September 18th, 1993 “Living Christ” Mrs. N. Daniel

Isaiah 8:18 “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.”

From Isaiah we get this light and understanding that God has created us and saved us, so that we might be signs and wonders in this world. After He forgives our sins, God wants us to be climbing heights in spiritual life. Acts 5:14&15, Acts 19:10 -12 and I Corinthians 1:24.

Acts 5: 14&15 “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing might overshadow some of them.

Acts 19:10-12 “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and diseases departed from them, and evil spirits went out of them.”

I Corinthians 1:24 “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

After saving us, Jesus wants us to grow to be like Him. We read that, “Christ is the power of God”. He wants all converted people to become powers for God. Christ is the wisdom of God. He wants all of us to become wise people. God is unlimited power and unlimited wisdom. He put all this power and wisdom in Jesus. Peter once denied Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ lifted him up from his fall and he became a great power. There was power even in his shadow. The people began to bring the sick and the devil-possessed by Peter's path, so that his shadow might fall on them. And they were healed. All of us who are gathered here, are converted. Our shadows also should have power.

There are miserable and needy people in this city. As Indians, we were all once Hindus. We were ruled by fears and superstitions. Starting out for an examination, if a cat ran across our path, it was an ill-omen portending failure. That is not what the Bible says. We who are converted are a power for God. When Jesus was speaking the Words of God, many people wondered: “We know his family and his relatives. They are ordinary people. What is this extraordinary wisdom? Where does it come from?” Jesus was one with God, and heaven was with Him. Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God. God expects us to be filled with the Spirit of God. When we open our mouths, we should speak the Words of God.

After Paul was converted, he was delivered from sin and from the world. So it was easy for him to be led by the Spirit of God. He was able to have that Spirit's strength to endure all his trials of faith. When people could not carry the sick to him, they took his aprons and handkerchiefs on his person and laid them on the sick and devil-possessed. The devils left, and the sick were healed. Paul was such a power for God.

My husband told me that once his brother was very sick and nigh unto death. He was summoned to hasten to his bedside during those last moments. My husband had just taken leave of Sundar Singh who gave him his shawl saying, “This is my token of love to you.” My husband spread that shawl over his brother, and he was healed.

After the servant of God, my husband died, many people asked for some item of the clothes he had used as a token of his memory. I let them help themselves to them. Later they wrote to me that when their children fell ill, they covered them with those clothes and they were healed. When we hear such things, we see we have yet to go a long way with Jesus in order to have such share in His power. On the contrary, we have to be careful with the clothes of unconverted people and wicked people. Converted people should not put on such clothes, even in an emergency, because the radiation of their evil emotions will be in their dress.

God’s great love for us is that we should grow in Him. He has provided for such growth. We have yet to demonstrate the power of God to others. With fear and trembling, we have to walk with God. Till the end of our lives, we have to be growing and growing. God appoints angels not only for children, but for grown-ups a1so. When Rhoda reported that Peter was at the door knocking, they said, “It is Peter's angel.” Last time, I referred to angels who come and strengthen us in prayer. Jesus gave them a timely warning: “Watch and pray lest you fall into temptation.” But the disciples slept, and could not resist the evil one. But, Jesus prayed and an angel strengthened Him so that He was able to walk towards His persecutors and say, “I am he. Take me.” He demonstrated the power of prayer that day. Jesus was full of the power of God that day. The enemies stepped backward and fell to the ground. Such was the power that came into Him by doing God's will. He was able to show those about Him that God is power.

When we went to Vishakapatnam according to God’s will the first time, there was a man in the meeting who was steeped in sin. He knew only sin. He did not know about the Saviour. When he heard the Word of God for the first time in the Sunday service, the text was, “God was grieved for creating mankind to possess the earth and live on it.” The people of Noah’s were thus described. That Word became a power to him and he was completely changed. He became like a lamb - like a small child. God changed him. It was a right about turn from sin to Christ. God gave him that chance. He is still growing and resisting the evil one. The Word of God becomes a power. The Cross of Christ is a power to us who believe and the blood of Jesus Christ saves us. God made that brief Word of very great power to him.

There, a family came to me for spiritual help. In that family, the eldest boy stole a chain of gold and ran away from home. I told them, “He will come back. But deal gently with him. You are here and have been strengthened in these meetings. So help him to become a child of God.” Exactly as I had said, he came home after two days. They were very happy. This year, they came as a family with the boy in their midst, to praise God. God is still blessing them.

I say these things that you may know the Word of God is power and Christ wants all of us to become like Him. We have but one life to live. When the light of God is given to us, which is a great power, we must walk in that light. God wants us to be powers in His kingdom. Even our shadows must be a blessing, and our dress must be a blessing to others. When we open our mouths, the words we utter must be a power to those on whose ears they fall. We have yet to go a long way with Jesus. But in our short time, He can change us to be a power for the extension of the kingdom of God. May God give us this great blessing to live Christ and glorify Christ!