from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2XT4bB1
via IFTTT What I do have, I give to you. What do YOU have to give? Are you clothed with power from on high? Do you walk in the power and authority of Christ in Earth? Do you represent Christ to a hurting and dieing world, freely giving what you have received? If not, why not? This is the Gospel! Jesus did not die and rise so that you could go to church to hear pleasant speeches. He did not die so that you could have a nice social club. He did not die so that you could use man's wisdom to seek success. None of that useless stuff. Jesus died and rose so that YOU could walk in His authority on Earth in His name. The gospel is about living for Jesus, like Jesus. The Christian Life is about power, holiness, example, giving. It's about being real. Peter walked in the same authority that Jesus did, and that exact same authority is the expectation for each and every follower of Christ. Even you! Jesus said we would heal the sick, cast out demons, etc etc. Did He lie? Did He exaggerate? Of course not! If Jesus had exaggerated, that would be sin and we have no saviour at all. Either Jesus was perfect as a sacrifice or we have no sacrifice. So when He said that we, you and I, would do greater things than He did, it must be real! But how? Step one is being clothed with power from on high. You can not give what you do not possess. Scripturally this happened at Pentecost first, and thereafter with water baptism as each believer was baptised and subsequently filled with fire and the holy ghost. Step two is faith. You can not give what you do not offer. It is an act of will and faith to exercise authority of Christ. You must DO something. You must give, speak, act. This is not passive, but active. This is not taking in, but giving out. Step three is living Holy. You must walk in a manner representative of Christ. One cannot live like the devil and hope to exercise the power of a holy God. One cannot remain clean when they play in the dirt. Our lives must be about dieing to all selfish desires, all selfish ambition, all pleasure and convenience. Our lives must become about serving God and others first, about sacrifice through obedience. About seeking God's way in every situation, every day. Then, we can give what we have as peter did. Then we are living right with God. Then we are "working out our salvation with fear and trembling". First receive, then give and live.
