There is an outside FORCE available which very few professing Christians understand — and even fewer utilize. This article makes PLAIN what that power is. It explains WHY and HOW it should be exercised in YOUR LIFE!
THIS generation does have a rendezvous with destiny. It is a world in which man's power and ability seems greater and more awesome than at any time in human history. Yet, paradoxically, man's future was never more clouded than now. The prospects for universal famine, for national and racial wars and for human annihilation were never greater. In spite of man's apparent technical and mechanical powers, his ultimate FAILURE to solve the real problems of life were never more starkly evident. Yet there is HOPE!
What Man's True HOPE Really Is
Men today have become so obsessed with. their technical and scientific abilities that they imagine God is either "dead" — or certainly far off in heaven somewhere and virtually powerless to intervene in human lives and world affairs. Be honest! You may not have put, or even thought it in those words, but haven't you felt that way about God? Not only by the public admissions of countless pastors, priests and laymen is this proved true. But the "fruits" — the actions and results — in the lives of nearly all professing Christians graphically demonstrate that modern man is unaware and unconcerned with the POWER of His Creator. I tell you by authority that this generation is destined to come alive and AWAKE to that POWER! Unless you are cut off by premature death, the vast majority of you now reading this article are going to be shocked and STUNNED by the most fantastic display of supernatural power in human history. You are soon going to SEE — with your own eyes — GIGANTIC upsets in the weather leading to terrible floods and famine, mass starvation, earthquakes and huge tidal waves such as have never been dreamed of by modern, "educated" men. Then you will SEE awesome displays of supernatural power in the very heavens — culminating in the dramatic return of the very CREATOR to His Creation in the person of the Living Jesus Christ! You WON'T have long to wait! Finally, you will live into another world — the "World Tomorrow" — where this great POWER of God will be regularly used to keep and ENFORCE peace. This POWER will be used to CHANGE human lives and attitudes, to remove the vicious nature even from the "wild" animals! It will be used to heal the sick, to control the weather, to BLESS human beings as long as they serve and obey their Creator. This prophecy is certain! Its outcome is SURE!
Start NOW to Understand and USE GOD'S POWER
True Christians today are in training to become kings and priests in the soon-coming "World Tomorrow" (Revelation 5:10). We must learn lessons of character — and of FAITH in God's wisdom and POWER so we can qualify even to judge or "manage" (Moffat translation) ANGELS in the "World Tomorrow" (I Corinthians 6:2-3). You probably have been told nothing of this awesome responsibility before. But you should have been! There it is, right in your own New Testament! Your future Job is to exercise great POWER and AUTHORITY in the Kingdom of God to be set up on this earth! Jesus showed that His disciples would literally RULE over the twelve tribes of Israel in the "World Tomorrow" (Luke 22:28-30). He described how those faithful Christians who overcome and serve most in this life will "have AUTHORITY over ten cities." How those who have made good but not outstanding progress will be "also over five cities" (Luke 19:17-19). Where will YOU fit into this picture? Some may sneer and scoff. But it won't last long. For these plans and prophecies of God are very REAL. They are already beginning to happen! Start taking a good big city newspaper. Start comparing honestly and carefully — with what you read in the prophetic articles in The PLAIN TRUTH. Then SEE these happenings unfold before your very eyes! How, then, can you become more aware of the fantastic reality and POWER of God — and better prepare to utilize that power as an instrument in His hands? In this series of articles on "Preparing to be a King," we have covered many points on how to be a successful human being and an effective Christian. We have described many vital "keys" on developing your mind, body, personality and character. We have described how to be a King (or "Queen") in your family kingdom, and how to build leadership and service. But these keys are incomplete without the utilization of God's POWER. This seventh key provides the real spark and energy to make the others truly effective. So to have the spiritual strength and impact you need in this life, and to prepare yourself to serve as a powerful instrument in Christ's government soon to be set up on earth, learn and USE this seventh "key" of exercising God's power. There are three basic steps you need to take. Here they are:
I. You Need the Proper FEAR of GOD
Should you fear God as some sort of monster? No! Not at all. But we human beings tend not to respect our parents, our teachers, the laws of the land — or ANYTHING — unless we become impressed with their closeness, their active intervention and their POWER. Let me illustrate. As a grade school child, I went to a school with a woman principal. This principal was, I am sure, a very fine lady. But she had been allowed to continue on beyond retirement age and was somewhat senile and slow moving. Like GOD probably seems to most of you reading this, she seemed far off, out of touch, venerable but passive, and almost helpless to really do anything about explosive daily problems. The point is, we did not FEAR this elderly lady principal or her office. Yet we should have! For the kind of "fear" I am discussing is a sense of awe, deep respect, and appreciation of active POWER. That is the kind of fear we ought to have — and eventually must have — for Almighty God!
