Releasing the Power of God:
 

Many times I think we pray like beggars. We say our prayers and envision them going up to God as pleas, requests, or supplications. And while there is a place for these kinds of prayers, we neglect the power and authority that God has given us. We often plead and beg for healing, deliverance from demonic oppression, financial blessings, circumstantial interventions, etc. like we’re begging God to step in and do the work. Many times God does answer these prayers, many times He doesn’t.

While there are prayers of faith that move heaven, there are also prayers of doubt. That’s right, I said doubt. You see, when we pray as though we don’t have something, we’re actually affirming that we don’t have it and we’re asking God to overcome our situation Himself. However, in Christ we know that everything we could ever need, we already have it. We simply don’t know how to release it so that it can be manifest in our lives.

When Jesus sent the disciples to heal the sick and cast out devils, notice What the Bible says:

Matthew 10:1
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Matthew 10:5-8
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

When Jesus sent out the 70 He stated:

Luke 10:9
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

When the 70 returned they were rejoicing, saying:

Luke 10:17
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Notice, Jesus didn’t say, “Pray that I will heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils,”. Nor did Jesus said, “Pray that the Father will heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils,”. Jesus commanded THEM to do these things. He was commanding them to release the power! And the secret to the power and authority was in the very NAME OF JESUS.

In the closing chapter of Mark Jesus describes the signs that would follow them that believe:

Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Jesus affirms that THEY shall cast out devils, THEY will speak with new tongues, THEY will take up serpents, THEY will be protected from poison, THEY will lay hands on the sick, and the sick would recover. We don’t see healers and deliverers from evil spirits sent forth to beg and pray that God do the works. But instead we see the affirmation that THEY will do these things. The power would be released through them.

After Jesus before Jesus ascended into Heaven, Jesus told His followers to go to Jerusalem to wait for and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Notice what Jesus says:

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

There is POWER in the name of Jesus, and even more POWER to affect the world through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We see Peter unleashing this power when he healed the lame man at the gate of the Temple. We read:

Acts 3:1-8
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Notice that Peter didn’t say, “Can we pray that God will heal you?” No, Peter simply released the POWER residing within his inner man, by virtue of the presence of the Holy Spirit, through the name and authority of Jesus to heal the man instantly. And Peter released this POWER through his words.

The Bible states:

Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Notice, the very power of life and death is in the tongue. We have the power to speak life, blessing, healing, deliverance, and faith into our lives and the lives of others. Or we can speak death, doom, gloom, salvation, peace, and cursing. And we are assured that we will partake in the fruit our words produce. So in cursing, we’re cursed. However, it then stands to reason that in blessing, we are blessed. In speaking healing, we are healed.

James wrote:

James 3:6
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

An untamed tongue is like an untamed fire. We see that it has the power to defile the entire person, and even to set on fire the very course of nature itself. Such power is typically limited to one’s faith. Faith is defined as being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Simply put, faith is INTENTION. It’s what we’re hoping for, even though we don’t see it yet. It’s what we intend to see, it is what we intend to have manifest in our lives or in the lives of others. When faith is understood this way it becomes a powerful force that can bend reality itself to manifest what it is we feel is the will of God as communicated to us through the Spirit. And it doesn’t take a lot. Jesus said,

Matthew 17:20
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall SAY unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

In another place Jesus says:

Matthew 21:21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Releasing the POWER is done through the SPOKEN WORDS of one who has INTENTION and is filled with the Holy Spirit.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

CONTINUED...

Man is the only animal on earth that truly communicates through the spoken word. When you think about it, the spoken word is rather supernatural. First, it is sound. Sound is a vibration. And so when we speak, vibrations emanate from our vocal cords into the universe, fill the air around us, and it moves molecules and atoms and even sub-atomic particles for perhaps imperceptible distances. A spoken word can set the entire universe into motion. Second, the spoken word is rather supernatural because it takes a thought, that which is abstract and immaterial, and manifests it through sound to be known and understood by others. I can speak and say, “Red ball”, and what just popped into your mind? A red ball. I took a thought out of my head and manifested it through my spoken words into your very mind. That is nothing short of supernatural! Now couple with it the divine authority of the name of Jesus and the POWER of the Holy Spirit. We’re talking words that can command the universe itself to manifest what we feel the Spirit bidding us to do.

