In this New Year, like in years past, our various pastors have decreed this a year of something or the other. And we have rightly claimed all the good pronouncements with a resounding ‘Amen’. But as the first month is drawing to a close, think of the declarations; can they all be true? Yes and no. For the one who is not looking for the ability of God, the answer is no. and I have no doubt that you have painful experiences of decrees and prophecies that failed to materialize.
On the other hand, for those who are looking for the ability of God, the answer is yes. All those decrees can materialize for you because you are connected to the real source of miracles – God. Our pastors do their best to interpret the mind of God but they are mere humans, with the propensity to fail. This is not a campaign against pastors but a strong case for God. You do not have to have received the video showing great men of God ‘prophesying’ about how sweet 2020 was going to be before you disbelieve pastors.
Most probably, you have personal experiences of your own that you cannot always trust a man to accurately tell you the mind of God. What that means is for you to experience restoration or fullness (or whatever your pastor said about this year), you need God Himself. You need to look past your pastor and start looking for the ability of God. Now, unless you are a bible scholar, you may not understand how to do that and our next paragraph will address that problem.
What Is The Ability Of God?
When someone is fully able to accomplish a task, either for himself or on your behalf, you say he has ‘ability’. It is not different with God. You may know already that there is nothing too difficult for God, which means God has perfect ability.
Take the pastors who promised you that this is your year of restoration. Let us say you suffered losses last year either in relationships or business and you need restoration. You hear that declaration and you claim it; it has your name on it, so to speak. When you are looking for the ability of God, you rely, not so much on your pastor but on the word of God. That is when you can experience the declarations.
2 Chronicles 25:9 talks about a king who had suffered losses. “Then Amaziah said to the man of God. ‘But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?’ And the man of God answered, ‘The Lord is able to give you much more than this.’” I hope you caught that. No matter what loss you have to suffer for the sake of God, just because you want to obey God, God has the ability to replace it and give you more.
For the one who learns to look for the ability of God, nothing is impossible. Take the declaration 2021 as your year of deliverance as an example. Because you are in trouble, you instantly claim that promise as yours. But unless you are looking for the ability of God, it may not materialize. But for you who know the word of God, it is a sure bet.
More Ways Of Looking for The Ability of God
In Daniel 3:17, you read “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” The God they serve has the full ability to deliver them from the fiery furnace. That means as you are looking for the ability of God, deliverance and total victory are yours.
Okay, so you are not in any trouble, but you identify with the declaration of 2021 as your year of abundance. If you are looking for the ability of God, you find your abundance in 2 Corinthians 9:8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Let us say you have been wanting to give some money to our annual program but you are finding it hard to set the money aside. It is not because of God. He has the ability to give you more than enough for the good work you want to do. This abundance and grace extend to money, peace, joy security, everything.
But not all of us need abundance. Your particular need may be for security and defense. 2 Chronicles 20:6 says “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? And in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? The ability of God is so much that even COVID cannot withstand Him.
Where To Find God’s Ability
We could go on and on, but you need to be able to look for the ability of God for yourself. And you find it on full display in the bible, from Genesis to Jude. For good reason, this attribute of God is missing in Revelation. If, after studying sixty-five books of the bible, you don’t know how able God is, it is too late.
To help you, in case you are still to be able to study the bible for yourself, here are a few examples. Let us assume you really wish to know more of God this year and are looking for an increase, both physical and spiritual. You should be looking for the ability of God in Acts 20:32. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Your desire is to enjoy the word and things of God. He has the ability to edify you. You will not be where you were last year. And by next year, you might even surprise yourself by the growth in your bible knowledge. This verse says He is able to do that. He also has the ability to give you an inheritance in heaven
Perhaps you feel your sin is too great for God to forgive. Look to the ability of God and read Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master, he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” God will make you stand; only be sure you confess your sin to Him; He is faithful and just to forgive.
Why We Are Not Looking For The Ability of God
Rather than look for the ability of God, many of us prefer to look for the ability of prophets and pastors. That happens when there is a block between us and God. Matthew 13:58 identifies that block as unbelief. “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Jesus performed many miracles while on earth, except where they had a blocker to His ability. Those with unbelief will not be looking for the ability of God and therefore miracles don’t happen in their lives. If you can get rid of that unbelief, there is nothing too difficult for God to do for you.
Once you have faith, God is able to keep you from stumbling while we remain on earth. According to Jude 24, He has the ability to do even more. He is able to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. That will be wonderful when Jesus presents us faultless before the throne of God. It may be sooner than you think
Maranatha!
Wow, this is powerful. This what we need in this dispensation. People are looking to prophets and pastors but what we need is the sure word of God and revelation. This is timely. God bless you for sharing this wonderful message.
Thank you. Unfortunately, believers are too lazy to search the word of God for themselves, preferring to be spoon-fed by prophets and pastors