Power or Poverty?

Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory (1 John 5:4 NLT).

Dear friends: Are you experiencing spiritual power or spiritual poverty in your life? Many people are experiencing poverty. Dr. Billy Graham has said that according to his research, at least 90 percent of all Christians in America are living defeated lives. Others who are in a position to know the spiritual pulse of America have made similar statements.

A life of spiritual poverty is completely unnecessary, and does not glorify God. The many thousands of promises recorded in the Word of God apply to every Christian. These promises include: assurance of God's love (John 3:16), eternal life (Romans 6:23), forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9), peace, comfort, provision, and many other promises.

The Bible promises that every Christian can possess love, joy, peace, faith, and many other beneficial qualities and be an effective witness for Christ. What is wrong? Why is the average Christian not experiencing this quality of life?

It is quite likely that, according to the law of averages, you are among that 90 percent to which Dr. Graham referred. You may have a heart for God. You read your Bible faithfully, you pray, you witness, you are active in your church; yet year after year you continue to fight a losing battle. Up, down, victories, defeats! Soon you cry out with Paul in Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (NIV.)

The answer is not in ourselves, but in Christ. In the very next verse, Paul goes on to say, "Thanks be to God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Our Lord Jesus sent His Holy Spirit, the Helper, to indwell us, to fill us, and to help us live victorious, fruitful lives, which glorify Him. That is why God commands us, "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18, NIV). Father knows best.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit according to His COMMAND in Ephesians 5:18 (thus we know it is His will), and by faith in His PROMISE that, "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14, NIV).

All of God's promises are for all believers, but they are not all automatic. They must be received, by faith.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright