Power Outage

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..." Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)

Things have changed a lot in two thousand years. Why is it that our churches today have so little resemblance to the early church?  What is missing in 2013 that was present in the first century A.D.? Think about it--when Peter preached a message of repentance to the Jews, three thousand were saved. Today we preach about "love" and no one comes forward. The early Christians were filled with joy, despite hardship and persecution. Today many in the church are in despair, prisoners to addictive and sinful behaviors with no hope of overcoming their problems.
Somewhere along the way, a message got lost--it's "Christ in you the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Every pastor who is born again can preach with the power of Peter on Pentecost. Every believer has the power within him to overcome sinful behaviors. How wickedly cleaver the enemy is--getting us to trust in our flesh and forget the power of God within us. How different would our churches be today if we actually believed that the power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us?