Without power

I like to look at the buildings in Manhattan, especially at night, when all the lights are on. It's an incredible vision, all those buildings filled with people, activities, ideas at work, and knowing that what's happening here will not only affect New York City, but the whole world. However, whatever the influence of New York and its people, if you remove the electricity - which sometimes happens when there are cuts - all this has to stop. The offices become useless, the activity ceases and the ideas die in the darkness. Without the electrical power, all this potential is lost.

The same is true for us who believe. If we do not have access to spiritual power, how can we accomplish what needs to be done ? The power to overcome sin. The power to defeat the spiritual enemies that attack us. Power to endure difficulties and afflictions. The power to speak. The power to pray. The power to testify. Is not the greatest need we have today to have more spiritual power ?

It is interesting to note that the last words of the risen Christ, before his ascension, concerned spiritual power. "Behold, I will send upon you what my Father has promised ; but ye remain in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). It was as if Jesus had looked in the corridors of time and knew that even having the right message from the gospel would not be enough. We have to face so many obstacles from the satanic powers that we can never evangelize the world effectively without the power that only the Spirit can give us.

Jim Cymbala