Dr. Beal’s Articles

Some Thoughts on the Power of God

By Evangelist Alton Beal

Several months ago, a pastor friend of mine gave me a book that was published in 1873 on the life of Baptist Evangelist Jabez Swan. Brother Swan spent the vast majority of his ministry in the state of Connecticut as a pastor and an evangelist. One particular chapter was filled with a number of instances where wives were saved and their husbands became so mad that they threatened to kill their wives and the preacher himself. In story after story, God melted the heart of the husband, and he joined his wife to become a part of the family of God. After reading several chapters, the Lord impressed upon me the importance of the power of God. Without it, we will miss the full blessings of God.

Psalm 63:1 is often quoted to show the psalmist’s thirst and desire to seek God. The verse says, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” In the following verse, he mentions the purpose for this search: “To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” Do we have a thirst and hunger for the power of God?

In our day and time, we have cleverly learned how to substitute things for the power of God. To cover our powerlessness, we have learned how to make excuses and resort to other things to fill this void in our lives.

Gifts and talents are not substitutes for the power of God. Through the years, I have seen some very talented individuals come through the doors of Ambassador Baptist College. It is sad to say that some of our greatest heartbreaks have come from those who were the most talented and gifted. They decided to rely on their ability to sing or preach more than they relied on God. In the end, their effectiveness was hindered, and some are no longer serving the Lord. On the other hand, we have seen students who had a little ability and talent leave the college to flourish in a particular ministry. How does this happen? Psalm 25:14 states it perfectly: “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him.” My friend, are you relying on the power of God, or on the gifts that He has given you?

If we are going to see a mighty working of God in the next generation, we must conclude that education is not a replacement for the power of God. In a recent devotional time with our dormitory students, I mentioned to them that it is important for them to learn the facts and lessons of the classroom. However, if they leave with a 4.0 Grade Point Average and do not have a fervent relationship with the Lord, what have they really gained? At Ambassador, we want to produce students who have the light of the Scriptures and the heat of the Holy Spirit. Education alone cannot change the world.

At this point, you might be asking, “How can I have the power of God on my life?” God’s power is revealed throughout the Bible. Look at these things and see if God’s power is working through you.

It is impossible to have the power of God on your life without the Bible. In Jeremiah 23:29, it is likened to a hammer “that breaketh the rock in pieces.” In Hebrews 4:12, it is called “powerful” and compared to a two-edged sword. If we are to have power in our personal lives, we must read the Bible on a regular basis and let it be the joy and rejoicing of our hearts (Jeremiah 15:16). If we are to have power in our pulpits, we must shun the modern-day trend to entertain and to tickle ears and instead preach the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2).

Often, the power of God has been manifested in the practice of prayer. Without prayer, Abraham’s servant would have never found a wife for his master’s son. Elijah would have never defeated the prophets of Baal. Hannah would have never had a baby boy named Samuel, who would later be a mighty prophet. Time would fail me to mention the prayers of David, Daniel, and many others. We live in a day of powerlessness because we are in a day of prayerlessness.

When meditating on the power of God, it is impossible to exclude the filling of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8, power from the Holy Spirit is promised for evangelism. In Acts 2, power from the Holy Spirit is displayed in Peter’s preaching. In John 16:8, Jesus Himself said that the Holy Spirit would “reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” If we want the power of God, we must be yielded to the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

The discovery of electricity has revolutionized our world. Many jobs that took days or even months to complete can now be done in seconds, minutes, or hours. I believe the rediscovery of the power of God will change our lives and our churches. Please pray that Ambassador Baptist College will produce servants with the power of God on their lives like Evangelist Jabez Swan of old.

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