I believe that this is the very secret to the spiritual gift known as, “miracles”. Through the spoken word we release the power by commanding healing, deliverance from evil spirits, and for supernatural events and provision to manifest. Why aren’t there any miracles in the church? By and large, few churches are willing to SPEAK things that are not as though they are! Many are afraid of looking foolish if a miracle doesn’t manifest. That’s FEAR. God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. We should launch out and release the power of God to move into action by speaking and affirming our family’s salvation, our healing, the healing of others, deliverance from evil spirits, and miraculous blessings and provisions that meet the needs of God’s children. I believe that when we unleash the power of God like this, it sets the gears of creation itself into motion to manifest what the power of God was released to do. Speaking and releasing the power should give you peace of mind. Pray it OUTWARD and DECLARE it. Then praise the Lord and set back and watch with childlike expectation, watch as the very dominos of reality begin falling in a manner to bring what you have declared to pass.

Every ancient religion and practice seems to understand this reality. However, they do not have the authority of the name of Jesus or the power of the Spirit. Therefore, any curse, hex, evil device and/or construct, demon spirit, or evil intent can be broken and shattered, cast out and severed, in the name and power of Jesus.

What happens if I pray and nothing happens?

You need to get filled with the Spirit and tap into the power. When the disciples failed to cast out an evil spirit, Jesus said,

Matthew 17:19-21
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Note, it was because of the disciple’s unbelief. They had no INTENTION behind their words. They didn’t really expect it or intend to see it happen. They were passive regarding the outcome. In addition Jesus mentions a secret combination that can strengthen and increase one’s ability to unleash the power of God. This specific demon spirit was said to not come out but by prayer and fasting. This demon had a stronghold. It would take more than what was normally necessary. Prayer and fasting are important tools when dealing with the power of God. Through prayer we soak in God’s presence. Through fasting we empty ourselves and our egos and being empty, we allow ourselves room to be filled with the power of the Spirit through soaking prayer. It’s like wringing out a sponge to get the dirty water out of it and then placing it into the clean water filled with cleanser that it might be filled with the clean water and cleaning solution. We empty ourselves as we soak up the power through our prayers. As a result, prayer and fasting increases the power of God that can be released in a given situation.

This power is so great, it’s residual. That’s right, it leaves a residue or a trace of its very presence on people and material things. It’s so powerful that even after Elisha had died, the power remained in his very bones. We read about how a dead man touched Elisha’s bones and was instantly healed:

2 Kings 13:21
21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

Think about that. Power remained in Elisha’s bones. Power so great that when a dead man’s body touched them, the very spirit of death was rebuked and the man stood upon his feet!

We read about how in the early church people laid the sick and demonized in the streets so that the very shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. And we read how even others from out of the neighboring cities came forward to be healed. And we read that they were healed, “every one” (that includes those upon whom Peter’s shadow fell!). Peter was so filled with power, even his shadow had nail scarred hands! Read it for yourself:

Acts 5:14-16
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

We also read about how handkerchiefs were made from the torn clothing that Paul wore while working and ministering. Imagine Paul making tents for merchants and earning his living. While working Paul is lost in prayer, and perhaps he was even fasting on some of those days. Imagine Paul preaching and performing miracles in the name of Jesus and those clothes he wore soaking up residual power from this anointing. Friends, they took these handkerchiefs and laid them on the sick and demonized and they were healed and delivered. Here’s the text:

Acts 19:11-12
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

These handkerchiefs were like holy hand grenades loaded with spiritual power to heal and cast out devils! What an amazing POWER is found in the Holy Ghost! You have a child plagued with nightmares? You have a child that is sick and isn’t responding to medication? You fear some unclean spirit is messing with your spouse? Take that Teddy Bear into your prayer closet with you, take that favorite blouse of hers into your prayer closet with you, take that favorite necktie into your prayer closet with you, sit in that teenagers car and pray through in the Holy Ghost for their protection and deliverance. Watch the residual power of God go to work for you as a result of your prayers when you’re not even around! YOU WERE GIVEN POWER TO USE IT.

