The presence and power of Christ by Rich Carmicheal – From News Paper, Herald of His

Coming Jan/Feb 2024 Issue : Page 2 starting from half of first paragraph.
As I carried her around, I started singing “Jesus Loves Me’’ over and over to her. As I did, one
phrase in that simple child’s song really struck me: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible
tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes,
Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.” Even though that song is so simple
and intended for children, the truth is profound and for all ages: We are weak, but He is strong!
And that makes all the difference! Yes, our own resources are limited, and are at times woefully
inadequate for the troubles and challenges we face. But what if the Lord is with us? What if the
Lord is empowering and enabling us? It is true that apart from Him we are able to do nothing
(John 15:5), but it is also true that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! (Phil.
4:13).
Think of Gideon, who said of his family and himself, "0 my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed
my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father s house'" (Judg. 6:15). And
yet the Lord said of him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! ...Go in this might of
yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you? .Surely I
will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man" (vv. 12, 14, 16).
Gideon was obviously weak in himself, but with the Lord's presence and strength, all things were
possible! And in faith Gideon led 300 men to conquer an overwhelming army of 135,000 men!
Psalm 71 also comes to mind. In that passage the psalmist openly acknowledges the limitations
of his own resources: "Do not cast me off in the time of oldage; do not forsake ne when my
strength fails'" (v. 9). And yet, though his own strength may fail, he believes his life and ministry
will be filled with divine strength: “But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and
more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know
their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of your righteousness,
of Yours only” (vv. 14-16); “.. 0 God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this
generation, Your power to everyone who is to come’ (v. 18).
The Lord taught a similar lesson to the Apostle Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). And Paul’s response? “Therefore most
gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore
I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ s
sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (vv. 9-10).
What an amazing statement: “...that the power of Christ may rest upon me’”! Is that not what we
need in our lives and ministries – to be filled with the presence and power of Christ? We need
Him and all of His resources in order to finish our Own race well and in order to make a
difference in the lives of others. The people around us need to be touched by Christ e who is
living in us and working through us.
Christ In Us
The great news is that Christ longs to fill our lives with His presence, His power, His love, His
joy, His compassion, and on and on! And when He does, the potential of what can happen in us
and through us is measured not by our fallen nature and puny resources, but by His glorious
nature and infinite resources. After all, we are talking about the Son of God in whom all of God’s
fullness dwells (Col. 1:19). He is full of creative and sustaining power (v. 16-17; Heb. 1:3), full
of life and light (John 1:4-5), full of grace and truth (v. 14), and full of comfort, love and
compassion (2 Cor. 1:5; Eph. 3:19; Matt. 9:36). He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning
and the End, the First and the Last” (Rev. 22:13).
Consider just a few Scriptures describing what He can do in our lives:
...He fills us with joy. “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may remain in you, and
that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).
...He fills us with peace. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27); “... The
Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:5-7).
...He strengthens us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
...He sets us free. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. Because He has anointed Me to preach the
gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are op- pressed” (Luke 4:18).
...He heals us. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and
healed them all” (Luke 6:19); .He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses’ (Matt.
8:17); ...and by His stripes we are healed’” (Isa. 53:5).
..He provides for us. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory
by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
..He fills us with life. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly (John 10:10).
...He helps us overcome temptation. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is
able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18).
...He gives us victory. “ In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer I have
overcome the world” (John 16:33); And they overcame [the accuser of the brethren] by the blood
of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
He gives us grace and mercy. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”
(Heb. 4:15-16).
...He encourages and comforts us. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and
Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort
your hearts.. “ (2 Thes. 2:16-17).
...He forgives us. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
...He empowers ministry. “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which
works in me mightily” (Col. 1:29).
...He restores us. “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name
‘s sake” (Psa. 23:3).
...He gives us rest. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentlè and lowly in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).
...He gives us living water. “...if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes
in Me. As the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).
..He gives us spiritual sustenance. “...I am the bread of life. He who Comes to Me shall never
hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
...He intercedes for us. “...He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God
through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25); “...It is Christ
who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34).
About This Issue:
The focus of this Herald issue is upon our need to keep our eyes and hearts focused upon Christ.
We need Him desperately, as does the world around us.
One day we will understand fully what we now only know in part -Christ is all!
Nothing ultimately matters except that we know Him. He alone is the way, the truth and the life
(John 14:6). May we renew our focus on Him, our fellowship with Him, our dependence upon
Him, and our service for Him – and all for His glory! –
Rich Carmicheal
We hope to hear from you soon!