An Example of PROPER "Fear"
A sequel to the above which, incidentally, really happened in my life, is that in my final year or two of grade school this lady principal died. She was replaced by a reasonably young, alert, masculine fellow who immediately "took charge" of the situation. Oh, how I remember! On the second or third day after Mr. Antle became principal, a large group of students were coming in from the playground. As we lined up, there was the usual pushing, shoving and pulling of the girls' pigtails by us "bad little boys." There was constant giggling and scuffling — few paying any attention to the admonitions and warnings of the women teachers. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, I heard a wrenching sound just behind me. I quickly turned to see a horrorstricken boy being jerked off his feet, propelled bodily through the air, and landing across the new principal's knee! A sort of muffled moan of fear and awe emanated from the group of children beholding this fearsome spectacle. Clutched in the principal's hand, a large wood paddle streaked from the sky and landed with a fierce "whop" on its appointed target. A yowl of shock and fear came from the boy's lips — giving way quickly to real cries of pain and penitence. Standing aghast at this strange sight, I felt my body stiffen with fear and awe. All the children were similarly affected. Immediately, all scuffling and misbehavior stopped! Great peace and tranquility descended upon West Central Grade School! To us boys, the new principal stood ten feet tall and seemed to be always nearby, alert and powerful. Yet, he was very fair and friendly — as well as firm when necessary. We soon came to admire and respect the new principal even more than the old. He inspired us to strength, manhood and accomplishment. But we knew he would not tolerate misbehavior. There was to be no "monkey business" while he was principal. We respected and FEARED his determination and power to enforce this standard of behavior. His "presence" was always felt with a certain awe and respect.
UNDERSTAND the Spiritual Analogy
Now follow the analogy. The great GOD who created the heavens and the earth is soon going to have to intervene — as our new principal did — and show His POWER to a complacent and rebellious race of men. He is going to show such awesome and POWERFUL signs that men will stand in FEAR and AWE of His Majesty and His office. Then — and then ONLY — will there be peace in this war-torn world! For since God has allowed man to go his own way for six thousand years, men have begun to assume that their very Creator is "dead," impotent, or "way off" somewhere. They have ceased to realize He is nearby and very available for help. They have ceased praying to the true God and expecting a supernatural answer if that is required. They have ceased FEARING to disobey His plain written Word and His Commandments! Because of this, mankind is in terrible trouble. He is about to blast himself off this planet! The true God is going to STOP IT! We in this Work of God — including you faithful readers of The PLAIN TRUTH — have been called on to warn and witness to this world with POWER before our God intervenes. We have a job to do and that job is going to require supernatural strength, inspiration and divine POWER.
Godly Fear Is the BEGINNING of True Wisdom
The Word of God tells us: "The FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). Yes, fools sneer, ridicule and DESPISE true wisdom and understanding that comes from God. But those who will be leaders in truly helping this world today and BLESSING and SAVING it in The World Tomorrow will be those who have true wisdom and knowledge through the deep acknowledgment and FEAR of the Living God! Again: "The FEAR of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate" (Proverbs 8:13). This proper "fear" of God causes us to understand the nature of evil and sincerely hate it — turn away from it and from all the self-willed vanity and rebellion that causes every human woe and ill today including the danger of HUMAN ANNIHILATION if man doesn't wake up! A few years ago — very few as the Eternal GOD counts time — God literally BROKE a great Babylonian king from his office and his majesty for seven years. He was brought down and humbled as no other king has been in similar fashion. After that time — and after he had learned a GREAT LESSON — Nebuchadnezzar was restored to his kingdom and he lifted up his eyes to praise and honor the true God. Nebuchadnezzar said: "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and He [God) doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, what doest thou?... Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the king of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to ABASE" (Daniel 4:35, 37). This great king learned — as the men and rulers of this present civilization WILL SOON LEARN that God is VERY REAL. That He RULES over the nations according to His will! Build this concept into your mind. Deeply study and drink in of the prophecies of the Bible and PROVE them to yourself. If you have not yet done so, write for our free booklet: The Proof of the Bible. Read and study the examples of Jesus' life and miracles. Realize that He is the SAME yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Build in your mind and heart an awareness that God is very near and that He will answer with POWER your faithful prayers as long as they are based upon His Word and His will. Use this concept and GROW in it daily! While still learning and practicing the first point given above, here is the second "key" which you must build into your life if you are to tap the great POWER of God.
