God’s Gift to Your Heart

In last week’s post, we talked about a phrase contained in a prayer by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:17. His petition to God the Father was that God would grant the Ephesian brethren and brethren of all ages, among other things, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” We ended by asking the question, “Just what do you get when that prayer is answered?”, so let’s start to answer that in today’s post.

What Do We Get?

In Greek, the word “dwell” is katoikeo (G2730), which means “to house permanently, to reside (literally or figuratively), to inhabit”. The human heart, just in physical terms, is the one organ that is in intimate contact with every cell in your body every moment of every day. Life flows from it in the blood that carries nutrients and oxygenation, and removes metabolic wastes from every cell in the body.

We’ve talked about Christ’s incredible ability to heal with a touch in recent posts — even to radiate healing power from His presence when people touched His garments in Luke 6 and Luke 8. We’ve talked about the Greek word dunamis (G1411) in past posts, which refers to God’s dynamic miracle-working power, but imagine the very being who performed those miracles taking up permanent residence in your heart by faith, and radiating that healing power to every cell of your body. So how much power could He generate from your heart when you request His healing power for the sick, for your own infirmities, or for His strength to help yourself and others in the midst of sore trials?

Power In Your Heart

Remember, this is the same Christ who has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” by His Father and “power over all flesh” (Matt. 28:18; John 17:2), who was made our Lord, (our owner, master, and ruler) and Christ (Acts 2:36), who is “the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), and the “Shepherd and Guardian of our souls” (1 Pet. 2:25). On top of all of that, His Father appointed Him as “the Head over all things for the church” (Eph. 1:22).   Just imagine that being inhabiting  YOUR HEART!

In light of all of that, I’m sure we all would desire that God would surely answer that prayer by Paul in Eph. 3:17, and add our own requests for this great gift, that such a Being would indeed see fit to “dwell in our hearts by faith,” and be the power behind our prayers for the afflicted and persecuted people of this world.

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Touching The Hem

Last week, we talked about the faith exhibited by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, even though his request for healing was not granted by God. Today, I’d like to write about an example of faith that God granted immediate healing to. This example is found in Luke 8:43-48, but we need to set the context first by looking at what has already transpired in this chapter.

The Healing

In verse 24, Jesus was awakened in a boat during a storm and rebuked the wind and calmed the sea. Then a few verses later He cast a group of demons named “Legion” out of a man, who then entered into a herd of pigs, and they ran off the edge of a cliff and drowned in a lake. His fame as a miracle-worker was spread by many witnesses. So by the time we get to verse 40, we see a multitude of people thronging about Him wanting to see more miracles. Among them was a man named Jairus, who had a 12 year old daughter who was dying, and Christ was on His way to Jairus’ house to heal her. In verse 42 it says the multitudes “thronged Him” … so it’s noisy, and crowded. It’s confusing, because everyone is excited, and talking, and into this fray comes a humble, quiet, sickly woman, who was desperate for healing.

 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. (Luke 8:43-44)

After 12 years of suffering, she was broke. She’d spent all her money on physicians (so the health care dilemma wasn’t all that different back then from what we see today, really). So here she is in the midst of this fray, perhaps being pushed and shoved by the throng, and once she got close enough she just touched the hem of His garment, and immediately the bleeding stopped.

Christ had no idea this was going to happen. In Matthew’s account, Matt. 9:21, it tells us “she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” So there was no communication at all between them. She had simply seen and heard what He was doing for others (Luke 6:19) and she believed, and decided to act on that belief. If she’d had her way, no one would have even known about this. It appears she was attempting to slip away into the crowd when He asked the question, “Who touched Me?” and she was revealed, and compelled to tell her story.

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:46-48)

This is a wonderfully encouraging statement: “your faith has made you well.” He had absolutely no problem with her taking this initiative based on her faith in Him. In fact, He greatly encouraged it.

His Power

So let’s take a closer look at the mechanics of what she observed and did that actually drew healing power from the living Christ as He walked before her that day.

1.  She began to gather information about this being, Jesus Christ – Who He was, and what He had done for others.
2. She began to direct her intentions based on that accumulated information into a physical thought of healing belief.
3. She interacted with the God of the Bible by acting on that healing belief.

God preserved all of the accounts of Christ’s healing in the scriptures for us today, so that we can gather the same information, direct our own intentions, and act on our own belief in His healing power in effectual and fervent prayer for ourselves and for others as the needs arise in the church today.

In the last half of the last verse of the book of Matthew, the same Christ Who healed her promises us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). He walks unseen among us today as He did then.

