Just a few words today about darkness and light, and weakness and power

Just a few words today about darkness and light, and weakness and power. This world calls having an abundance of money 'power.' While there is such a thing as using monetary wealth to do a great deal of genuine good, that is not what this world is talking about when it says that someone with a lot of money is in a position of 'power.' What it means is that someone with a lot of money can get their way with most anything they want to do because everyone has so much respect for money. The scripture addressed this issue with a simple statement: "The rich man's wealth is his strong city" (Prov. 10:15). The rich man feels powerful because he instinctively knows that other people will respect him and even fear him because of his wealth. Likewise others view him in the same way. Great wealth is far more often used by men for evil purposes rather than for good. There are in this world, and in this society, very large and wealthy corporations that have virtually made their living by squashing out other people's smaller businesses, and by strangling employees with low wages and small benefits. Money is often used to hide something that would be incriminating if it was to become widely known. It is also used to threaten and even kill people for the selfish and greedy reasons of the owner's thereof. This kind of 'power' operates in darkness and deceit, and just as darkness is the absence of light, so monetary 'power' is actually weakness and the absence of power. Here is the reason I say this: "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God" (Psm. 62:11). And this: "He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth" (Psm. 105:7). It is indeed God's judgments that are in all the earth BECAUSE all power belongs to God.

Man accomplishing his agenda by his power and position is reliant on working through darkness and deceit, while the power of God ALWAYS AND ONLY operates in the brightest of light and simplicity of honesty. God wants himself to be known to all who would know him, and those who are of God long for their works to be manifested as well. The scripture also exemplifies this reality: "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday" (Psm. 37:5,6). I remember a time when I was called in question and basically charged with heinous spiritual crimes, and the Lord overthrew these charges in the sight of all. I had such an inner longing for the day of judgment, for all of my works to be manifested for all to see. I knew that I was not only innocent of all charges, but that just the opposite was true. I knew also that God knew that, and I was not confused about it one bit. Unfortunately for some, there were people who later became confused about these things, but I simply had to leave their confusion to themselves, and continue in the light and liberty of God's "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). Those whose works are wrought in light and honesty are the people with the power my friend. Make no mistake about it. The reason is that these are those whose prayers are regarded and honored by the Father in heaven, while wrath is being reserved for those who trust in their seeming worldly power (Jas. 5:1-3). Operating in secrecy and darkness is weakness, while operating in light and honesty is power. The scriptures also confirm this powerfully: "Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death" (Prov. 11:4).

Jesus told his disciples about power when he was about to ascend back to heaven, and it was quite simple: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). And what is that power all about? "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:5). God's power is about love and good, because God IS love and good (Psm. 52:1; I Jn. 4:8). Depending on money and worldly position is weakness, while depending on the God of all power and righteous judgment is power. Period. If you wouldn't be thrilled for the deepest motives and intents of your heart about all things that you do and say, be made known today before all; then you are operating in weakness and heading for trouble. Not only so, but these things ARE going to made known anyway, as the scriptures attest to: "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts" (I Cor. 4:5). So if you want real power, which is to say power to do good like God does, then apply yourself to operating in the light with pure honesty and goodness of heart in the holy Ghost. That is the only way to have "confidence toward God," and thereby get your prayers answered by the one who IS power (I Jn. 3:21,22). There is another good reason to do what you do in the light of honesty and innocence, and we would do well to heed the wise admonition of Solomon on the matter: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:13,14). As they say, Nuff said.