A proper understanding of the power of God can bring miracles and healing back into the churches. It can bring powerful testimonies of deliverance from demonic oppression and possession back into the churches. This is what we’re to be about saints of God. Jesus Himself, stated that we would cast out devils, speak in new tongues, take up serpents (uproot evil spirits), drink any deadly thing (divine protection), and lay hands on the sick, with the promise and assurance that they would recover. He said these are signs that would follow US. We’re sons of God, empowered by the Spirit, and operating under the authority of the NAME. We don’t have to pray like beggars. We can declare, decree, and even command and watch and rejoice as the power of God takes over. In this, God will be glorified and the church will be empowered. We’re not beggars. We can boldly approach the throne of grace and speak what we need and set the wheels in motion. There is no need to have powerless Christian lives and powerless churches. The power is there to work miracles, it is a gift, we only have to have the courage to release this power in the name of Jesus by speaking miracles into manifestation.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Some questions I’ve gotten about this are:


Q. How is this different from what television preachers are teaching?

A. It isn’t. However, they do not abide in Christ as born again Apostolics do. In addition, they do not always have the Spirit as we do. They also tend to have people speak amiss of God's intentions. Lastly, Jesus said, “freely ye have received, freely give”. Money isn’t attached to this. Once one does that, it desecrates the power and makes it an evil tool to gain filthy lucre.

Q. I’m not holy enough to release this power. How would this ever work for me?

A. Nobody is perfect. If you received the Holy Ghost, you received the POWER that comes with it. We can’t allow Satan to intimidate us by using our imperfections and struggles against us. Ground yourself in Christ Jesus. That means plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and those you are praying for (there is power in the blood). Confess your sins, faults, and failures and allow Christ’s blood to cleanse you. We are promised that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). Through a penitent heart of confession you will stand before God as though you never sinned. Seek the mind of Christ, that’s right, pray that His mind be in you and then determine what He will have you do and do it. Does he wish you to make any restitution, forgive a brother who offended you, what is it that the mind of Christ would have you do? Is the mind of Christ in agreement that you release the power of God into a situation? How do you know? By reading the Bible. Would Jesus heal? Would Jesus deliver? Would Jesus give someone a brand-new sports car or a winning lotto ticket? If you know the Scripture, you’ll realize what kinds of things Christ would do in a given situation, and then you can know that releasing the power of God to work in that situation is the will of God. To seek to release the power without the mind of Christ is foolishness, for we will pray amiss. Immerse yourself in the Word of God regarding the thing you’re needing to manifest in your life or the lives of those you love. Pray therefore in accordance to Scripture, not carnal will or desire. If you do this, you will see the power of God move and go to work for you. Get cleansed, filled with the Spirit, and put on the mind of Christ through prayer and study and you you’ll be just fine. When we stand in a state of grace and justification we are more than worthy in God's sight.

Q. What if nothing happens?

A. Oh, but what if it does! Don’t be afraid to launch out in dependence upon God’s Word. If you do not see the power of God working for you, seek where you might have gone wrong. Did you speak out of the carnal desires of your human heart? Did you speak selfishly? Is what you spoke in alignment with the Word of God? Remember, God’s word gives us this authority AND power over demon spirits, sickness, and circumstances that will hinder the Kingdom of God and spread of the Gospel, and that threaten our families. Are you declaring that you’ll get a mansion on the beach and a sports car for every day of the week? Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t return to you as you desired. But when you declare and speak that which is truly a part of God's plans and intentions for the church as seen in Scripture, you WILL get results.

I’m sure there are other questions. But our questions shouldn't hold us back from walking in the power and authority Jesus purchased for us at Calvary. Let’s go forth with renewed intention and power to advance the Kingdom of God and see the miraculous in our wake.

God bless and keep you and yours.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

You can't "release" the power of God, He's not under your control.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

God is not under our control, but scripture is very clear that He gave power to heal and do miracles to his disciples.

Mark 16 appears to expand that power to anyone who believes.

For whatever reason, this is not a common occurrence today. There are legitimate healings which happen, where God does a miracle and a person is healed by God and not medical science. There are also times where healing does not happen, in spite of one or two people or thousands of people praying for healing.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

When we truly walk in the Spirit and allow the power of the Spirit to flow through us, we can experience the gifts of the Spirit.

Word of Wisdom - Divine wisdom or insight about a situation that is delivered straight from God.