Hebrews 13:8 gives us this encouragement to the same end: “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” The same power that emanated from Him then still does today. I’d like to end with Heb. 4:14-16, quoting out of the KJV.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16)

And we can still boldly approach this great being today, using the same method that this faithful woman did in Luke 8. For our own healing, and on the behalf of others who are dear to us, we can still have access to His vast reservoir of miracle-working power if only we may “touch the hem of His garment”.

To Really Be Like Jesus

Spiritual restoration is the end-game of the plan of God

How many times have you stood helplessly by while a good friend or family member has made horrible mistakes, and hurt themselves and other people? How you longed to be able to relieve some of the agony and pain of the reaping of consequences that you know are going to follow their decisions.

How many news stories do we read each week about little minority atheist groups like “Freedom FROM Religion” suing to have the Ten Commandments removed from a public school or courtroom? Our government and society willingly comply, and never even question their own actions in doing so. Then the next school shooting takes place and they blame it on guns, instead of a godless-mindset, purposefully created by a Godless government school. It was this sort of attitude that Christ Himself expressed frustration with when He said,

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! (Luke 13:34)

The Example of Paul

Let’s look at how Jesus Christ handled one such individual He dealt with after His glorification. The risen Christ had no problem communicating His views on Saul’s behavior to Saul, and bringing about an incredible change in Saul’s life.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9:1-9)

But Saul wasn’t the only one who needed a little advice from the spiritual realm here. The Lord also communicated the will of God to a man named Ananias. Given Paul’s track-record, Ananias was understandably reluctant to visit him. But God said, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:10-16).

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles — if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:1-8)

In verse 7, Paul refers to “ the effective working” of God inside him. The Greek word is energeia (G1753), and it refers to God’s inner working inside of someone, His efficiency in work, and His energy in the work He does within men and women He calls into His church. If you want to do a really inspiring word study, look up all the different forms of this word energeia, and how they are used in scripture, and that might give you a more complete picture of how He really does read and influence the inner man/woman with each of us today. And the word translated “power” is the same word we just looked at in a previous post – dunamis. So the way that God worked in Paul to minister to brethren was “by the effective working” of the same kind of “power” that flowed from Christ to heal hundreds of hurting, damaged, sickly people.

Spiritual “Working”

Phil. 3:21 is a truly remarkable verse, because it tells us in one place how God and Christ are going to pull their plan for you and me off.

who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Phil. 3:21)

You see, the same methods that He used to subdue all things to Himself, He is now using to subdue all that we have to overcome to be like Him! Again, the word translated “working” is energeia. When we are “like Him”, we too will have the ability to influence human beings from within using these awesome tools of energia, and dunamis.

And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. (Is. 30:20-21)

We’ve heard this read for years as a millennial duty of “kings and priests”. Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 say we will be kings and priests when we are “like Him”. Just as His effectual working in power changed the life of a carnal man named Saul in Acts 9, we may also be sent to human beings to change their lives from within.

Pure Like Him

What is Christ really like today as our King of kings, and our High Priest? He described His whole attitude very well in two brief sentences recorded in the gospels: “I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27) and “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Mic. 7:18-19)

This is a message of hope to the nation of Israel. Often when we think about them, we think of their many failures and their final rejection by God as His nation … but was that rejection really final? If you want a real shot in the arm of encouragement – especially if you feel like you have been failing God and falling short in some way — just look at what Micah knew God would do for Israel based solely on God’s virtue and character. It appears that God, and those who are made “like Him” by God, will be able to do almost anything.

Let’s go back to 1 John 3:1-2, where we began this series of posts, and look at one additional verse.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)

I hope I’ve given you at least a little food for thought as to what it might actually be like, to “be like Him” (even though I’m not sure that anyone can paint a really complete picture of what that really will be like). But what I really want to focus on as a final thought is in verse 3. “and everyone who has this hope in Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure”.   We all have “this hope” in Him, and I think we can all agree, whatever we have to do, change, or give up in life to become clean and pure is well worth it to become … LIKE HIM!

What Does It Mean To Be Like Christ?

In last week’s post, we talked about the fact that we will become like Jesus Christ, as it says in 1 John 3:1-2 and several other scriptures. But what does that really tell us about our futures? What does it mean to “be like Him”? What will you look like when you are like Him?

and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters (Rev. 1:13-15)

We also know from Christ’s post-resurrection appearance in Luke 24:28-36 that when you are “like Him,” you can still manifest yourself in human form, so that people think you are just one of the guys (or girls). And you can disappear, or reappear, at will.

