Paul's handkerchiefs : Tapping into God's presence and power within us

The fact that we live is the evident that the life of God is within us. In Gen 2:7 when God made the first man Adam, he breathed into his nostril the breath of life, and man became a living being. The word of God in Acts 17:25 mentioned again that God gives to all life, breath.

The breath of God is in us. We carry the life of God within us. It is well described in Acts 17:28 that in Him we live and move and have our being, for apart from Him we are nothing and we will not even have existed.

Therefore God is not as far away as we have often imagined it to be and that we have to try very hard to find Him and reach Him. He is so near and so within our reach. For He is living in each and every one of us.

The fact that we carry the breath of God, the life of God is flowing through us. Our very breath is the breath of God. 1 Cor 6:19 is a powerful verse to confirm this, that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God's life is in us and God lives in us.

When we can grasp this, we will realise that God's tangible presence is truly in us and everywhere around us. For all of His creation also carries His breath and His life.  This means that as God lives in us, we can tap into God's Divine nature, His Divine power, His Divine glory. (2 Pet 1:2-4)

Thus from the beginning in Gen 1:28 God said to Adam and Eve to subdue the earth and take dominion over all things, for He has given them the authority and power to do that. But through sin, all that privilege was taken away. 

The great news today is this, this same authority and power has been restored to us through our salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus reminded us in John 15:1-8 of the key to be His disciples, that we have to abide in Him and He abiding in us. This is the very same key to receive God's blessings, and when we ask what we desire, it shall be done for us and we will bear fruits that will remain.

Apostle Paul's life well reflected that he had carried the presence and power of God within him. In Acts 19:11-12, we see unusual miracles that even the handkerchiefs and aprons on him carried the power and anointing of God to heal the sick and to cast out evil spirits.

However just like us, Paul had not been one of the disciples walking with Jesus. Yet because of one divine encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, Paul's life was a total turnaround and turnover to serve Christ. God has transformed him from a persecutor to a preacher of the gospel, all the way til the end of his life. As he surrendered his life totally to the Lord, his life and ministry was also filled with many miracles, reflecting that of Christ's.

Friends, let's start tapping into the presence and power of God that is within us. The very life of God is flowing through us. Embrace our identity and authority in Christ.

But before we can do all that, we need to walk right with God. We need to constantly come before Him to seek Him in prayers and reading His word, and to reflect and repent of any wrong doing or wrong attitude.

Then as you spend your quiet time with God, spend some time to visualise Jesus living in you. And as Jesus lives in you and you live in Him, you are one with Christ. So when you lay hands to pray for someone, it is as if Christ is laying hands on the person.

As you do that, let the life of God, the presence and power of God flow freely through you today!

The life, presence and power of God that will change atmosphere, turn around situations and even transform lives is living right within us!

Jesus said in John 14:12-14 that those believe in Him will do the works that He did, and even greater works than these they will do. Instead of running after signs, wonders and miracles, let signs, wonders and miracles follow us wherever we go!

Prayer:
Dear God, I thank You for giving me Your breath of life. I acknowledge that indeed my life belongs to You and apart from You I am nothing. I acknowledge too that as Your word says, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for making my body a temple for You to dwell in. I thank You giving me the privilege to be a partaker of Your divine nature and having the access to Your divine power. Jesus, indeed let me always abide in You, and You in me. Let me be one with Christ, so that I can have full access to Your presence and Your power always. Use me to be Your vessel where Your presence and anointing will flow through so I can be a blessing wherever You bring me to. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life. And let my life be like Christ's, where signs, wonders and miracles follow me wherever I go!

In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen!

God bless,
Hazel Ashley