II. You Need to WALK With God
This key is learning to walk with God. To walk with God, you must walk where He walks — for He will not depart from His divine path to go according to the ways and reasonings of men. To walk with God, you have got to follow Jesus' admonition that man must "LIVE by every word of God" (Luke 4:4). To walk with God, you must strive to overcome your human nature and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. For Jesus, when asked the way to eternal life said: "If thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" — then He began to name some of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 19:16-19). Again, Jesus said: "And why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) Put simply, this means that you must OBEY your Maker, learn to live and act as He does, and be in constant communion with Him through the study of His Word, through prayer, meditation, fasting and EXERCISING His character throughout your daily life. The great men of the Bible have ALL done this! Notice this account of Enoch's life: "And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:21-24).
Examples of Noah, Abraham and Micah
Now notice the account of Noah — for whose sake human life itself was preserved from the all-encompassing flood that came upon the earth in his days: "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah WALKED WITH GOD" (Genesis 6:9). Here it is pointed out that Noah was "just" — he lived a righteous life according to God's commandments. When called upon to do what seemed at the time a ridiculous thing — building an ark out in the middle of a dry plain — Noah OBEYED His Creator without balking or questioning. He kept in constant communion with the Great Spirit Personality who spoke to him and directed his paths. He yielded to his Maker. He walked with God. Next, we come to the account of Abraham — the "father of the faithful." In Genesis 17:1, God states: "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; WALK before me [or "with" me), and be thou perfect." Of course, Abraham did not have perfect faith at every hour of the day nor perfect obedience either, but he constantly yielded his will and life to His Creator and grew in perfection and walked with God. Thus when the birthright which he received was transferred to Isaac, God declared that this fantastic blessing was given Abraham, "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Genesis 26:5). Abraham OBEYED His Maker — He walked the way God walked. The prophet Micah summarizes this basic approach to God which we must have to receive His blessing and POWER: "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to WALK humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8).
Follow Jesus' Example
We need the attitude which Jesus exemplified in what is called the Lord's Prayer: "Thy kingdom come. Thy WILL be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). To walk with God, we need to honestly seek the revealed WILL of God in the Bible — and be willing to CHANGE where we're wrong, to let God fashion us, mold us and use us as His instruments. We ought to ache and yearn for His government to be set up on this earth for His perfect WILL to be accomplished that there will be peace, happiness and joy for everyone. Because that is the REAL WAY — and the ONLY way these things will ever come about! What was the remarkable source of Jesus' power? Notice! In Mark 1:32-34, He healed many sick and diseased persons who were brought to Him — casting out demon spirits as well. "And in the morning, rising a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there PRAYED" (verse 35). Constantly, throughout His life, you will find Jesus leaving the multitudes in order to get close to God in earnest PRAYER and meditation. He walked with God and He TALKED with God — always. Remember the account of Jesus walking on the water? Some people today make fun of this. They think it's a big joke. But they will not laugh long as they soon SEE the returning Christ coming in brilliant glory and POWER — shining with the brightness of a thousand suns! But, to get to the point, have you ever noticed what Jesus did just before He "walked on the water"? "And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to PRAY" (Mark 6:46). Then He walked on the water (verses 47-52) in order to catch up with the disciples. They were amazed and AFRAID. Why? "For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened" (verse 52). In other words, the disciples should NOT have been so amazed at Jesus' walking on the water if they had realized the tremendous MEANING of His other fantastic miracles — that He really WAS God in the flesh — able to use the very POWER of the Creator to do His Work. Not understanding this basic principle, they were continually amazed with each new miracle He performed — never seeming to understand the relationship one to another and the FACT of Christ's office and ability to exercise the Divine Power. How about you? Will you learn from this article to so conduct yourself — to walk with God — that you may be constantly aware of the reality, the POWER, and yielded to the WILL of your Creator that you may be a dynamic instrument in His hands?
