Denied Power, Part 2

In Part 1 of Denied Power, we closed with Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:5: …having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. I sense that there is an epidemic of nominal Christianity today—confessors but not real possessors. 

And that was what I was facing at this Asian student conference. The majority of the students and leadership simply did not know Christ as their Savior. They had a form of godliness, but they lacked the power of God in their lives—until something happened that none of us would ever forget. 

As I continued to preach from Genesis 32, another pastor came forward and repented before the students for his hypocrisy. Turning to me he said, “Keep preaching!” Five more students came forward, crying out to God. Again, the pastor came and said, “Keep preaching!” I continued in Genesis 32 and seven more students came forward, crying out to God in repentance for salvation. The pastor came back again and each time handed me the microphone with the same marching orders—“Keep preaching!” It was now 1:00 am. Students continued to come forward until all but one had left their seats to cry out to God. By 6:oo am, and we were all cried-out and poured-out. 

This kind of experience I believe is waiting to happen in churches and homes throughout our land. It needs to start with us as leaders, pastors and parents who are willing to be humbled so that God can lift us up—a lesson I’m still learning with my own family and friends. When this happens, however, others will follow.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power… (2 Tim 3).