Summer 1995
Enabling Power Through a Word from the Lord
Nancy Warner

When the call of God came to Moses, he responded, "Who am I?" And God answered, "Certainly, I will be with thee." This was no small promise for God had just revealed Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham (faith), The God of Isaac (promise), and The God of Jacob (change).

Moses had been given an understanding of God's intention regarding His people in the word, "I have heard their cry ... I am come down to deliver them." Furthermore, he had received an invitation to become one with God in His will and purpose; "Come now therefore, and I will send thee."

No wonder God was angry when Moses asked Him to choose another. Rather than being consumed with the presence of God, and with the anticipation of His enabling and abiding presence in his life, he continued to look at his own limitations.

When the earth was yet without form, the Spirit of God moved and God SAID, "Let there be light." All of creation came into being and function by the spoken Word of the Lord.

This same creative energy is released into a life when God speaks His call into that life. The Word of God, when we rightly respond, imparts all that is necessary to fulfill the call. We are merely the channel. The Holy Spirit is the power that enables us in the outworking of His calling, as He flows through us.

We receive this enabling power as we spend time with the Lord in His presence, saying "yes" to His will. We see in Romans 4:21 that Abraham was persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform. Sarah, in Hebrews 11:11 through faith received strength to conceive. Our faith must stand in the power of God. As we believe, we receive strength to bring into being that which has been promised.

When we are persuaded that we are in the will of God, we must look to the Lord for His enablement so we might faithfully do that which our position requires of us. Often this ability will not come until the time when it is necessary. Until then, we simply walk by faith.

Recently I was asked to do something I had never done before. I knew that I was pastoring under the call of God, and that this that I had been asked to do was part of my responsibilities. Therefore, I said yes with a confidence and boldness I otherwise would not have felt.

As I said yes, I realized that just days prior, I had been given a gift, which helped to equip me for this very task. Not a year ago, when it would have been just something nice for a pastor to have, but days before the need arose. I was given what was necessary to meet the need, not even knowing I would need it.

How timely God is in all of His provisions. The just live by faith in His faithfulness. Each experience that I have builds within me a little more faith in preparation for the next. Experience builds hope. I am being equipped to walk a life of faith as I experience step by step the faithfulness of God.

Our faith must rest in the power of God. We must remember how dependent we are. In our successes, we are not to forget that it was His enabling power, not we ourselves, that brought the victory, and will continue to do so.

"When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt
bless the LORD thy God for the good land which He
hath given thee ... beware that thou forget not the
LORD thy God" Deut 8:10-11a.

As the Lord sends us, we can step forth boldly in that calling, knowing that it is His power that enables us. He is faithful in all His provisions.

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor
be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it
is that doth go with thee, He will not fail thee,
nor forsake thee" Deut 31:6.

Our only need is the presence and the promise of the Lord. David knew this and was not afraid to approach Goliath. He knew that the same way the Lord had helped him kill the lion and the bear, so also would God enable him to kill the giant. His faith was built up through experience. He became a mighty king, a man after God's own heart.

May each one of us step out in faith and trust, when the Lord seeks to use us for a purpose in which we feel both our limitations and our unworthiness.