III. You Need to EXERCISE God's POWER
The Gospel of Mark narrates a dramatic incident in the life of Jesus and His disciples. A man brings to Jesus' disciples his son who is possessed with a demon — causing him to froth at the mouth and throw himself on the ground in convulsive fits. His disciples are unable to cast out the demon and the distraught father turns to Jesus when He arrives, crying out: "Have compassion on us, and help us!" (Mark 9:22) Then Jesus said: "If you can BELIEVE, all things are possible to him that believeth!" And straightway, the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I BELIEVE; help thou mine unbelief" Then Jesus, having mercy, rebukes the foul spirit and casts it out. The disciples are sheepish and dumbfounded. They don't understand what was lacking on their part. The Son of God tells them: "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and FASTING" (verse 29). Obviously, Jesus had been praying and FASTING — getting really close to and COMMUNING with His Father in Heaven. Yielding His will to God's — and drinking in of His Spirit and POWER. He EXPECTED the answer — and He got it! Why don't more of the professing ministers of Christ have this kind of POWER TODAY? Notice Jesus' instruction just after His resurrection from the dead: "And these SIGNS shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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" (Mark 16:17-18). After giving this instruction, we read that Christ was received up into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Then His disciples went forth and preached everywhere, "the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following" (verses 19-20). Christ had RISEN. He was ALIVE and active. He was intervening to back up His ministers and their prayers to God! This same POWER is — and will increasingly be magnified — among the true believers in Jesus Christ today!
NOT Emotionalism
No! It is NOT connected with emotionalism, whooping and hollering, moaning, frothing at the mouth and shouting and screaming in the kind of "tongues speaking" so often FALSELY PRACTICED today in the name of Christianity! It is simply BELIEVING that Jesus said what He meant, and meant what He said. It is following His example of OBEYING the commandments of God, trusting God to keep His promises, and privately — as Jesus instructed — praying, meditating and fasting to get closer to the God of the Bible, the Creator, and seek His POWER and intervention according as He has promised in His Word, the Bible. In II Kings 2:8-15, we find the account where the great prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven — turning his office and mantle over to Elisha. Read this account carefully. Notice that Elisha expected to carry on in the POWER of God as had Elijah. For he asked for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit to be upon him. As Elijah ascended up to heaven his mantle fell on Elisha and he went back to the bank of the river Jordan where Elijah had just smitten the waters and they had walked over on dry ground. Again, the waters were smitten — this time by the young and new prophet, Elisha. He smote the waters and said in faith: "Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he had also smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over" (verse 14). Today, you personally had better COME AWAKE to the fact that the mantle and POWER of Elijah is to be manifested among God's true servants in this age. For as John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), so God says of our day: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a CURSE" (Malachi 4:5-6). That commission is being accomplished through THIS WORK! Through The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast and The PLAIN TRUTH magazine, every inhabited continent is now being reached with increasing POWER with the message of God's coming government and His RULE over the earth. It is not being preached with the thought of converting everybody, but for a "witness" — as Jesus commanded in Mat. 24:14. It is proclaiming the true God of POWER, His literal government to be set up on earth and turning the hearts of those who will, back to the true WAYS of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and most of all Jesus Christ of Nazareth — the "fathers" of the faith! Power and MIRACLES are already being manifested — and they will be increasingly so with each passing year in THIS WORK of the Eternal God! You readers who are given understanding need to realize that you're living at the end of an age — and on into the NEW AGE of God's government. You need to become more deeply aware and conscious of the spirit world of the Living GOD and His Christ — of His archangels and angels to serve His people, and of His POWER to strengthen, to heal, to deliver and to BLESS in your life. So we are impressed today with the power of HYDROGEN BOMBS? Who made the hydrogen atom? Who made the puny human brain which has finally managed to unleash its power? Who has power MILLIONS of times beyond this — operating throughout the vast galaxies of the universe? You need to know to properly fear, and to walk with, this true GOD! You need to understand and appreciate the gigantic Hydrogen-bomb POWER He has available to help us, His servants! And we all need to humbly USE it — as He would; in His service.
Copyright © 2024 Herbert W Armstrong Library