Credibility

In our life we make decisions based on the evidence of reliability. If we hire a electrician or plumber we look at his other works, or credientals that show us the qualifications of the person. In this way we eliminate the headaches of lost time and money. It would be foolish to hire anyone with-out checking to see what kind of work they are capable of doing. We wouldn't be so dumb as to hire someone only on there word. Seeing that it is necessary with the temporal things of life, how much more with the eternal things. Think about that with regard to the gospel.

Paul said the Gospel is not in word, but in power. Do we have a example of this? In a discussion with Jesus, he made this statement;

"The Father has sent me, and if I do not the works of God, then believe me not. But if I do the works, and you can't believe me, believe the works that you might be saved."

Wow! If I say, "the Spirit of Christ is in me, then I must do the works of Christ." Do you see that? It's not enough to speak the words, they must be accompanied by the works. Do we have the same Spirit? Do we have the same Jesus? Do we have the same gospel? Then we also must have the same manifestations! It is not an option. It is the word of God, and the work of God, being testified to by the power of God. Other-wise they have no works to judge whether or not we are from God.

What an invitation to our faith. This is to open our eyes to see the willingness and power and favor we have with our Father. That He is eager to prove that we are indeed His children. And even more, that He will glorify the name of Jesus, by who we stand in this grace. Also that the world might see the goodness of God through our preaching and testimony and Works. "If I do not the works of God, then believe me not." If Jesus said no works, no faith. Then we can see that our gospel has to be in the power of the Spirit. How can the lost be saved with-out seeing the works? They cannot, and according to this, neither should they!

This is not a word to diligent study, or to more striving. But a word to draw us into a deeper faith in God. To pray, to yield, to wait, and to earnestly seek His presence and power in our every-day lives. Would God tell us one thing that He cannot enable us for? No, a thousand times no. Every word of God is empowered by God. To those who believe. Are we not believers, yes.

Then the works that Jesus did, we shall also do, and greater works, because He ever liveth to intercede on our behalf. He is the high-priest of our confession. If we confess "the Spirit of Christ is in me, and I do the works of Christ." Then God will delight in giving us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to cause others to know that God is with us. In what ever way and form that is the chosing of the Spirit, God will be manifest before the eyes of those to whom we minister. "But if I do the works, and you can't believe me, believe the works that you might be saved." All this is the will of God. Even as Jesus pleased the Father.

So let's take off the shackles of our thinking, and allow our spirits to soar like the eagle. To go to new heights, to see things by the spirit. To bring to the earth the wonders of the power of the love that God has toward man. To exalt Christ Jesus in the working of the Spirit. "To them that believe, all things are possible."