BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Where’s the Power? by Kenneth Copeland "Ye shall receive power." That's what Jesus said to the early disciples. And all you have to do is scan the book of Acts to see how dramatically His words were fulfilled. The first-century Church electrified the world around them. They healed the sick. They raised the dead. And, they cast out demons. The power of God so surrounded the Apostle Peter that members of his community actually dragged their sick into the street, in hopes that his shadow would fall on them as he passed. "Ye shall receive power." Jesus has made that promise to us, too. To you, to me and to everyone who believes on Him. He has sent us out to carry on the miraculous work that He and the early Church began. But somewhere along the way, there's been a power failure. For years, we’ve tried to sweep it under our religious rug. We’ve given excuses. We've explained it away by saying that the age of miracles is past. We've tried to cover up our lack of power with plans and programs and activities. But today, more and more believers are facing the problem head-on. More and more are daring to ask the question that's been secretly on our minds for years: Where’s the power? It's a crucial question. And the more we ask it, the more we're beginning to see that there is an answer. An answer that can set the Church on her feet again. An answer that, once we grasp it and apply it, will give us the ability not only to be victorious in our own lives, but to electrify the world around us once more with the glorious power of God. In John 14, there's an urgency in His voice as Jesus speaks to His disciples. Jesus is about to go to the cross, and He's taking His last real opportunity to talk with the members of His staff before His death. He has little time left to get across to them all they need to know. He is about to put His miraculous ministry into their hands—to give them the keys to His power. There was a seriousness about that moment that must have arrested the attention of His disciples as never before. Read carefully what Jesus said to them in verses 12-15: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Then, in verse 21, He said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." In those last precious hours before the cross, Jesus spoke to His disciples about supernatural power. He told them they would soon be able to have whatever they asked for in prayer. He told them He was about to make so much power available to them that they would not only be able to do the miraculous signs and wonders He had done, but they would be able to do even greater things. Jesus also told them exactly how to keep that power operating in their lives. He gave them a three-part power package that will work for us as surely as it worked for those first disciples. It’s a package with three inseparable elements, none of which will work without the others. It’s a package that provides a sure solution to the supernatural power failure so many believers are facing today. BVOV : 23

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