Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
What is a god without power?
When we think of our God, how do we describe HIM?
I think of "the God" who created all things ... heaven, earth, plants, animals, humans ... He created these things by THE WORD. He didn't create them from a substance that already existed. HE spoke and they were created ... THE WORD was the power to create all.
Through God's journey in time with humans, God showed HIMSELF by HIS power.
We think of the mighty power displayed by God in the various plagues brought upon the Egyptians when God was delivering HIS chosen people. One great power at that time was the bringing of darkness upon the land of Egypt except for the area of Goshen where God's chosen people dwelt.
Gen. 47:27 ... And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
Ex. 10 ... And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Today, God gives HIS people understanding ... light. In each of us, dwells the Holy Spirit of God to teach us and guide us.
When we think of the great power of God, that is the reason God raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart, to show HIS great power by those various miracles ... the river turning to blood, the flies, the frogs, the lice, the hail, and such ... and finally the killing of the first born in Egypt ...
Throughout the Old Testament we see the great power of God.
I love the story of Dagon, the god of the Egyptians ...
I Sam. 5 ... And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
The amazing thing is God clearly showed HE is God and Dagon has no power at all. But the Philistines wanted no part of God ... and they even wanted to protect Dagon ... Why wouldn't the Philistines have turned to the real God seeing HIS power? Because the Philistines were not appointed to God to salvation.
There is an elect of God ... They are the chosen of God to salvation ... There are also people created to destruction ...
Romans 9 ... For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
By their resistance, God had occasion to show HIS great power.
There are many things in churches today where there is no power. There is no power in lighting of candles. There is no power is eating crackers and drinking grape juice while calling it "The Lord's Supper". The Lord's supper is eating and drinking THE WORD given by the Holy Spirit. That Word is power. By That Word we are changed. That is real power.
When there is no power, we know the act is not of God.
And concerning men, God has the power to change hearts as HE wills, whether to harden the heart or to cause the heart to repent.
Prov. 21:1 ... The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
And what of the children of God today?
Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God conforms HIS people to the image of Christ (THE WORD) as we live on this earth.
Sometimes we conform to the image of Christ (THE WORD) as they defraud us and we refuse to act against them knowing God will repay us and them for the act.
Sometimes everything works out according to our thinking.
But all things are done according to HIS purpose.
And we who are of God may not understand why it went that way, but we know it is to good and not evil against us for it is "according to HIS purpose" and God has control in all things.
Therefore we pray in faith ... "Not my will, but Thy will be done."