When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them. [Joshua 5.1]
What would it look like today if people of the world feared the people of God?
It would look different for sure.
But why does it not look different today? Because God's people, by and large, are not walking and living in the power of God. They are not having occurrences of God's unmistakable power and might on their behalf. Why is that?
Why is that indeed!
People did not flock to Jesus because He made them feel good about their circumstances! People flocked to Jesus because He CHANGED their circumstances!
How modern Christianity got from Jesus' model of changing circumstances to our model of "finding peace" in circumstances is simple: faithlessness. Yep, I said it and it smacks me as much as it smacks anyone!
The world is not afraid of people who have found peace. The world is afraid of people who demonstrate an unexplained, undeniable POWER at work on their behalf!
And, how do God's people today see God's indisputable power? It starts in prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer and the Day of Pentecost came on the heels of prayer. Peter was miraculously freed from prison because of prayer...
Oh be sure, that the demonstrated power of God will NOT make Christians popular! It never has and never will. The demonstrated power of God makes people afraid (see Joshua 5.1 above)!
What does the world see in Christians today?
Father, I confess my pitiful representation of You today. Forgive me for being content to stop at having peace when Jesus was very clear that power would be demonstrated through faith.
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