Sent to Heal

Revelation 19 pictures us riding back to earth on white horses behind the King Of Kings, and witness Him putting an end to the dominion of Satan in this world. Once that is done, the restoration of all things will commence. It appears that there will still be physical human beings left on earth, even after all the great tribulation outlined in previous chapters of Revelation. Imagine what it will be like for them, as they emerge from the dens and rocks of the earth, where they’ve taken shelter – refugees of an all-but dead civilization. Imagine the things that they have seen – cataclysmic earthquakes, unimaginable natural disasters that have made the very earth rock to and fro in space, and man’s inhumanity to fellow man, culminating in a war to literally end all wars, and finally, the events of the Day of the Lord, and the final trumpet plagues, and God’s own wrath. And then … it’s over, and God sends His own family to begin cleaning up the mess. To bring order and peace, to restore and rebuild their shattered lives.

It’s interesting that one of the main titles Christ used in reference to Himself was “the One sent.” If you’re going to be “like Him” you could be sent out into His worldwide Kingdom to restore all things according to His will. When you are “like Him,” it’s reasonable to assume that you will have the powers that He had – powers that will be urgently needed in the opening days of the reign of your King of kings. The survivors of the holocaust that has ravaged the earth will be a group of damaged, frightened, injured, sickly, and crippled people. You will be sent out among them as a healing member of God’s family

Let’s go to Luke 6. I probably reference this scripture too much, but to me it’s one of the most inspiring things about Christ’s ministry as the Emmanuel (“God with us”). First, let’s notice that in verse 12 “that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” I would imagine even when we are “like Him,” we will remain in almost constant contact with our Father. But let’s read on.

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. (Luke 6:17-19)

We’ve talked about the Greek word translated “power” in several blog posts. It’s dunamis (G1411), and the word refers to “achieving power.” So this force, this miracle-working power goes forth from Christ. It just flowed out of Him.

We’ve always used Isaiah 35 as a truly Millennial scripture, and from these verses it sounds like there are going to be mass healings again.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. (Is. 35:3-6)

Now, I may be reading more into this than I should, but can we imagine being sent by Father God to a group of refugees when we are “like Him”? walking among them, and having His dunamis, that miracle working power which was in Jesus Christ, flow out of us and heal them all?

Supplying Needs

Another thing the refugees of the tribulation will no doubt be is on the brink of starvation. With all the cataclysmic events that have taken place on earth, can we imagine how little good food and clean water there will be?

Filling this need is not going to be a problem for those who are “like Him,” however. We will have the compassion of Christ as well as the power, and when we see the need we’ll be able to fill it. Dunamis will flow forth, and food will be supplied, however it might be most needed.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matt. 15:32-38)

Other examples of God supplying food abound, including manna from heaven and the quail God sent into the camp of the Israelites. The point is, when beings “Like Christ” need to supply emergency food to starving people, the menu will be full of entrees.

Fulfilling Prophecy

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:6-9)

This is the process that we’re going through now. It is a process of radical change, forsaking a way of life that we have been addicted to and enslaved by for years, all done under the guidance of a very loving, merciful, forgiving God. The process of becoming “like Him” completely alters our thought patterns from a human level to a divine level. Progressing into the same image as Christ “from glory to glory” as it says in 2 Corinthians 3:18.

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Is. 55:10-11)

These verses are really a prophecy, as we’ve talked about before. The word “void” is the Hebrew reyqam (H7387), which means empty, or without fruit. The Word of God will produce fruit in lives on earth. It will fill them to the full, and make their cups run over with blessings.

In one sermon I heard recently, the speaker was reading Deuteronomy 28:2: “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” The word-picture painted here is that God’s blessings will literally run you down and overflow, or overwhelm you. Now that’s something to meditate on … being flooded with blessings, your cup running over with them all the time, and your heart so full of thanksgiving to God, you can think of nothing else as you grow from glory to glory.

Someone will fulfill this prophecy in the lives of the people who are living on earth after Christ’s return, and it can be you, no matter how low on the food chain you might think you are. God is no respecter of persons or of humanly established pecking orders. The only pecking order that counts is this: God, Jesus Christ, and you – your God and the one Mediator between you and Him. And just look what that combination will accomplish when you become like Him!

For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Is. 55:12-13)

We have a large poplar tree on the other side of our pond, and when a breeze is blowing, the leaves slap together, and it does sound like clapping hands. In the spring time, there are beautiful flowers blooming filling the air with the fragrances of lilacs and honeysuckles and hyacinths, underscored by the sound of a babbling brook and the feel of the warm sun shining upon your face. But what is described here in Isaiah is different. This is happening because you are there, and dunamis is going out from you – affecting the soil, the air, the water, the flora, the fauna.

