stand” (1.Cor.15:1).
Ⅲ. Obedience to Christ. “ The Holy Ghost
whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32).
Ⅳ. Fellowship with Christ. “ By Whom ye
were called unto the fellowship of His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord” (1.Cor.1:9).
Ⅴ. Waiting upon Christ. “ These all
continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14).
Ⅵ. Expecting from Christ. Tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
Ⅶ. Faith in Christ. “ Doeth he it by the
works of the law or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal.3:2
5).
──
F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》