Teachings

DOES THE BODY OF CHRIST REALLY HAVE POWER?

Many people today believe they have power over sickness, disease, and demons. Many of these same people do not even exercise power over sin in their own lives, so where is the power? Just because we believe something, it doesn’t mean it is that way. Some people are taught if they believe they can, then they can. God anoints and appoints people to do certain things for Him. Many people appoint themselves to do something and that’s why there is no anointing for them to do it. The anointing is God giving us a special ability that comes from Him so we can do what He has appointed us to do. This could be preaching, teaching, singing, playing an instrument, being a helper for others, intercession, ministering unto people such as: praying for the sick, casting out devils, etc. There are many different kinds of anointings from God. When someone tries to do something without God giving them the ability, then it doesn’t profit much. 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

When is the last time you saw someone raise a dead corpse? When is the last time you prayed for blind eyes and they were opened, or someone in a wheel chair gets up and walks for the very first time in their life after you prayed for them? Let’s be honest and sincere serving the Lord. The body of Christ has very little power because of too much of self and not enough of Jesus. When we served the devil when we were sinners, we gave much of our time to him, and money, but when some people got saved, they have a hard time giving their minimum 10%, or tithe (meaning one tenth), and showing up for church, bible studies, and prayer meetings. The Word of God tells us that in order to be His disciple we must bear our cross daily, deny ourselves, and follow Him. Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Just because you pray for someone and they get blessed or maybe even healed, that doesn’t mean you have been given power over the devil, but God is merciful to the hurting and distressed. Thank God He chose to use you for that instant, but He doesn’t trust His power to just anyone.

Many people believe they have Satan underneath their feet and they have all authority over him. They use scriptures such as: Luke 10:19 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. Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Because Jesus said this, the people believe that this power is given unto them. Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

1 John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Revelation 1:18 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Hebrews 2:7-8 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands: 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

1 Corinthians 15:27 For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

Many believers believe since Jesus put the devil under His feet and destroyed his works, that the devil is underneath their feet as well. The last scripture mentioned above in 1 Cor 15:27, you can clearly see at the last part of that verse Jesus was the exception of putting all things under His feet, and not all of the body of Christ who believe this. Jesus however, is not coming back until it happens. Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. We are His feet being the body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:14-21 For the body is not one member, but many.15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you, so the devil needs to put under the churches feet before He returns. Hebrews 10:12-13 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. The word restitution means restoration, or to get back what has been lost.

When Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden in the beginning they were crowned with glory and honor from God – Psalms 8:4-5 What is man, that you art mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him? 5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. When they sinned the glory departed from them. Sin will always make God depart and His glory is God’s presence – Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. As believers we can pursue God once again and come into His presence being cleansed from sin by His precious Son’s blood. God wants His glory to be obtained by a believer, or to be crowned with His glory, but it just will not come to you – 2 Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When you became born again, or born from above, you experience the power of God by Him changing you into a new person – 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Being changed by His power is a wonderful experience and we pass from death unto life; we finally know what it means to be alive, hallelujah! 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When you become born again you must learn about this new life that was put in the inside of you or be discipled. God wants Christ formed in us – Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. Many people who think they are filled with the Holy Spirit of God are not, but believe this, so they think they are. If you were filled with the Holy Spirit of God you would be a person that can’t get enough of God, not making excuses all the time why your walk isn’t what it is suppose to be. The Holy Spirit Baptism is when God increases and you decrease. Jesus says it best in Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. You must become sanctified or new, putting away the old ways and learning and submitting to new ones from the Lord. Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him. The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him. Not sometimes, but trying to live their lives unto Him by doing His will, or obeying Him. The Holy Spirit Baptism is another subject and we want you to understand the body of Christ has been deceived in believing they have power over the devil when their own Christian life is not in order.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? You can’t walk with God until you learn to agree with what He says. So many people misquote and use the bible wrongly because they don’t understand what it says. They are reading words and not hearing what the Spirit of God is saying in the words.

Read Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. The Lord gave them the power to do this and it didn’t come from their believing for it only. It must only be given by God and there are no discounts and no sales for it. You must pay the full price for God’s power to be given to you – Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple. Philippians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. The Apostle Paul was determined not to know nothing among them, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified – 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

You see the only way to God’s presence in your life, is self denial, and seeking the Lord in your life. You can’t be important and you must learn to die daily, everyday, not just some days – 1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. You will not be treated any differently than God’s only begotten Son was. The disciple is not above His master, but must become like Him to do what the master did while on earth. Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

God treats us all the same and you must have the devil out of your own life if you are going to cast him out of someone else’s life – Matthew 12:25-28 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

To pray for the sick you must be filled with compassion like the Lord was -Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Your flesh or feelings about your self or life must be crucified, or put to death to have compassion for people.

