Living Hope Fellowship Church

POWER OF GOD

Training Material

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

POWER OF GOD

Preface

(power)

          Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” 

          2 Timothy 3:3 says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”  In Verse 5 it says this about men: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 

          God can give you power over sin.  We can live in the power and anointing of God, if we will submit ourselves to him fully and seek His face.  We NEED the power of God to make it ourselves and so that we can help others to be free!

POWER OF GOD

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

          We know according to scriptures in the Bible that all the powers that be are ordained of God.  Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”  All power exists by God, but He is not pleased with all power.

          There is the power of God, and a power of men, and there is a power of the devil.  Only the power of God can redeem, heal, and fill with the Holy Ghost.  Only the power of God can set free, and do a work of deliverance in souls.  Only God can bring revival. 

          If you resist the power of God, or if you deny the power of God, you are on very dangerous ground.  According to the scriptures, you will receive damnation if there is no repentance.  God does not want us to resist His power.  In Romans 13:2 we read, “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

          Jesus lets us know in John 6:44 that, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”  You cannot be saved except by the power of God.  It is the power of God that deals with you for salvation.  It can be through the message that you are hearing or reading.  It may be when you read the Word of God.  If God is dealing with you, or if there is evidence of God convicting you of sin, or He is telling you to press on into the deeper things of God, then the power of God is operating.

          If you feel the conviction of God, and the drawing of the Lord, and you obey it, you will feel the joy.  That is the power of God.  The power of God is NOT self or hype of men, or the charisma of men, or the foolishness of men. 

          The power of God is manifested in His convicting, delivering, healing, and redeeming presence.  If that is not in your church, then you need to get out and go some place where it is.  You can resist His power, and you can run from it.  It is easy to find places where God is NOT manifesting.  However, God wants you to know that it is a dangerous thing to resist His power when it comes upon you.  Without repentance, you will eventually go to hell. 

          2 Timothy 3:1 says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”  In Verse 5 it says this about men: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  The Bible declares that if an individual, a preacher, an organization, a church, or anyone denies the power of God, you are to turn away from them. 

          2 John 1:9 says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. . . .”  Verse 10-11 says, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 

          If you are partaker of evil deeds, you will receive the same condemnation and damnation that they will receive.  Part of that curse is the delusion that you are alright without the power of God. 

          Many people today, even in the church world, have decreed that God does not manifest among His people as He did in the days of the first Apostles.  They say that He does not do those things anymore, so therefore, we are not required to pray up enough to receive it.  This is an excuse for the church world and preachers at large.  They believe that they don’t have to do anything.  They just draw their salary, get their respect and their tithes and offerings, and all the provisions of the ministry, and they don’t think that they have to work in the Spirit.  They don’t believe they have to seek God or resist the devil. 

          Those whom I have described are just loafers.  In fact, they are modern day Sadducees.  Jesus described them well.  The Sadducees of Jesus’ day didn’t believe that angels or spirits existed, or that they had anything to do with the things of God.  They were “religious”, but they didn’t believe in the power of God!

          Whole denominations are formed on the basis that the power of God is gone, and that it is not necessary anymore.  However, Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”  It also says in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” 

          Mark 12:24 says, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?”  You can mess up in your walk in the Lord, or get into a false way and a dead religion, not only because you don’t know the Bible and follow it, but also because you don’t know the power of God! 

          It takes the power of God to save you.  It takes the power of God to set you free. It takes the power of God to heal, and deliver, and sanctify you.  Anyone who claims to be a Christian that denies this fact is a liar.

          The Bible has told us to turn away from those who deny the power of God!  Turn away from liars, and get to those who are walking in the truth.  If we seek His face, we will find Him.  We have some guidelines in the Bible as to how He manifests.  Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  This is the ministry manifestation of the power of God.

          Since the modern church does not want to walk in holiness and obtain the power of God, they also deny that the power of God exists for us today.  That way people won’t say, Why aren’t people being healed?  Why aren’t devils being cast out?  They tell them that it is not necessary.  The devils don’t manifest in such a way any more; it’s just in your mind. 

          They think they have more knowledge now, so therefore it replaces the power of God for them.  This is the same thing as some who rule in a “religious” priesthood.  In other words, they have been to school for a long time, or they have been to seminary, and they know more than you.  Therefore, they think you should not question these things! 

          It is no different than the Whore of Babylon, with the priesthood knowing “more” than the people.  In fact, they don’t want you to study the Bible too much, because you might start asking questions that the priest or preacher can’t answer.

          God wants you to know that it doesn’t matter who they are; if church leaders are not walking in the Spirit, and the power, and the anointing of God, they are not men and women of God walking in victory!  It is that simple.  The church world quotes the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 13:10 which says, “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”  They use this to say that the tongues, the signs, the miracles, and the power of God are done away with!  However, look around and see if everything is perfect yet! 

          Some may say that Jesus was the perfect thing which was to come, and that He came, so the power of God was not necessary any more.  Some say that the Spirit of God descending on the day of Pentecost that enlightened and brought the church to birth was the “perfect” coming.  Therefore, they say that we don’t have to do miracles anymore.  However, when Jesus was on the earth, He told His disciples in Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”  That commandment is no different today than then, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

          Some say that we have the Word, so why do we need another witness?  They wonder why we need the manifestation of God’s power to confirm the Word with signs following.  They say that the Word is enough, and we should be able to go on that. 

          Romans 10:17 does say, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” but the Bible also says in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”       

          Remember in Mark 16:17 Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe. . . .”  If they do not follow, then somebody doesn’t believe.  People have made the Word of God of none effect by their vain traditions.  God is not pleased with this thing.  If you deny the power of God, He will turn from you.  God is looking in the earth for those who will seek God, those who will humble themselves before Him and set their faces like flint to serve the Living God. 

          God’s Word is nigh unto us, in our mouth, and in our heart that we may do it.  He will give us power over sin to where we don’t have to sin.  We don’t have to be all our lifetime subject to bondage because of fear of death.  We can live in the power, and the anointing, and the blessing of God. 

          Deuteronomy 32:36 says, “For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.”  They are not praying or seeking God, and the anointing, and the power, and the healing, and the deliverance, and the manifestation of God is not present in their lives or in their services.

          I believe that God is going to send the victory.  I believe that the power of God is coming back to the church.  I believe that God earnestly desires to move in His people.  He wants them to seek His face.  I believe that He wants to send revival, but revival cannot come by man.  It cannot come by ritual.  It cannot come by just going to church and then going home, and going to church and then going home.  It comes by prayer and fasting, and believing God and obeying Him. 

          If you believe that you can have salvation and deliverance without the power of God, then you are saying and believing to your own destruction that man can save himself.  Don’t deny the genuine power of God, or He will turn away from you.  Follow the Word of God and you won’t be deceived by the power of the devil (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

          Pray, read God’s Word, and obey God!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

PASTOR KEVIN BADGLEY

LIVING HOPE FELLOWSHIP, P. O. BOX 111, GRAND CHAIN, IL  62941

CHURCH / FAX (618) 634-2541

E-mail  livinghopefellowship@lazernetwireless.net

These condensed Bible studies have been published to help new Christians in their new walk with the Lord.  Kevin Badgley, the author, is the pastor of Living Hope Fellowship Church.

This is a Living Hope Fellowship publication.