No Strength - No God

Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. [Psalm 105.4]

It is right that God's people seek Him. Jesus confirmed this as fact:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

But, notice what else the Psalmist included in his admonishment: Search for the LORD and for his strength. Seeking God is not just about having a spiritual experience. Jesus also confirmed that, and he will give you everything you need.

Being in a relationship with God is NOT just something on the inside! Being in a relationship with God includes miraculous strength and provision on the outside - visible to all the world. This is what the Bible teaches over and over and over from Abraham to Israel to Jesus to the Early Church and beyond.

But, what about me? What about you? Are God's miraculous strength and provision evident in our lives? If not, why not?

And here is where religion has been deceiving people for ages. Religion has been more interested in comforting people than it has been in converting people. Religion has comforted people in their present condition of suffering instead of converting them into a higher condition of God's power. All the while the Bible clearly instructs us to continually search for God and His strength and that all our needs are provided for when we do.

Am I a picture of God's strength and provision? Are you?

Religion has lulled us into a spiritual slumber of contentment that, although we "claim" strength and provision from God, we demonstrate little to nothing of the sort. Even if one person enjoys a few of the benefits of seeking God, they remain powerless to affect others with it as Jesus modeled.

Should we not be alarmed? Should we not question that if God's power is missing from our lives, could it not be because God is missing from our lives?

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! [2 Timothy 3.1-5]

Whether we admit it or not, the Church today is rife with all that Paul the apostle mentioned above. But look at the end result: having a form of godliness but denying its power. No power. "The carnival is in town, but there is no electricity."

In contrast, when Jesus began His ministry on earth, it didn't take long for word to get out about the power in which He walked and He even struggled to get away from the crowds. Compare that to today where we have to offer every creature comfort, the best technology, cotton candy, and smiles for everyone just to get people to church for an hour. Hello! There is a huge disconnect!

Let's ask the 'elephant in the room' question, "Are we even seeking God at all?" Or, how about this one, "Are we even saved?"

Aaaaaaaand this is where religion pops its head in the door with a big smile to say, "All is well, only believe." But this faith that our modern religion encourages is, for all practical purposes, merely abstract talk. As Elisha demanded, "Where is the God of Elijah?" as he struck the Jordan River with Elijah's cloak causing it to part, where are those today who say, "Where is the God of Jesus Christ?" as they heal the sick and raise the dead?

Ding-ding-ding... Something is missing! Something is wrong! Our house is on fire and we could not care less! 'Bring on the coffee and bon-bons!'

Why? Because we are religiously content to search for the LORD, but NOT His strength. The most damning consequence of this is that God cannot and will not be separated from His strength! If we don't have God's strength, we don't have God.

When Jesus said "few" find the Kingdom of God, I cannot help but think of our many, many magnificently comfortable mega churches and wonder, "How could Jesus have been so wrong?"

Uhhhh... Jesus was NOT wrong! So, if He was not wrong, who is?

May the fire of the truth return to the true Church today. May we forget about the number of people and focus on the practice of what we preach. May we look and act every bit like Jesus - healing the sick and raising the dead. May we search for God AND HIS STRENGTH CONTINUALLY without regard for 'how we've always done it' because our powerless condition says we've obviously been doing it wrong!

God, help us!

Father, I am overwhelmingly powerless in my life compared to what Jesus demonstrated and taught. I want to know You, LORD, understanding that that knowledge is not separated from Your power and strength. May Your power confirm Your presence in my life. And, may Your power touch those in and around my life as Jesus touched those in and around His life. May I never be satisfied with anything less. So be it.