Word of Knowledge - The impartation of knowledge pertaining to a person, situation, or chain of events that the gift holder could not have known by any natural means.

Discernment of Spirits - The ability to supernaturally know the motive of a human spirit or the presence and nature of spiritual beings (angel or demon).

Gift of Faith - The impartation of supernatural faith that defies all logic in a given, seemingly hopeless, situation or circumstance.

Gifts of Healing - The impartation of the power to heal various maladies in the body, soul, or spirit.

Gift of Miracles - The impartation of the power to pray and have prayers answered, even if the outcome requires supernatural means that defy the laws of nature.

Gift of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to speak a message directly from God "in the Spirit" or to supernaturally "pray in the Spirit".

Gift of Interpretation of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to "interpret" (not translate) unknown tongues spoken under the "Gift of Tongues" before listeners.

Gift of Prophesy - The impartation of the ability to speak a message directly from God concerning the future or a present spiritual reality or situation ("Thus saith the LORD...").

Do you need a Word of Knowledge? Call on it. Do you need Spiritual Discernment? Call on it. Do you feel that a seemingly impossible trial is challenging your faith? Call on the Gift of Faith! Do you or someone you know needing a miracle in their lives? Call on it!

Activate the gifts!

We passively wait for things to float down from Heaven like we'll know if they come or not and for many, they've never used a gift. The power to manifest the gifts of God is given to every man for the common good of our churches, families, and communities. Releasing the power through your spoke word can even activate the gifts of the Spirit.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

We can't? Oh ye of little faith...

Acts 13:9-11 King James Version (KJV)
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

The Holy Ghost isn't "the Force". We don't "release" the power of God. The gifts of the Spirit are distributed as HE wills, not as we will. If the power is slack, then we should be busy asking God to show us why He is holding back from using us more than He seems to be doing at present. It may be our lack of consecration, or lack of faith, or something else, that renders us unfit to be used as we would like. Paul said for us to desire the charismata, but follow love. Maybe that's the key.

I understand what is being said here, but the terminology of "release the power of God!" is nowhere in scripture, but everywhere in the occult superstitions of the unlearned.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

No one said that the Holy Ghost is a Force. However, the Holy Ghost brings power.

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

If you have the Holy Ghost, you also have the power.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

I have yet to read where Jesus held back anything from any one or two of His disciples. This notion that God would will one believer may have power to heal, but would withhold that power from another who has the same faithfulness and consecration to God, is not found in His instructions to the Disciples or His statement in Mark 16.

"These signs SHALL follow them that believe." There is no fine print, no exclusions, etc, in that scripture.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

When using the word "releasing" or "release" what we are speaking of is "unleashing" or "loosing":

Matthew 16:18-19 King James Version (KJV)
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

1 Cor 12 explicitly states not all have the same gifts, including gifts of healing or working of miracles.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Did Peter weep and beg God to heal and raise this girl? Or did Peter loose the power of God by speaking life and healing into her body?

Acts 9:40-42
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

Peter released the power of God through his spoken word. He spoke to the mountain (this girl's circumstance) and said, "Tabitha, arise." :lol

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Have you emptied the local sick ward, yet?

Binding and loosing has to do with church discipline, authority, etc. It was a common phrase among Jews and referred to rabbinic authority to make decisions regarding practical application of Torah. Christ gave that authority to His church (see Ex 18:22 and 1 Cor 6:4).

The concept of "releasing or unleashing supernatural power" is occultism, plain and simple.

Where did Jesus teach anyone to "unleash the power"? Where did the apostles teach anyone to "release the power"? Nowhere, that's where.

Stay away from Kenny Hagin, and his crew. It's only downhill all the way.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

I believe that some may have a specific gifting in which they operate naturally in the Spirit, but I do not believe that this means that just because one hasn't ever operated in another gift, such as the gift of healing, they absolutely can't do so.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

You just went personal. What spirit are you of? :thumbsdown

If what you said was of the Spirit, it would not be a personal attack or insult. :(

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

I never said that. Anyone can be used to do anything that God chooses.

Key phrase: "that God chooses."

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

What happened between Mark 16 and 1 Cor 12? What changed?

Why does Paul contradict what Jesus said?

Jesus: "These signs shall follow them that believe ..."
Paul: One of you gets word of knowledge, one of you gets faith, one gets healing...

