How To Live A Powerful Christian Life

How to live a powerful Christian life?

All Christians are required to grow in all  grace, but ironically, many grow only in a certain knowledge of their denominational doctrines and traditions. The better one can defend the particular sect he belongs to, the more he is considered to be growing, plus an abstaining from the "great sins:" sexual sins, "rebellion" against the status quo, etc.

2 Peter 1 tells us: "5 But also for this very reason, giving all  diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue  knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to  self-control perseverance, to perseverance  godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly  kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8  For if these things are yours and abound,  you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in  the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9  For he who lacks these things is  shortsighted, even to blindness, and has  forgotten that he was cleansed from his  old sins."

Across the whole New Testament, we read of people with lack of faith, little faith, and great faith. While some appealed to Jesus to increase their faith, there were others that Jesus referred to as having "great faith".

So as ANY Christian grows spiritually (complete graces), he gets closer to God and becomes more powerful. He sees things others do not see; he does things others do not do (except required of them by law); he avoids things others do easily, etc.

Let us look at four things that will keep a Christian more spiritual, closer to God, and more powerful.

1. Great faith: this is NOT just faith that God exists, but faith that He is ever present in every situation to reward his children. The Hebrew writer says, "6 But without faith  it is  impossible to please Him, for he who  comes to God must believe that He is, and  that He is a rewarder of those who  diligently seek Him." (11). If you have faith in God but doubt His reward how can your ways please Him? You cannot! So, when Jesus says in Matthew that "if you have faith as a mustard seed", He was NOT just talking of size, but increasing growth in faith. A mustard seed is sown small, but grows into a tree.

2. Prayers of faith: we do not mean ceremonial prayers or recitation of " the Lord's prayer" or some general prayer. You pray what you KNOW will happen and you believe what you pray. Nothing is impossible with the one you pray to. It is not in you who prays. James says, "6 But let him ask in faith, with no  doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave  of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7  For let not that man suppose that he will  receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a  double-minded man, unstable in all his  ways." (James 1). Again, he says: "15 the  prayer of faith will save the sick, and the  Lord will raise him up. And if he has  committed sins, he will be forgiven."

3. Devotional fasting: I do not refer to hunger strike or organized withdrawal from food while going about normal everyday work. I mean being set apart for time with God. If you have decided to fast for four hours, stay indoors in your house or go to the church hall or a solitary place. Keep your phones off. Spend the whole four hours praying, singing, and reading God's word.  Jesus said some problems won't go by faith alone, but by combining faith with prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).

4. Righteous Living: we are not talking of a one-time righteousness or a certain self-righteous feeling because you belong to the "one true Church". Holiness is a daily life lived in appreciation of God's work in us through Christ: "  22 But now  having been set free from sin, and having  become slaves of God, you have your fruit  to holiness, and the end, everlasting life." (Rom 6:22). Righteousness is not the legal struggle to keep God's laws. No one CAN please God by law keeping. Righteousness is attained and maintained by seeking the leadership of the Holy Spirit and following Him. Paul said, "16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you  shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For  the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the  Spirit against the flesh; and these are  contrary to one another, so that you do not  do the things that you wish. 18 But if you  are led by the Spirit, you are not under the  law." (Galatians 5).

In summary, every Christian who intentionally seeks to grow in grace and to be closer to God can grow and he will live a powerful spirit-filled life. And what then will he not be able to achieve? James says, "16 The effective, fervent prayer of a  righteous man avails much." (James 5).
It is a good thing to live a powerful Christian life.
Written ByBro. Akpobome Chase Diffre-Odiete