Are You Experiencing The Power Of God In Your Church?

The darkness is so intense in our world that evil runs rampant. Wickedness is out of control. We know by the Word of God that evil men will grow progressively worse as we draw closer to the end of this age! Paul gives us some insight into the last days of human kind in 2 Tim. 3:10, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

Opposition to Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will become increasingly more intense as we move forward. As the Body of Christ, we are already experiencing Satanic attacks of greater intensity. It seems as though we are preparing for all hell to break loose. Only God knows what is ahead! However, He has promised to walk with us if we will follow Him to where He is going.

God’s promise to Joshua is relevant for us today and provides a powerful example to those who will follow God to where He is going. Joshua 1:5, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Beginning with verse one of this chapter, we read that Moses had died. God had brought Moses to Mt. Nebo and there He showed him the land of Canaan which He had promised to the children of Israel. Moses died there in the mountain and was buried by God (Deut. 34:5). After Moses’ death, the Lord spake to Joshua. “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel,” Joshua 1:2. God had created the initiative to bring His people into this land of Canaan where there could worship and follow Him without the intrusion of the customs and religions of other nations. For 40 years they had been on this journey and now it was time to receive their inheritance.

God revealed to Joshua in great detail the magnitude of His promise in verses 4 through 6. However, God also detailed the conditions of His promise. Joshua 1:7, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” God was very clear as to His expectations. The recipients of this promise must be strong and courageous to adhere to the Law of God and neither turn to the right or the left. God had a predetermined plan for the lives of His people. If they would walk according to the Law of God, they would prosper wherever they would go. Joshua 1:8, ”This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

God's promise of victory and protection has always been to the obedient. This is a universal principle first received by the Jews and then the Gentiles. In recent years, through a gradual process of letting the Truth slip away, churches have opened the door for carnal ideals and man-made theology. In a calculated effort to assimilate people into their congregations, compromise has been the rule of the day. The result has been growing the numbers of church participation at the cost of losing God's favor and anointing. Many churches have become powerless and ineffective. Satan has taken advantage of this powerlessness replacing the anointing of the Holy Ghost with a form of godliness. 2Tim. 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Paul declares, “from such turn away.” Run from this spirit of religion!

The Holy Spirit is crying out for an awakening in our churches. It is God’s desire to empower us for the work He has called us to do. We must have Holy Ghost anointing if we are to succeed for Christ in the days ahead. A mediocre or lukewarm relationship with the Lord will not bring victory in our lives. We must cast off everything that has even a hint of the flesh. We will be all in or we will be OUT.

God’s promise is to the obedient! Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Follow God to where He is going and you WILL experience His POWER in your life and church.