The idea of ‘the power of one’ is not new. There are films, books, seminars, businesses and the list is almost indefinite. Looking at the message behind most films, books, seminars and businesses, the most obvious is that they are invalid in SOURCE of the power. Very few recognize that the Source of everything is God and without this recognition no validity is established. Without recognition of God as the Source there can be no validity.
On Thursday night as the University of Texas began the ballgame against Alabama there was no doubt in my mind that the Longhorns would win. However, when Colt McCoy left the game with a shoulder injury the validity to my claim was gone. Perhaps the reason that the Longhorns won the invitation to play in that game rested in the abilities of their quarterback. The awesome Power of One was obvious.
What is missing in the equation for most is the Source of that presence of power. Every event that suggests the Power of One without giving substantial recognition of the Source has lost validity no matter the reason.
Sapphira’s husband, Ananias died three hours previously and she enters the room where Peter stood and he says to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well." And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Acts 5:9-10.
This event found in Acts 5 is a small part, would be insignificant if Ananias and Sapphira had not agreed to not tell the truth about what they were giving to the Church. These two had chosen NOT to validate the Source of their existence and were therefore removed from the scene by God. The validity of their gift had been removed when they chose not to recognize Him.
Perhaps the most extraordinary occurrence follows in verses 5-13, “And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.”
These Apostles consistently validated their Source as being the Holy Spirit. The significance those were fearful of the Apostles is the necessity of honoring God in everything. However, when Believers decide to honor the Lord in everything and follow Him explicitly we must recognize the consequences.
The most notable consequence is personal loss of status recognition by others. By recognition of the Power of the One who lives within us, the Believer must take the second seat…..
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11.
