That our faith may not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power

A little over eight years ago, I was what you would call a senior single. I became a quasi-marriage expert after attending numerous bridal showers and playing the role of bridesmaids for many of my relatives and friends. Then I got done with praying for a mate. I told the Father I had accepted my lot and would settle for a single life, adopt one child, a little chow, and travel the world.

However, hope does not easily cower to frustrated hearts; it has its own blessedly annoying way of showing up to remind you that it is still possible. I love beautiful things; window shopping is one way to quench that thirst. My thirst led me into a bridal shop and I brazenly tried all the dresses that caught my eye.

One particular gown stole my heart. I told the lady at the shop that when I got engaged, I would come back for it if it had not yet been bought. One mid-morning in early January of the following year, I walked out of the same shop with my dream gown. I looked up to heaven and smiled. I thought it was pretty neat how Father answered my prayer.

You’d think I learned of God’s power.

A few months ago, I stood by my bedside and cried, “God, I’m tired! I am taking a rest from you because I don’t understand!” I climbed onto my bed, curled into a fetal position and willed myself to sleep. It was only midmorning, but I was drained in my spirit. I did not want to pray because prayer brought with it hope. And I did not want to hope anymore. Neither did I want to talk to the Father, the Person I thought could help me and who did not seem to want to, even after all these years. I was mad at God, and the only rational thing that made sense was to sleep.

Had He not sent word that I would be healed? Why was this happening again? Just when I thought I had thoroughly done away with the prospect of surgery, it was looming large, an unwelcome spectre. And because my body was drained, sleep came quickly, thick and dreamless.

But after months of bargaining, cajoling, and threatening God, I was wheeled into theatre for a surgery I had avoided for over three decades. The whole process was seamless, my healing was swift, and my loved ones testified that God had brought us through in a fantastic way.

God is still at work.

Some charlatans and comedians have made sport of the Word. They do not teach the whole Word, instead focusing on the parts that delight itching ears. They milk people of their earnings, harass congregants in the name of healing and deliverance and defend obscenely opulent lifestyles and immoral living.

Does that mean we also stop preaching the fantastic and beautiful promises found in God’s word? After all, people have misused these promises before and may misuse them again. Do we need to protect people from the probability of misuse? Aren’t we falling into the same error as the other extreme?

While they cheapen the Word of God, we take away its power. When you avoid or try to shroud certain verses in incomprehensible spiritual mystery, you deny other believers the power in the Word.

What do you do with the Word of God when He says, “I am Jehovah Rapha; I will heal all your diseases; everything is possible for one who believes; nothing is impossible with God; ask and it shall be given you; whatever you ask for in prayer believe, and it will be yours?” You trust God and teach these promises in context and application for the benefit of the believers. Then, you release the people to experience God.

For those who commit to growth, the struggles and victories, answered and unanswered prayers, will prove that God is good! When they experience instant miracles, they will praise God. And when they have to wait, or the miracle does not come, they will learn that God is still good and He is there. If they talk in tongues that the Spirit gives, they will be glad that God has wonderfully edified them, and those who don’t will discover that the Spirit has beautifully equipped them, in other ways, to serve the body of Christ and the world for God’s glory.

As saints, we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony. Our testimony comes in one way, from the mighty works of God in and through our lives. And we can only ask Him to move powerfully in our lives if we know what He says. If we don’t, we remain unaware of ‘His incomparably great power for us who believe.’ We become target practice for the enemy.

The Gospel ‘is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the gentile.’ Suppose we resolve like Paul to not preach with wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (so that the faith of our hearers does not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power). In that case, we can relax and have peace that God will glorify Himself.

(Revelations 12:11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5)