2 Chronicles 24.24

Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the LORD helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was carried out against Joash. [2 Chronicles 24.24]

It just does not pay to abandon the LORD. Even the smallest of problems bring defeat.

There is only one thing to do when we have abandoned the LORD. Repent. In other words, turn back to God. In every area where God's ways or commands are disobeyed, we must turn to God's ways and obey His commands.

Grace was never meant to be construed that we are free from responsibility. We should never sin so that grace might be highlighted!

At the end of the day though, no matter what we believe about grace and blessings, if there is no grace and there are no blessings, then what? When the smallest of problems overcomes us, what does that mean? That God loves us and has showered His blessings on us? Or, are we to believe that defeat in this earth is our lot in life? Is that what doing the same works as Jesus looks like (John 14.12)?

Something is wrong with Christianity today. The church keeps talking about power but no power is present. There is indeed a lot of emotion. There is indeed and lot of religious stuff. But where is the power? Where is the power that Jesus so clearly demonstrated? Where are the powerful miracles (works) that Jesus did? Didn't Jesus say we would do the same works He did? Of course He did! So where are they? I ask myself, "Where is the power of God in my life?"

Let's stop trying to convince ourselves that a real emotional worship service is the manifest power of God. It's not. That's a form of godliness, but there is no power unless there are the demonstrated powerful works of Jesus manifest! Who do we think we are kidding? God? The world?

A teary-eyed song was not what Lazarus needed. He needed power to be raised from the dead! Thousands of hungry people didn't need just a "powerful" heart-felt sermon... they were hungry, they needed food!

When God's power created the universe, what business do we have saying a good feeling is the power of God? Really? The Red Sea parts, water comes from a rock, and we call goose-bumps a demonstration of God's power? Come on! NO!

So, what is wrong? What IS wrong? What is WRONG? WHAT?

There can only be one problem. Faith is not working (and James is very clear that faith without works is dead). And, why would faith not be working? Why indeed!

It would seem that 2 Chronicles 7.14 explains it crystal clear. If we intend to see the power of God manifest in the "healing of our land" (whatever that might look like), then we must humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways... In other words, if the power of God is not manifested - if our land is not healed, then we have some humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from our wicked ways to be doing!

Father, please forgive us for pretending to have Your power when we obviously do not. Forgive us for having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Forgive us for our complacency with our powerless condition!