So now it's eenie meenie minie moe, you get healing, you don't? Duck, duck, goose? You get healing, you get healing, you're the drummer?

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Nothing changed from Mark to Corinthians. Paul does not contradict Jesus. There is no "gift of drumming."

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Amen. As God chooses. And I believe that God can choose to honor words of faith and intention.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

I believe it is speaking of special gifts. One might seem to naturally flow with the Word of Knowledge based on what God has imparted to him. But it doesn't mean that the same individual can't speak and release healing into the lives of the sick and suffering. He might not be known as a healer... but he can call upon the gift of healing.

It's like the difference between one who is a prophet... and one who might walk in the prophetic for a season. Any of us might walk in the prophetic for a season... but it doesn't make us prophets. An anointed minister known for words of knowledge may not be a healer... but he may occasionally call upon God and release the power to heal through the gift of healing.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

If 1 Cor is to be believed, something indeed changed.

Mark 16 is wide open to all who believe.

1 Cor is narrowed down to only a select few whom God chooses. No more is it all who believe.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

because they were approaching cessationism...
things were slowing down

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Jk

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Gift of drumming.

You mean like the little drummer boy? :heeheehee

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

pa rum pum pum pum

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Paul wrote about "measure" in 2 Corinthians, and it seems to be that his point is, he believed it proper and important to make sure one didn't go boasting about things he hasn't done, or been allowed/used by God, to do.

Jesus said "All authority in heaven and earth" had been given to Him. And while His authority and power is operative in the Body of Christ, it is not individually given out in full capacity, else that one lucky soul then would have all authority in heaven and earth.

I don't think it prudent to assume too much about ourselves or the fact that we have the Holy Spirit, in terms of whether or not anything we desire or want God to do is just going to happen because we have the truth, or etc. Jesus explained that we must first abide in Him, then we can ask. To abide is to live and dwell, and to do so doesn't mean we carve out of Christ a life we hope to have, but rather, we live the life He chooses to give us. Personally, I can't ever recall Him asking my permission to do anything.

Also, there is a difference between screwing up our faces and desperately wanting a thing from God and convincing ourselves we believe, and knowing whether or not God is already predisposed to giving us that thing and all we have to do is wait for Him to do it, even without us asking. Every time I knew God was going to do something, or was in the process of doing something, all I had to do was say "God is going to..." and He would do it, not because I said so, or even that I petitioned. Rather, in those instances, He allowed me to be especially in tune with His desires and foreknowledge.

Faith is not "believe harder". It's trust and the outward reflection that trust generates in everyday life.

When the Acts of the Apostles are looked at carefully, conversions far outweigh healings or other instances of miraculous events, by the thousands.

If we all began a serious tally of the miracles, healings, deliverances, and other instances of charismata that we have personally experienced, or personally witnessed firsthand, and then also other credible stories, I think we'd be heavily surprised by just how often God does in fact do these things.

But if we were to take that number and compare to the number of conversions we've all seen and know about, we'd see the same pattern as Acts gives us.

My point is, these kinds of discussions don't seem to have ever been conducted amongst the believers in 1st century Judea and the surrounding Mediterranean region. We don't have a record, at least, as far as I know. These things weren't the concern. These things were simply the natural outgrowth of what eternal life and salvation in Christ looked like.

So don't be dismayed, or turn toward aberrant practices to try and wield the power of God out of some sense of desperation or presumed need. God is healing everyone He wants to, performing as many miracles as He wants to, and is doing whatever He has decided He is going to do, after the counsel of His own will.

If He permits you an opportunity to be a part of that, awesome. It's an amazing thing. If He seemingly takes that away, don't count it against yourself like He's punishing you personally.

The promises of God in Christ Jesus are yes and amen. When God says "yes" to our prayers, never think your prayers twisted His arm into giving you anything. And when God says "no", never think your prayers are useless and He's not interested. Rather, be accepting of whatever is in His hand when He holds it out to you.

There might not be anything in it, but an invitation to put your hand in His and walk awhile with Him in the cool of the day, in paradise.

