Faith In Christ’s Power

Faith In Christ’s Power

By Apostle Felix

22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 

23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 

24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

1 Corinthians 1: 22 – 25

Christ is the power of God. He is the dunamis of God. The Greek word for power used in 1 Corinthians 1: 23 is dunamis. The word dunamis means ability, potential, or inherent power. In the New Testament, dunamis is used to describe the miraculous power of God. In God, there is no power outside Christ. Any power acquired outside Christ is not the power of God. The power witnessed in some churches today is not of Christ. Though Christ’s name  is mentioned but it does not that the source of the power is God. The reason is simple. it is because the doctrine taught and preached is not the doctrine of Christ. It is the doctrine that determines the power that is manifested.

9  Anyone who wanders away and does not remain faithful to the teaching of Christ has no relationship with God. But those who remain in the teaching of Christ have a wonderful relationship with both the Father and the Son. 

10  So if anyone comes into your fellowship claiming to be a true believer yet doesn’t bring this teaching, you are not to consider him as a fellow believer, nor should you welcome him into your homes. 

11  For if you welcome him as a believer, you will be partnering with him in his evil agenda.

2 John 1: 9, 10, 11

The doctrine taught determines the object of our faith. The doctrine of Christ builds faith in us.

In the month of July, our theme is possibility, based on Mark 9: 23, which says, Jesus said to him, “What do you mean ‘if’? If you are able to believe, all things are possible to the believer.”  Jesus talked about the possibility of all things a believer has. At face value, it sounds like whatsoever one wants can have it. Jesus was not addressing that one can have whatsoever he wants. But He was addressing the issue of faith, and the faith in God. And how does the faith in God acquired? The faith in God is acquired by the acquisition of the doctrine of Christ through teaching. Faith does not come any other way. It is imparted as the result of Christ in your life. Faith is the Spirit of Christ in a believer.

13  We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says, “First I believed, then I spoke in faith.” So we also first believe then speak in faith. 

2 Corinthians 4: 13

The Spirit of faith mentioned  in 2 Corinthians 2: 13 is the faith in the resurrection of Christ. A christian faith is based on Jesus and His resurrection. The fallacy of faith in many church circles is the faith that emphasizes on acquiring material possessions. That is good but it is not what defines faith in Christ. Non-believers have the material things without faith in God. Jesus discouraged the church from seeking things on the expense of having faith in Christ.

33  “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. 

Matthew 6: 33

The emphasis of our faith should be Christ, and then the least important things will be given without struggle. Faith in Christ should be paramount. Unfortunately, faith for the least things is more emphasized to the detriment of believers’  spiritual lives. Faith that is deviated from Christ is destructive and misleading. This is when believers are informed that they can believe for whatsoever and can become what they want. That is not the whole truth. The possibility of God is made available in the confines of His will. The knowledge of Christ and His will helps us not to pray amiss but stay with His will.

3  And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires. 

James 4: 3