Monday, September 21, 2009

"Great and Powerful... Quiet and Hidden"

The power provided to the born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ that "worketh in us" is "exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).

Our apprehension and availing ourselves to such enabling, however, is often very nominal. One reason for this is that God often does His greatest and most powerful work in the quietest and most hidden ways. For example, He raised the Lord Jesus from the dead completely apart from human witnesses. There was a complete lack of ostentation in perhaps the greatest feat of Divine strength ever performed. This is an important truth, because the same power that raised the Savior from the dead is now resident within us (Ephesians 1:18-20). We should expect, therefore, that our experience of the risen power of Christ will often be accomplished in the quiet and hidden way of the resurrection. Failure to anticipate this will lead to failure to consistently see and experience the power thereof.


"He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). The Bible is given to reveal to us the willingness and ability of our Heavenly Father to act on our behalf for the glory of His Son, our best interests, and the best interests of those with whom we live our lives. It sharpens our spiritual senses, as it were, encouraging us to believe that God is present both with and within us, and that He is dynamically present. "I will dwell in them, and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16). Understanding the nature of His doings in our lives will go far in leading us to the expectation of faith whereby we do not miss "the mighty acts of the Lord" (Psalm 106:2). In our present existence, they are most often accomplished quietly, and in a manner that may often be known only to us. This is a blessed personalizing of His presence in our hearts, and staying close to the Scriptures will keep our eyes open and ready to see His hand in our lives.

"I... cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:15-19).

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