To move in the true power of God, you must become a friend of God’s spending much time with Him to understand and to know His will so you won’t fight against what He wants to do in other people’s lives or even in your own. You must be faithful in the little things in order for God to give you more - Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Look at what the next verse says, Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? God isn’t talking about earthly riches here, but spiritual riches from heaven. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Today I meet many people who think they have the power of God in their lives and I know they don’t. The hardest person to speak to about anything is someone who thinks they have what your talking about already. The devil has done a job on the body of Christ thinking they don’t have to live holy and can cast out devils and heal the sick, and even raise the dead. When people come to my church and tell me these things, I begin to question them and before long they leave and look for a church who will tell them they have power. If someone tells me I have power that doesn’t mean I do. The power can only come from above. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power to deliver those who were oppressed of the devil – Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

During my Christian life so far, I have seen God do great things, but He has not given me power over death yet. I have seen some sick people healed and others delivered, but I am seeking God for His true power that all sicknesses and diseases, infirmities, and the lame, blind eyes, deaf ears, the dumb, to be made whole. God will not give His glory to another – Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Too many people today want glory or recognition for what they do in God’s kingdom. We are here to promote Jesus only and what that magnificent One did for all of us. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

If people think they have power, then they won’t seek God and become filled with all His fullness – Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. – and they will miss out of what God has for someone who is totally devoted to Him. Power comes with relationship and knowing who God really is and not what you think God is.

Remember, it must be God’s will for you to be a pastor, prophet, teacher, apostle, or a evangelist, and not your own desire to be something, because the higher you get in God’s kingdom, the less you become. Think about that and know these positions are places of death, not glory. Even as a Christian you should be devoted to this worthy One and serve Him, which means to spend time with Him. God has given everyone of His people a special place in Him, 1 Corinthians 12:18 But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him, and be happy where He has placed you. We are all important, but don’t walk around believing you have power over the devil if you are not paying the price for it. The bible can’t lie, but people don’t want to do the preparation for God to use them, they just want to be used and have power, or think they have power. I don’t know about you, but I desire the true power to see the people set free for the glory of the Lord, so people would know there is a God who is mighty and alive in the earth today. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

This is why we don’t see much of God’s power anymore, most people believe they got it already. If you want to believe that go right ahead, but I have found out about God anything He has for you, you must pursue Him diligently for it. Who today do you see the anointing that Simon Peter had upon him when his shadow would heal the sick?

Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. God wants His power to be seen in the earth – Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. God hasn’t changed, but people have. Money has crept into the church and seeking riches instead of the true riches of heaven.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money). Most people don’t need money who are sick or paralyzed, they need healing and deliverance to be able to live a complete life here. Money can’t buy that freedom they desire from whatever is controlling their life. Some will tell you that money will answer all things and therefore God wants us to have a lot of it. The bible says this in Ecclesiastes 10:19. Money is the answer for acquiring things but money couldn't do anything for the lame man that was laid at the Beautiful Gate outside the temple. Peter and John told him they didn't have any money to give him but they had something better; the power of God in their lives to make this man whole. Hallelujah! Power isn't a thing and it's not for sale. The cost is your very life devoted to the One who gives it. If you're seeking things then money is your answer, but if you are seeking heavenly things, then only God can answer.

We as Christians should have all things in common and sharing with one another our earthly goods. Acts 4:34-35 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. We see here in scriptures the apostles didn’t take the money and live above the rest of the people and said God blessed them, but did what they were suppose to do and that is distribute it to the others to help meet their needs. They cared for their fellow brother and sister like we are suppose to. We have some ministers today who live off of grandma’s faithful giving for God’s work in palaces; instead of using it for His work. They claim that God wants them to live in riches and others can live in poverty and it doesn’t seem to bother them very much. The church has as a whole lost the meaning of love and care for one another. We should not be serving Jesus to see how much we can get, but how much we can give. These same preachers will call poverty a curse, when they help others to go without. Jesus made it clear in scriptures concerning the way a prophet of God, or a man or woman of God should live in Matthew 11:7-9 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

You can see in Matthew 11 the Lord says anyone who is clothed in expensive clothing you would find in a king’s palace, but not His prophet, or minister. There are those that would tell you Jesus was rich too, and that’s why they cast lots for His garment when He was being crucified. People say things like this to justify their desire for many things and to be rich. Jesus would not say in Matthew 11:8 that only a person wearing expensive clothing would be in a king’s house, and then wear expensive clothing being God’s sent Prophet from heaven. Jesus was a prophet when He was here on earth.

Mark 6:3-5 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. Jesus did not wear expensive clothing, but He was a humble servant, wearing just an ordinary garment like anyone else. Jesus made the whole world and all the silver and gold is His – Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. When people say Jesus was rich when He was on earth is an insult to Him. He owns everything, He made it! He is the same one who told Peter to go catch a fish in the lake, and give the money he would find in its mouth to pay for Roman taxes. When is the last time you went fishing and caught some money? Do you know who this One really was and is? People that say these kind of things don’t know who Jesus really is. Seek things above, not things of the earth – Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Know one thing, if you desire the power of God, you must consider yourself nothing and God everything. Realize what you have and don’t have. Don’t try to be something your not because you aren’t fooling anyone anyway. Be real and be on fire for the Lord, and seek Him for what He has for your Life diligently and He will reward you for it. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Written by Pastor Michael J. Wilson

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