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

Jesus gave His disciples authority over specific things. In Matthew 10:7-9 those things are:

- the healing of the sick
- cleansing of the lepers
- the raising of the dead
- the casting out of demons

These disciples went forth KNOWING that it was the Lord's will that they exercise power and authority in these areas. They didn't go forth pleading and begging Jesus to answer their prayers in these areas. Nor did they go forth passively assuming that God would just do it for them. They went forth knowing that they were indeed empowered, equipped, and commissioned to do these things. They were not thinking too highly of themselves. Nor were they thinking that in some way they were twisting God's arm to move on their behalf. They were COMISSIONED to do these things. They were ordered to use the power of God in these areas.

In Luke 10:19 Jesus focuses in on the seventy and gives them supernatural power and authority to wage spiritual warfare against evil spirits. We read:

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Here, we see Jesus granting power in specific areas. These are:

- Power to tread on serpents and scorpions (evil spirits)
- Power to break curses, hexes, generational curses, evil constructs, deceptions, etc. of the enemy
- Powerful protection from all spiritual attack and opposition.

Remember, the seventy were amazed that they were granted such authority and power:

Luke 10:17
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

While the greatest thing is to rejoice over being saved, this illustrates that they did indeed have the power to do the things Jesus specifically asked them to do. They didn't go out begging for Him to heal or remove a demon, they spoke healing and cast out the devil themselves.

This is power granted to the believer to use and employ. We don't have to beg that God banish demons that are behind sickness, oppression, curses, deceptions, demonic plots, or possession. We have been given this authority to release the power to uproot, bind, and cast out all evil spirits and over all the power of the enemy.

When a soldier is issued a weapon and deployed for war, that soldier has the orders to use that weapon within the parameters given to accomplish the mission. We are like soldiers. We have been issued authority and power through the Holy Spirit to release the power of God within the parameters of the mission. As long as we release the power to accomplish what is within the parameters of the mission, we can be assured that the power will yield the results our Lord said it would. In Mark 16 Jesus clearly explains what is to be expected in the wake of believers:

Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Here we see that the signs following true believers are:

- Casting out devils.
- Speaking in new tongues.
- Uprooting spiritual strongholds (taking up serpents, treading on scorpions).
- Divine protection from harm.
- The healing of the sick.

We shouldn't question if we have the power and authority to do that which is expected of us by God. I wonder, is it possible that on occasions God heals in response to prayer, but is disappointed that the body of Christ He empowered didn't use the power granted to heal the sick? Might our rejoicing over His healing of someone within our number be an indictment against us at some point? Might God turn in the Judgment and ask, "Why didn't YOU heal them my children? I called and empowered YOU to do it."

Regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit in I Corinthians 12 we see spiritual gifts given by God to individuals as He desires. We know that the manifestation of the Spirit in these gifts is given to every believer that they might profit and serve the body (I Corinthians 12:7). Everyone has at least one of these gifts imparted to them. These gifts can be divided into three categories:

Speaking Gifts:
- Prophesy
- Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues

Revelatory Gifts:
- Word of Knowledge
- Word of Wisdom
- Discernment of Spirits

Power Gifts:
- Gift of Faith
- Gifts of Healing
- Miracles

While no one has all of these gifts imparted to them at any one given time, these gifts are readily available to all as God chooses and as the situation may require. We know that Peter had the gift of healing, but Peter also performed miracles, and received visionary words of knowledge at times. We know that Paul prophesied, but he also discerned spirits as necessary. One may have a gift or a specific category of gifts in which they flow naturally... but that doesn't rule out their being able to operate in the other gifts in a given circumstance.

When Jesus said that all power and authority was given unto Him, He was clearly declaring that He now has all power and authority. Therefore, He has all right and authority to grant power and spiritual authority as He desires. To say that Jesus has all power and authority, therefore we shouldn't concern ourselves with walking in the power and authority given unto us is only to tell half the story. Jesus received all power and authority... and as a result, it is He who has granted power and authority until His church.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Re: Releasing the Power of God:
 

CONTINUED...

Up until this point in this thread I've not shared the areas of spiritual gifting I've operated in. Frankly, because I didn't want to boast, because I'm a nobody. It is Jesus who is everything. Nonetheless, I wish to share what areas of gifting I've been used in so that none might assume that I'm talking about spiritual gifts while having never been used in them.

