| By Paul Sungro Lee
PREFACE
During the week of prayer and fasting in 1993, the Lord
Jesus impressed my heart with a word that has become my life mission statement;
"Build Me a church, which will bring millions into My presence, on the
Word and power."
Afterwards, I began my study on the power of God by researching
all the related materials in my personal library as well as numerous local
and distant seminary libraries. Upon investigations I soon discovered
a little had been written on the subject for nearly a century. Finally,
I came to study on how individuals can have power of the Almighty God
in their daily life, and thus I am glad to share with you what the Lord
has put in my heart on this exciting subject.
Conclusively speaking, the power of God is for all believers
in Christ. I'm convinced that, as the days of Jesus' return get nearer,
God is looking for a useful vessel for Him in this generation like never
before in the history (2 Chronicles 16:9). If you desire to be the man
or woman being used of Him, please read on this message that can change
your life. Your life will never be the same, once you learn that the power
of God is available for you today!
It is my earnest prayer that God will use this message
to bring a whole new dimension of anointing upon the body of Christ; and
to bring victory to those who have been defeated by the forces of darkness;
and to bring millions into His presence, where a true and eternal joy
for all men and women awaits.
POWER
After years of power ministry and character shaping experiences,
God revealed to me a secret of this simple truth. It is that POWER of
God is in the PRESENCE of God, and the presence of God is present to those
who pay certain PRICES.
"But you will receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT comes
on you; and you will be my WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)."
This is the last word (will) of Jesus Christ before he
went back to heaven after his earthly ministry of 33 years. According
to the particular Scripture, we would receive power as a result of the
presence of the Holy Spirit coming upon us. Where in the world can we
then find the power of God? That is where the presence of the Holy Spirit
is! If you happen to be man or woman who is born again of water and the
Spirit, God's power is in His presence that dwells in you.
PRESENCE
If you desire to live a mighty witness for Christ, full
of the Holy Spirit and power, it is vitally important that you walk with
and in and by the presence of God in daily life. Since our God is such
a gentleman respecting our free wills, we should approve His Lordship
over us and welcome His loving presence in all the aspects of our lives.
The Bible says in Genesis 5:24, "Enoch walked with God;
then he was no more, because God took him away." The moment you decide
to walk in His wonderful presence and under His direction, the flow of
God's power that will enable ou to be His mighty witness with signs following
(Mark 16:20) will transform your entire being into a new creation (2 Corinthians
5:17). As a result of following this simple yet amazing principle, you
will begin to feel God's presence in a way you never dreamed possible.
You will realize that He longs to be near you more than you long to be
near Him.
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PRICE
However, there are certain prices to be paid to receive
and keep power of Almighty God upon your life.
- PRICE OF PRAYER: It is essential to pay the price of PRAYER in order
to walk in God's presence. The stucture of a tabernacle in the 9th chapter
of Hebrews symbolizes the pattern of prayer that brings us into the
presence of God. The Bible tells us that in order to reach the Holy
of Holies, where God's presence dwells, you must pass the Bronze Altar
representing a prayer of repentance, and the Laver representing a prayer
of surrender, and finally, the equipments in the Holy Place, which represent
praise and worship. Until reaching the Holy of Holies - a stage where
you will be empowered by His glory and goodness - it is a process of
war against the self! But remember no PRAYER no POWER!
- PRICE OF PERSON: Many times Christians over-focus on merely one of
the millions of characters of Christ, such as the love of Christ, the
peace of Christ and the blessings of God, etc. However, dear friend,
how much more do you think we would be touched and blessed if we can
pay our full attentions to the PERSON of Jesus Christ who owns all of
them, rather than spending our time and energy to grasp just one piece
of his personality? That is why our God describes Himself as I am that
I am (Exodus 3:14), which simply means that He is whatever you need.
And you don't need to seek forgiveness, healing, mercy, grace, or blessing.
Jesus is all of those combined. Seek Jesus, not the things you can gain
from him! Let your eyes be on Jesus. This will bring you to see that
your needs are being met.
- PRICE OF PIETY: In Numbers 6:1-8, we find a vow of separation of
a Nazirite - the anointed servants of God with whom God has done great
works in the history of Israel. Anyone who desires to be used by God
should keep himself pure and holy by not touching the other sex besides
his/her own spouse, by not touching the glory of God which belongs to
God and God alone, and by not touching the gold, the worldly materials
besides the blessing of God in his/her life, just as Nazirite must have
kept himself holy by abstaining himself from wine and other fermented
drink, by letting no razor be used on his head, and by not going near
a dead body. It is the most important thing, I believe, to maintain
power of God upon our life by dying to ourselves daily to be a sanctified
vessel that can contain God's richer presence and His greater power,
since a great many have fallen not knowing how to pay the price of PIETY.
* Bible quotations are taken from the New International
Version, except as otherwise noted. This message may be copied or reproduced
in any form without violation of copyright. Please feel free to use it
in any way for the benefit of the body of Chirst. This message is also
available in Swahili, Luganda, Korean, etc.
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e.a.p.t.c.