The Power of Knowing God by Evans Tony

Author:Evans, Tony [Evans, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2020-08-04T00:00:00+00:00

9

EXPERIENCING POWER

T here’s a story about an older woman who lived way out in the boondocks, far away from access to running water and electricity. Eventually, a philanthropist took it upon himself to run cables out to her area, providing her with electricity. However, after a few months, the power company noticed that she barely used any power at all.

Seeking to be of service, the company sent someone to her home to inquire as to why she wasn’t getting the power they had run out to her. The representative knocked on her door, and when she appeared he asked, “Ma’am, are you using the electricity that we’ve run to your property?”

“Oh yes, I am,” she replied promptly with a toothless grin.

The representative scratched his head and continued, “Well, our records indicate that you are barely using any at all. Do you mind telling me how you go about using it?”

“It’s very simple,” she said. “When it begins to get dark, I turn on the lights y’all gave me just long enough to light my kerosene lamps. Then I turn them off.”

I’m sure you’ll agree with me that this lady didn’t quite understand the use of the power that had been given to her. She had the power, but she wasn’t maximizing it. She wasn’t getting out of it all that the electricity had been designed to deliver.

While this illustration may seem ludicrous, many of us do something similar on an even larger scale. After all, we sing songs and tell others about God’s power. We are not unaware of the deposits God has made in us, yet so many believers today are entirely powerless.

Why is this so? It is due in large part to the disconnect we have between knowing God and experiencing His power. Like the woman in the boondocks, we’ve come to rely on what we know—our own efforts—and only get a taste of what God has gone to great lengths to provide for us. Somehow, it makes us feel safer to remain in our comfort zone, no matter how limiting that comfort zone actually is.

Yet when you know God as He wants to be known—when you experience Him as He wants to be experienced—the result is a spiritual power that enables you to overcome, resist, and discern. It is a spiritual power designed to equip you with all you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It can strengthen, restore, guide, and inspire you. Without it, you are left to meander through life by the dim light of a candle. With it, you have all you need to fully live out the abundant life Christ died to procure for you.

DON’T LOSE HEART

The apostle Paul introduces us to this power in Ephesians 3:13, where he makes this statement: “I ask you not to lose heart.” To “lose heart” means to become discouraged or despondent, to quit, to give up or throw in the towel. It’s an “I can’t take it anymore” mentality. And there is a lot in this day and age to lose heart over.

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