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Transformation
Of Divine Energy
Christ told his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until
they should be endued with power from on high. Paul speaks
of the power of Christ resting upon him. It is God's will
that all his people be endued with this heavenly power.
God's power never works in the soul of man independently
of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whatever power people
possess that does not come through the Holy Spirit is not
the power of God; but when God is present with us, his
power is always present, and this power will manifest
itself. This power does not work according to the human
will, but works according to the will of God; therefore we
must be submitted to his will in order for it to work
through us. God will never take orders from us. If we
attempt to use his power for a wrong or selfish purpose,
it will react to our own hurt.
Sometimes people mistake for manifestation of the power
of God things which are not such at all. Some think that
noise and demonstration are the result of power, or
indicate the presence of power; and the more noisy and
demonstrative a person is, the more power he is thought to
possess. Noise is not power nor an indication of power. It
often indicates only human enthusiasm or hysteria. Some
bodies of religionists are very noisy, and yet they have
very little of the power of God in their lives. As a rule,
those who make the most noise accomplish the least for
God. It is generally a mark of superficiality, especially
where there is a disposition to carry it to the extreme.
Some modern religious movements are noted for the
demonstrations of their adherents. They leap and shout and
"fall under the power" and do many unseemly
things. They do many things that make the people ashamed
who look upon them. Sometimes they "carry on"
until they are utterly exhausted. Sometimes they go
through strange contortions and jerkings, and sometimes
froth at the mouth. They think all this to be the
manifestation of the power of God. One thing I have
noticed about these people who go to such extremes is that
very often those who are the most demonstrative are living
lives which are anything but commendable and in some cases
even immoral. There is a power in such people, but it is
not the power of God; for the power of God does not
manifest itself in an unseemly manner. There is something
beautiful and attractive about his power, something that
draws the soul, something that melts it and inspires it
and awes it as if in the presence of the Almighty.
Noise is not power. One day I walked with a friend down
a street in a large city. A motorcycle passed us making a
great racket. There was much noise, but little power. We
walked on a little farther and went into the engine-house
of a great factory. I stood beside the great Corliss
engine there and watched it running so smoothly that there
was hardly a sound. I could not realize what power was
there. It seemed as though I could put out my hand and
stop it. But there was power there, great power. It turned
the wheels through-out that large factory and kept the
machinery busily running. Likewise, those who are most
powerful for God are often persons who are quiet and
attract little notice. The power in them works softly and
silently, but mightily. It accomplishes God's purposes.
It is true that persons of some temperaments do
sometimes make considerable noise when they are full of
the power of God, but this is the result of temperament,
not the result of the power, for the same amount of power
in another may work quietly and silently, though none the
less effectually. I do not object to some noise in
religion if there is divine power back of that noise, the
power to be what a Christian should be, the power to live
as a Christian should live, the power to glorify God, but
the noise with out the real power for accomplishment is a
vain thing. God does not judge people by the amount of
noise they make; he does not value them for their noise,
but for the power that they possess. There are some who
once were powers in the hands of God, but who now are like
shorn Samson. The power is gone. They have the form, but
they lack the power. Some sing, "There is power,
power, wonder-working power"; but when you look for
it in their lives, you do not find it. Power is the thing
that counts, and God wants us to be filled with it.
Natural ability counts for something, but no matter how
great our natural capacity, if the power is lacking the
capacity counts for nothing. We are like empty vessels.
God has plenty of power, and he will give us power if we
will tarry before him. Power is something that comes down,
not something that is worked up. The "howling
dervishes" work themselves up into wild hysteria and
fall in fits and have all sorts of manifestations, but
there is no power of God in it. So we may do. I repeat,
enthusiasm is not power, hysteria is not power. Only the
presence of God can give us power.
Power Transformed
Electric power passes silently through the wires; but
as it passes through the incandescent bulb, it is turned
into bright light; as it passes through the
resistance-coil, it is transformed into heat; as it passes
through the motor, it is transformed into activity; and as
it passes through the magnet, it is turned into magnetism.
So God would have his power transformed into light so that
we may shine for God and so that those around us may
behold his beauty in us. God would have us be lights to
the world, and so he lets his power rest upon us that it
may be transformed into light and shine out into this dark
world. He wants men to see our light and thereby know his
power to save and to keep.
He wants his power turned into heat so that our lives
are no more cold and barren, but our affections and
emotions are warmed and enriched and bring forth fruit
unto his glory. He wants all our faculties and powers to
be filled with fervency, all our lives warm and radiant
with his glory. He wants his power transformed into
activity so that we may work righteousness, that 'men may
see our good works and glorify our Father which is in
heaven.' People who are full of the power of God are not
content in idleness. They feel that they must work the
work of God while it is yet day. You do not have to coax
such people to work. They are ready for a job anytime. The
power of God will manifest itself in zeal. Where zeal is
absent, power is absent Power is always seeking an outlet.
If the power of God is resting upon us, we cannot be easy
while multitudes around us are going to destruction. There
is much Christian activity that comes to naught because
there is no power in it or too little power in it. There
may be zeal without power, but zeal will be ineffectual
without power. The power of God does not need elaborate
ecclesiastical machinery in order to work. It will work in
the heart; it will work out in the life. All that God asks
is that the heart be submitted to his will and all the
powers of life dedicated to his service; then he will fill
us with power and work through us the accomplishment of
his purpose. Our lives then will be fruitful to glorify
his name.
God wants his power in us turned into magnetism, that
we may draw men to ourselves and through ourselves to
Christ. If our lives are unlovely and unattractive, God
cannot draw men through us. It matters not what may be our
situation in life nor how few may be our natural talents.
Our lives may be hampered and our development may be
hindered, but if the power of God rests upon us, we shall
attract men to Christ. The humblest life may be glorified
and made attractive by the presence and power of God. But
magnetism not only attracts; it also repels. So we, if we
are full of this divine magnetism, shall repel all that is
evil. Our very presence, even though a word is not spoken,
will be a reproof to evil. Our looks will be louder than
the words of those who are without the power of God. Those
who are wicked and corrupt will feel ashamed and reproved
in our presence. They will try to hide their wickedness.
They will be careful of their language. They will find no
pleasure in their wickedness in our presence.
Oh! let us be filled with the power of God and let us
manifest it in our lives, so that the world may believe.
Let us submit ourselves to the divine will. Let us seek
daily a real enduement from on high, and then when it
comes let us realize that the excellency of the power is
of God and not of us, and let us give to him the glory.
Let us manifest to our fellow men this power, not to show
that we have the power, but that we may win them to Christ
- that we may make them to know the riches of his love,
the power of his grace, and the wonders of his holiness.
"Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you."
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