What Happened to the Power?
Mt. 17:14-21
14 ¶ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
A shortage or lack of power will keep the work of the Lord from being as productive as God intended.
I. Light or "Lite" Faith
Heb. 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Starting out with the faith of a mustard seed is great, but God expects us to grow in faith.
Many are caught up in the fad of "Light or Lite" products. They supposedly have less of what you don't need, but promise to fulfill you anyway. Some studies show that these products are actually more harmful than good.
If your spiritual diet is made up of "light faith", then there is a good chance that you are missing out on some of the best that the Lord wants for you.
Doubt and unbelief impede our spriritual growth and keep us from many victories.
Attempt some leaps of faith and see what God will do.
Luke 5:11
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
1 Jn. 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Mr. 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Ro. 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
II. Lukewarm Fans (Lives)
No true commitment. On fire for God on Sunday and frigid cold by Tuesday.
Don't fear being called a fanatic.
Learn how to serve and follow with a passion.
We are called to be channels of the flow of the Holy Spirit.
It is exciting to live in the flow of the power of God. Our problem results when we try to govern the flow of His power. Or when He decides to move in a direction that we were not expecting.
When we lose the excitement of following Jesus, it starts to show in our lives.
Look at Samson. He was called, but did not carry a zeal for the things of God.
Look at Peter. He showed great faith when he walked on the water, but then he took his eyes off of Jesus.
The apostle Paul had a theme for his ministry. It is found in Phil. 3:7-10
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Now, that is the sign of a whole-hearted follower.
III. Little Fuel
Mt. 25:1-12
Could the parable of the ten virgins came out differently if some of the wise had been even wiser? Yes, it is true that each of us have to get it for ourselves, but maybe I can be so full of God that I can give something worthwhile to my brother or sister in need.
Gal. 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Ro. 12:17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
IV. Loose Fixation (Connection)
1 Chr. 16:11
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Ps 112:7
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
It is so easy to get so busy in the work of God, that one can lose contact with God of the work.
We are reminded in Matthew 17:21 to take time for prayer and fasting to keep us connected to the source of our help.
No prayer = no power
Little prayer = little power
Much prayer = much power
The prophet Isaiah encourages us to remember that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength".
When the power does not seem to be sufficient, check yourself in each of these areas, you may just find the root of the problem.
2 Co. 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.
