Are You Using Your Power?

We understand we are not to be people that flaunt our power or authority, but we are also not to shy away from our responsibilities because we feel powerless. The Lord Jesus Christ, the One Who has all power and authority has empowered each of us with what we need to accomplish His will.

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Therefore, to fall back on a sense of powerlessness is to deny Him and His word. Consider then the call to make disciples, to edify the church body, and even to love others, including our enemies. It’s a matter of applying the principle of what is impossible with man is possible with God as He works in us and through us.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) — 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Corinthians 13:10 (ESV) — 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

John 13:34–35 (ESV) — 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let’s consider first of all the call to disciple, which is to lead and teach another person how to do life as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. One cannot disciple another unless they have been discipled. It’s amazing how few Christians have been discipled, so it is understandable how few Christians are interested in discipling another person. But wait! To fall back on the excuse of not being discipled is a lame excuse. If you have not been discipled, then it’s time to seek out the leaders in your church and find someone who will disciple you so you can disciple others.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV) — 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

When we leave the discipling to group situations, we lose a vital aspect of ministry. Jesus taught the multitudes, but He ministered to the disciples. He even went further in one-on-one with key people such as Peter. We all need the one-on-one discipleship.

Just as there is no way to hide from our discipleship responsibilities, so there is no hiding place from the call to edify or build up other members of the church body. God has provided the means and the outline of how it works in the church.

Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Too many in the church feel like equipping is to store up knowledge and as an old preacher said, “most Christians are taught well beyond their level of service.” In other words, we have a tendency to learn for our own edification where the principle of the New Testament church is to learn so you can build up others. Otherwise, you are just hording God’s truth and the gifts that He has given to you.

The third area is the area of love. Many people today look at the word “church” and treat it as an event, rather than what it is, a living body. To participate in the church body means you recognize that you rely upon others and they upon you. Consider this:

Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) — 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

When is the last time you approached a Lord’s Day service with a prayer that God would help you minister to others to stir them up to love and good works? Most people do not even give that a thought because church is an event, sometimes included in a host of events of the day and the object is to attend and leave. If that is you – you are missing the mark. God calls us to love one another, so much so that Jesus said it’s a mark that you are really His disciple. No love then means you are a hypocrite and not a disciple.

All of this can change as we repent of our ways and humbly approach the Lord Jesus Christ for help as He reminded us that “without Him we can do nothing.”

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker, Pastor

Christ Community Presbyterian Church

Clearwater, FL