There is something about the question, “Why do we not have the same power that was demonstrated in the Bible?” that concerns me. For me the question is not about demonstrating the power but rather about possessing this power.
I don’t mean to be picky but in some circles I have participated in, having, possessing has been a measure of being something in the kingdom. I don’t see that being scriptural. Yes, the endowment with power is promised but what is our expectation? Is it to use it as we see need? Is our perception that accurate that we should have this kind of power to use at our discretion?
I find the power that is demonstrated throughout the Bible is subject to self-use. Pick a man with power and he misused it. Adam took what he could reach. Moses struck the rock. Saul was numbered with the prophets but lived in carnality. Many of the kings had the power of God upon them but choose to lead the kingdom astray.
Jesus had the ultimate display of the power of God; he always succeeded in the use of power. There is no example of him trying to do something and failing. That makes quite an example except for one thing—he did not do every miracle that he could have done. There were those he could have healed but didn’t. The fact that he only did what the Father asked him to do is evident in the lame man of Acts 3, lame from birth, known to sit every day at the Beautiful Gate and was now (days after Pentacost) more than 40 years old (vs.22). It is inconceivable that Jesus had not passed by him on his numerous visits to the Temple yet He was not compelled to use the power to deliver him from his condition.
The presence of power is not God’s sole criteria for its practice. That God determines the time and purpose of the use of His power does not set well with us who want to have and use on our schedule, in response to our perception of need.
More from GAry in our next post.
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