The exceeding greatness of His power. (part one)

Ephesians 1:19
"….And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,…."

Most of mankind desires to increase his speed and do things faster than before. It's really obvious to see when it comes to computers. Just when you get used to the latest computer another one comes on the scene that is twice as fast and can do far more than the one you had before. Most Christians I know would love to see the Power of God manifest in their lives, as it would speed things up, for we often feel like we're in the doldrums, with nothing much happening in the Church.

I have always wanted to see the power of God in my life, and did everything I knew to achieve this goal in my early Christian days. God didn't seem to be in any hurry though, and yet He kept on promising me that I'd see His power one-day. I read these verses in Isaiah 35:4-6 and held onto the promise of miracles ahead. As time went by nothing much happened, and "Hope deferred made my heart sick," as it says in Proverbs. Soon I found myself discouraged. "Where was the God of Elijah"?

As I have grown older and hopefully wiser, I've begun to see another power that was already in operation, not so obvious to the naked eye and yet definitely of God and even more effective when appreciated.
Look at the Prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9-13. He was in a cave feeling discouraged, when God passed by. There was fire, wind and a great earthquake, which were all great manifestations of outward power, but it says that God wasn't in any of these manifestations. Then came a still small voice. Just a whisper, and it says that God was in that.
I believe that this is a picture for us of how God is going to operate in this new dispensation. The Old Testament is full of earth-opening, fire-from-heaven type manifestations of power. When we look at the New Testament we also see miracles, but the emphasis is more on the greatest one of all - being 'Born Again'. John 14:12. This is an inward thing, where God moves in and whispers to us in the still small voice, taking control of our lives and raising us from Spiritual death to a new life in Him.

The Message translation says this in Ephesians 3:16.
" I ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in." Samson may have been the strongest man who ever lived but he was weak in moral strength. We may not be that strong physically but our strength is an inner one and far more glorious. It's not how you start the race that counts, but how you end it. It's not how spectacular you look to the world that counts, but how you look to God.
I have found that the Christians who seem to have all the power so often fizzle out like a sky rocket, and it's the quiet ones in the background of the Church that are the strongest ones, whose lives are pleasing to God. The bible says that the Last shall be first and the First Last. I'm sure we will be surprised at whose at the front of the queue in heaven.

We too can be looking for manifestations of power in the fire, wind and earthquake. We too can become disappointed as we wait for the great movings of God, which don't seem to be happening. Maybe we are missing the still small voice. Proverbs also says that a fool has his eyes on the ends of the earth. Maybe we are looking in the wrong direction and God is speaking to us from within.

We may want to see healings and people walk on water: We may want to see people raised from the dead and blind eyes opened, or we may want to see the parting of the Red Sea type of miracle.

To give you an example, the parting of the Red Sea was a one off event that took place 1000s of years ago and no doubt will never happen again. I've begun to realise that God is parting the Red Sea for you and me every day. He is always doing it for those who put their trust in Him. As we step out into situations that look impossible, God parts the Seas of difficulty and gets us to the other side in one piece. This is the exceeding greatness of Gods' power that is manifested through faith to those who believe. When God tells you to do something and you don't have the resources or the strength to do it, this is just like it was for Moses when he had to approach the Red Sea. He stepped out in faith and things changed for him and so will it happen for us.

I just want to make it clear that I haven't given up on the miraculous in the days that lie ahead. God is still God and he can do what He likes, but if we want to be used by God in any ministry like that we will need to appreciate Him working in our lives right now. Don't despise the Day of Small things, and miss the still small voice.