THE OVERMASTERING MAJESTY OF PERSONAL POWER by Oswald Chambers

sermonindex Feb 5, 2010

~~[b]~~THE OVERMASTERING MAJESTY OF PERSONAL POWER[/b]

"For the love of Christ constraineth us." 2 Corinthians 5:14

Paul says he is overruled, overmastered, held as in a vice, by the love of Christ. Very few of us know what it means to be held in a grip by the love of God; we are held by the constraint of our experience only. The one thing that held Paul, until there was nothing else on his horizon, was the love of God. "The love of Christ constraineth us" - when you hear that note in a man or woman, you can never mistake it. You know that the Spirit of God is getting unhindered way in that life.

When we are born again of the Spirit of God, the note of testimony is on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But the baptism of the Holy Ghost obliterates that for ever, and we begin to realize what Jesus meant when He said - "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." Not witnesses to what Jesus can do - that is an elementary witness - but "witnesses unto Me." We will take everything that happens as happening to Him, whether it be praise or blame, persecution or commendation. No one can stand like that for Jesus Christ who is not constrained by the majesty of His personal power. It is the only thing that matters, and the strange thing is that it is the last thing realized by the Christian worker. Paul says he is gripped by the love of God, that is why he acts as he does. Men may call him mad or sober, but he does not care; there is only one thing he is living for, and that is to persuade men of the judgment seat of God, and of the love of Christ. This abandon to the love of Christ is the one thing that bears fruit in the life, and it will always leave the impression of the holiness and of the power of God, never of our personal holiness.

Waterspring Feb 5, 2010

Very few of us know what it means to be held in a grip by the love of God; we are held by the constraint of our experience only

What a marvellous quote! It is true that we measure everything by our experience. But the greatest experience is to overwhelmed by the love of God.

I think when our faith is perfected, and we see Him face to face, then we will truly know how immeasurably wonderful this love of God is! I think words cannot express it.

Goldminer Feb 5, 2010

This is a wonderful quote and so true. I feel to share a little of my testimony here in hopes that it will move others to follow hard after this love.

In 1976 I was not looking for God, but He was looking for me. One of my party buddies got sent to jail for selling drugs and while in there he (a backslidden preachers kid) returned to the One who loved him.

He began to write me sometimes 26 page letters witnessing to me, and God Himself was dealing with me at the same time. Well I finally saw the light and repented right in my house crying till I thought I'd die as I saw the wickedness of my own heart.

I had no prior knowledge of the bible, church or religion, so nothing to unlearn. I went to the church he recommended that had been ministering to him in jail. I went and "officially" got saved. The same day they asked if I'd like to be prayed for for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I didn't even know what that was, but I thought I want everything God has for me, so I said yes. They prayed and I went home but didn't feel anything significant. I just kept praying for His fullness and three days later I was sound asleep and I received power from on high. It washed over me in waves and I have never been the same.

In light of this thread, I was baptized with Love Itself. For months afterwards I had what I call a lump of love in my heart, my chest literally throbbed with it, that was so awesome it consumed me. I witnessed to anyone that would listen and I won most to the Lord. I don't say this by way of bragging because after 33 years it has way past dissipated, but I am crying out for more.

We need that power to effect the world around us and I can testify that it really works, or should I say He really works. We wonder why we see so very little fruit and it is for this reason. They would see Jesus, not us. We strive in our natural strength to make one convert, but under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit He wins many in a day. I have seen it in action and give Him all the glory.

On a side note my friend is now a wonderful preacher full of love and good works. I thank God for allowing His son to go to jail to get this sinner saved. I wouldn't have listened to a preacher, I thought we came from monkeys, but I would listen to an incarcerated drug dealer. Ha, God has His ways. So don't dispare all you folks with wayward kids, God just might have something up His sleeve. He tricked me. All is fair in love and war when it's God's battle.