AUGUST YOUR LIFE BY GOD’S ENABLING POWER 

AUGUST YOUR LIFE BY GOD’S ENABLING POWER: CHRIST JESUS IS THE POWER OF GOD AND THE WISDOM OF GOD! 

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore ERR, because ye KNOW NOT THE SCRIPTURES, neither THE POWER OF GOD?” Mark 12:24. 

“. . . 24 but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST THE POWER OF GOD, and THE WISDOM OF GOD . . .” 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. 

WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THE GENUINE POWER OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS’ STEAD, THEY GIVE IN TO SORCERIES AND BEWITCHING. 

And over the years many have found themselves in such bondages, just as the Scriptures say in Hosea 4:6 and Isaiah 5:13-15: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… therefore my people go into captivity for lack of knowledge.” 

And I know exactly what it all means. 

It was for this lack of knowledge that a whole city in Samaria in Bible days was held in captivity and BEWITCHED WITH SORCERIES, because a man called Simon, and not Christ Jesus, was regarded as “the great POWER of God” Acts 8:9-10. 
And the multitude became victims and prey to these outrageous acts of SORCERIES AND BEWITCHING by a man who held them as PREY and IN CAPTIVITY for a very, very long time. 

Take a look today and picture how many have taken a similar position in the lives of supposed believers, by the accord they give to fallible men, as though they possess the great POWER OF GOD more than Christ Jesus, in the fullness of the activities being carried out concerning them. 

And unfortunately, like Simon, these fallible men allow this applause for what they are not to happen, and to keep happening, because they know that the people are BEWITCHED by their acts of SORCERIES, knowingly and unknowingly. 

It was for this act and pattern of attributing the POWER OF GOD that is of Christ Jesus to men, that caused God to let King Herod be eaten up by worms when he allowed himself to be consumed by the applause of men Acts 12:20-24. 

That same decisive act of God also happened to Simon in Acts 8:18-24, with a sharp and heavy-handed rebuke, for attempting to buy the Holy Spirit with money in order to maintain his status. 
That rebuke was needful then, and it is even more needful today, so that the genuine POWER and WORD of God which is of Christ Jesus may multiply in the hearts of men, rather than the falsehood of these fallible men who are BEWITCHING the creation of God with SORCERIES, just as Simon of Samaria did. 

THEREFORE, THINK AND PONDER TODAY: 

If you are one of those attributing the POWER OF GOD which is of Christ Jesus to a man, thereby leading people into error. 

If you are one of the men like Simon and King Herod, receiving the accord of the POWER OF GOD which is of Christ Jesus as though it were yours, in order to maintain and sustain the status of your pride and arrogance, by bewitching the people with acts, practices and schemes that are unknown to your followers.  

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK. 

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT: 

“. . . 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 . . . 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is MADE UNTO US WISDOM, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. 

“For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God REVEALED from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall LIVE by faith” Romans 1:16-17  

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, nor THE POWER OF GOD” Matthew 22:29. 

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore ERR, because ye KNOW NOT THE SCRIPTURES, neither THE POWER OF GOD?” Mark 12:24. 

“. . . 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used SORCERY, and BEWITCHED the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the GREAT POWER of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had BEWITCHED them with SORCERIES. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself BELIEVED also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done . . .” Acts 8:1-24. 

“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 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake . . .” Romans 13:1-10. 

“And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21 And upon a set day Herod, ARRAYED in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an ORATION unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the VOICE of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he GAVE NOT God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But THE WORD of God GREW and MULTIPLIED” Acts 12:20-24. 

“MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: because thou hast REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also REJECT thee, that thou shalt be NO PRIEST to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” Hosea 4:6. 

“Therefore MY PEOPLE ARE GONE INTO CAPTIVITY, because they have NO KNOWLEDGE: and their HONOURABLE men are FAMISHED, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure:and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled” Isaiah 5:13-15.  
 
SUMMARY: 
The central charge of this message is that believers must AUGUST THEIR LIVES BY GOD’S ENABLING POWER. The foundation is this truth: CHRIST JESUS IS THE POWER OF GOD AND THE WISDOM OF GOD – 1 Corinthians 1:24. Any deviation from this leads to error, bondage and spiritual captivity Mark 12:24; Matthew 22:29. 

KEY POINTS: 

1. The Danger of Ignorance: Lack of Knowledge Leads to Bondage
   When people do not know the genuine POWER OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS’ STEAD, they give in to SORCERIES AND BEWITCHING.
   Scripture warns: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… therefore my people go into captivity for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 5:13-15. 
   This ignorance makes people vulnerable. They become prey and captives because they cannot discern the true source of power. 

2. Biblical Case Study: Simon of Samaria
   The city of Samaria is used as the prime example. A man called Simon, and not Christ Jesus, was regarded as “the great POWER of God”Acts 8:9-10. 
   For a very long time he BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE WITH SORCERIES and held them as prey in captivity. 
   The multitude gave him heed because they lacked knowledge of the true POWER OF GOD. 
   When the true Gospel was preached, the people believed and turned to Christ Acts 8:12. Simon himself was sharply rebuked for trying to buy the Holy Spirit with money Acts 8:18-24. This rebuke was to ensure that the genuine POWER and WORD of God would multiply, not the falsehood of men. 

3. Modern Application: Attributing God’s Power to Men
   The message draws a direct parallel to today. Manysupposed believers give ACCORD to fallible men, as though they possess the great POWER OF GOD more than Christ Jesus. 
   Like Simon, some men allow this applause for what they are not, knowingly and unknowingly BEWITCHING the people with acts, practices and schemes. 
   This pattern of attributing the POWER OF GOD to men provoked God’s judgment on King Herod, who was eaten up by worms after accepting the shout, “It is the VOICE of a god” Acts 12:20-24. Immediately after, “THE WORD of God GREW and MULTIPLIED”. 

4. The Only True Power and Wisdom: Christ Jesus
   The Scripture is emphatic:

• We preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED, who to the called is THE POWER OF GOD, AND THE WISDOM OF GOD. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 

• Of Him are we in Christ Jesus, who is MADE UNTO US WISDOM, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 

• The GOSPEL of Christ is the POWER of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16 

• There is no POWER but of God: the POWERS that be are ORDAINED of God. Romans 13:1 

Therefore glory must only go to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:31. 

5. The Call
   The message ends with a two-fold examination:
   To the followers: Are you attributing the POWER OF GOD which is of Christ Jesus to a man, thereby leading others into error? 
   To the leaders: Are you like Simon and King Herod, receiving the accord of the POWER OF GOD as though it were yours, to sustain pride and arrogance? 

Closing Charge 
To AUGUST YOUR LIFE is to live by GOD’S ENABLING POWER in Christ Jesus. Reject sorceries, reject bewitching, reject the exaltation of men. Return to the Scriptures and to THE POWER OF GOD. Let the WORD of God GROW and MULTIPLY in your heart and in the church. 

 REV. CHUKIE MORSI