I’ve always loved landscaping, but it’s really hard work for us humans. In Genesis 1 it says “the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters,” then the Lord spoke, and everything came into being. The Word, the Being who came to be known as Jesus Christ, was heavily involved in this process.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

If the plan of God is for us to be “like Him,” is it too much of a stretch to think that He might just share with us the thrill of restoring a burned, charred, polluted planet with flora and fauna?

The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isa. 41:17-20)

Notice why this is done. It all points back to the Great God beings, who set the whole plan in motion in the first place. The whole point of all that Christ did during His human ministry … all the miraculous healings … the feedings of thousands of people with a few loaves and fishes, was to get the attention of people so they would listen to the message of the One sent.

And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.” (Is. 61:4-9)

I don’t know about you all, but I feel like I spend a good deal of my time in mourning – sighing and crying over the abominations that we see in the world and the society around us. Seeing all the things going on in this world that are purely evil that we are unable at this time to do anything about. But look at what this says about those who have been effected by the very ministry of Jesus Christ Himself, who have had their lives transformed by His vision. They are to become like Him — to carry on with His ministry to the honor and glory of Him and His Father in heaven.

God Be With You

It recently came to my attention that a church member who I’ve known and respected for many years has been stricken with a terrible affliction called Paget’s Disease – a bone disease that causes the bone cells to rapidly deteriorate. The bones become very brittle and thus are easily subject to breaking or shattering, and in most cases the disease develops into cancer.

When I receive news of this sort, or when I see some of the prayer requests for brethren caught up in impossible situations, a natural feeling of helplessness comes over me. In situations like these, we feel powerless to effectively help or comfort our afflicted brethren. So I pray for them, and send a note or card that begins with “Thinking of You…”, and usually, at the end of the message, just before I sign my name, I use the phrase, “GOD Be With You.”

“God be with you” is an often used phrase among professing Christians. In the church I typically attend we even have a hymn in our hymnal entitled, “God Be With You.” But do we realize just what we are actually saying in that phrase “God Be With You” when we are communicating with a brother or sister in the church who may be walking through the valley of the shadow of death?

God With Us

When the Great God of the universe Himself looked down upon humanity and saw that we all were afflicted with a fatal disease, even He expressed and then acted upon the sentiment, “God be with you.” The difference between He and us, though, is He has the power to make it actually happen, so He sent Jesus Christ.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23)

Christ as the Emmanuel shows us the kind of power that is available to those who really want to know God as He truly is, and act in faith upon what they see in His Holy Word. When we use this phrase that is one of His names in prayer, we can rest assured that we are in full compliance with the will of the Great God, who actually sent Emmanuel to BE “God with us.”

In John chapter 16, we see a special promise made to all of us by the One God sent to be with us.

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. (John 16:22-27)

So we believe in the Father’s love for us, we express that in the love that we feel for the Emmanuel, whom He sent to be, “God With Us,” and we know that we are loved and that our prayers are heard. What this means for us was demonstrated during Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, as He showed us just what kind of power and love His presence brings into our lives when He is WITH US.

Achieving Power

In Luke chapter 8, we can read about a small cluster of events that demonstrate the available power of the One Sent as He interacted with those who were graced with His presence in their lives. In verses 26 to 39, Jesus cast a legion of demons out of an individual. As He returned from performing this miracle, “a man named Jairus … fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying” (Luke 8:41-42).

But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:42-48)

This woman, who had spent all her money on ineffective physicians, was healed simply by touching the edge of Jesus’s clothing. When this healing occurred, Jesus said “I perceived power going out from Me.” The word translated “power” is from the Greek dunamis (G1411) All of the Greek words derived from the stem duna- have the meaning of being able, capable, and may even mean “to will”. But this particular word, dunamis, means achieving, miracle-working, essential power emanating from God’s true nature. In other words, this being, “God with us,” IS power! And apparently, His cup runneth over with it. It’s like He can barely restrain it from pouring out to do good when people reach out to Him in faith, as this woman did.

Now, let’s notice what really happened here. He had people literally crowding about Him, thronging, pressing, making noise, asking questions – and yet, this woman had a faith-based thought in her mind, and she acted on it in silence. She evidently didn’t (physically) say a word before He had discovered what she had done, and she was scared to death when He found her out. But look how pleased He was with her … then He went on to heal yet another by raising Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:49-56).

We can see another example of Christ’s dunamis at work just a few chapters back in Luke 6. Here power is just radiating out from the One Sent.

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. (Luke 6:17-19)

Now based on all of this, I can’t think of anyone that I would like to be in closer proximity to  than this Being, and He gives us a wonderful, and re-assuring promise at the end of Matt 28:20, “lo, I am WITH YOU always, even to the end of the age.”

And with all of this in mind, brethren, I can think of no better way to end this blog post than to say, “GOD BE WITH YOU!”