The Gifts of the Spirit that I find flowing most freely in my walk with God have been Prophesy, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, Discernment of Spirits, and miracles (namely, casting out devils). These are rarely in operation all at the same time. However, they often work in clustered combinations. For example, I might receive a Word of Knowledge followed by a Word of Wisdom when ministering to an individual. Sometimes these come as "impressions", phrases to be said, or even "snap shots". At times, I've spoken in Tongues and the gift of Interpretation come over me, and I end up prophesying. When one gets a feel for the gifts, they more and more become less separated and appear to operate together in a complimentary fashion. And so they become less separate and become more of a single source to pull upon or that overwhelms, given the circumstance. I can feel their presence when I'm "plugged in", even if I do not feel compelled to use them. I've also felt their presence and not been able to connect to operate the gift. Not sure why, I'm still praying and studying that one. I firmly believe that any and every believer can be used in the gifts freely if they simply step out in faith. They are not strange or spooky. They should be the norm among a Spirit filled body. The one gifted must realize that they are nothing. I am nothing. It is God who is glorified in us, in our ministries, and in our exploits as we go forth in His name.

I've never been actively used in gifts of healing. Although, a man was healed from chronic back pain during one of my sermons back in 2006 or 2007. The sermon was, "When God Seems Cruel". He had been struggling with a number of health problems but one of the major one's was his back pain. It nearly immobilized him. He had prayed for healing time and time again and had been told that perhaps it just wasn't God's will to heal him. For a little over a year the man couldn't grasp why God would want him to endure such pain and as a result, he began to blame God for the troubles in his life such as not being able to work, not being able to be a husband, and not being able to volunteer to be used in the Kingdom. During the sermon he said that I had made a point (God isn't cruel, it is life that is cruel, and as a result we all suffer from powerful blows that leave us broken wondering why) and it struck home. He went to raise his hands and there was no pain. He began rejoicing and praising God as I was preaching and some stood with him. I had no idea what was going on as I continued to plow forward in the sermon. It was after the altar call that he approached me and testified as to what God had done for him the second he ceased to blame God. I was beside myself. I had no idea he was healed in the pews. Although all his health problems weren't healed, the back pain was gone and it made all the difference. I saw him last year and he was still pain free. To God be all the glory!

I've also never been used in the Gift of Faith. In all honesty, since I've never experienced this gift, I'm not even entirely sure what it is exactly. I've always had the impression that it is a supernatural impartation of faith that defies all logic in a given, seemingly hopeless, situation or circumstance. I've heard of brothers and sisters who faced such tragedy I just couldn't see how they got back up on their feet and praised God in the midst of the storm. Things that I fear would rock my faith beyond recovery. Yet, for some reason, God in His infinite mercy blessed them with the Gift of Faith to not only make it through the trial... but to share and impart a measure of that faith with others who find themselves faced with overwhelming circumstances. I can only be seated and stare in awe when I see this gift of the Spirit in operation. It's the kind of empowerment that allows one to stare death in the face and say, "Whatever man... Jesus is still worthy."

I've needed healing in my mind and body and yet for some reason it has yet to manifest. And at times, I've faced some disappointments that left me shaken and I've had to tie a knot in the rope and just hang on for dear life. I'm no superhero. In fact, I'm just as imperfect as the next guy. Sometimes more so.

In a previous thread the subject came up about why there are times when we don't see people healed. That's when I began digging back into a study I started late last year on the power of God. I'm going to unleash the power and declare my healing in the name of Jesus. If that doesn't work, like Paul, I'll accept that God's grace is sufficient and that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, and so I will glory in my infirmities, testifying that if God can use a broken and imperfect man like me... certainly He can use you and others who have so much more to offer.

I also have a circumstance that has been very challenging for my family. I went to get some fresh air on the porch one morning at about 5 am. I hadn't slept because worry was keeping me awake. As I sat on the porch, I decided to pray and release the power of God into my situation in the name of Jesus. So far, the results have been absolutely amazing. It's not finished working the work it was released to do, so I'll share my testimony with you when the dust settles.

There is both power and authority available to us in Christ. Don't be afraid to step out and use the power that Christ purchased for us at Calvary. Everything you need, you already have it. It's right there in your tongue. Pray the prayer of faith and release the power of God through speaking words of faith and power and watch as the power of God begins to go to work in your circumstance and in the lives of the people you love.

May God bless and keep you and yours.