"Living the Life of Christ's Power"

Dear Beloved:

     The effectiveness and the power of the church specifically depend upon its relationship and obedience to Christ.  We are the church of Jesus Christ and we have been called, chosen, appointed and equipped to bear witness of Christ and to walk as His powerful witnesses on the earth.  Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  The ability to be Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth is dependent upon us being filled with the Holy Spirit and His power released in our lives.  We need the power of Christ at work in us in order for us to fulfill our purpose and the vision of the ministry.    

      Apostle Paul is the greatest example New Testament believer who understood the power of Christ and believed in Christ to the ultimate degree.  In I Cor. 2: 4-5 he says, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”  Apostle Paul was clear, precise, focused and passionate about his purpose in ministry.  He was not seeking popularity, recognition, or the praise of men, but rather he sought the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of Christ to change the minds and hearts of men.  He became a vessel of Christ for the Holy Spirit to work and demonstrate Christ’s power.

     In II Cor. 4:7 he explains how the Lord uses the believer, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”  We are the earthen vessels that must yield, surrender, submit and trust in Christ as our total life support and reason for living.  He must become our life and more abundantly.  The Holy Spirit is the Kingdom representative that empowers believers to glorify Christ on the earth.  Our purpose on the earth is to represent Christ in word, deed, position, vision, assignment, attitude and mission.  We must decrease and He must increase as we yield and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus explains the believers assignment on the earth in John 14:12-14.  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”  In these verses, Jesus defines the mission and vision of the church, which are:

1. Believe in Him
2. Do the works of Christ by the Holy Spirit’s power
3. Increase in His works to do greater works
4. Ask His will in His name
5. The Father is glorified through the works of Jesus in our lives on earth.

As believers we must develop this vision and revelation in our hearts.  We must believe in Him more than we believe in ourselves.  We must believe in Him, and in His vision for us rather than our own.  Apostle Paul got that revelation as explained in Gal. 2:20, “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself for me.”  He was motivated and stirred by the vision of a Christ centered lifestyle that took faith to live everyday.  The result was power of Christ demonstrated in His life daily in every situation.  His life was insignificant, unimportant and secondary, but the life of Christ was primary, priority, relevant, significant and first in his life.  Apostle Paul actually exchanged his life, which he surrendered and took the life of his Savior and Lord, which he lived until his death.  We too can live in Christ power as we surrender our lives and pick up His life as our own.

Sharing Christ’s Love
Dr. James and Prophetess Sharon Randolph