It's no secret that I greatly respect Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. To me, he's very reminiscent of Samuel the Lamanite, only Rabbi Cahn's "wall" upon which he is stands is the internet. There (and in other media), he is inviting all to be watchful, repent and prepare for the Lord's arrival.
Here are my notes of a sermon he preached recently:
In the power of the Messiah is the power of a new genesis, a new beginning.
When God created the heavens and the earth, there was no heavens and earth. You see, God doesn't need any conditions to do His thing. God isn't a realist. God doesn't care what the reality is. Even when there is no reality, He brings a new reality into existence.
He's not a realist.
It doesn't matter what the situation is, He just does it. THAT is the power of the resurrection, the power of Genesis, of "In The Beginning", which you have now, which means that you are not bound by your circumstance. You don't have to be a realist because the power of the power of the resurrection is never dependent on the situation.
A tomb is not a situation that is conducive for life. But He did it anyway! When you're in a circumstance which looks hopeless, you've got the power of the resurrection. You've got the power of the empty tomb. You've got the power of creation, meaning "I will not be determined by this circumstance. I will not be overcome by this circumstance. I will not be defeated by this circumstance, because this circumstance is not the final story. God's will is the final story!"
When God said, "Let there be light," there was nobody to argue with Him. The universe didn't say, "I don't think I want to obey you today." He said it, and it happened. The power of the resurrection, the creation, is the power to move obstacles and overcome as if they were not there, by the authority of God.
In the beginning, God spoke to the darkness. And into the darkness He said, "Let there be light."
So when you find yourself surrounded by darkness, the darkness is not a problem for God. Darkness is the ground from which miracles come.
You don't fear the darkness. You don't get discouraged by the darkness. You speak into the darkness as God spoke into the darkness (with) the word of God. And you proclaim God's purposes and you say "Let there be light" in the Messiah, "Let there be light" by the power of God. You declare light, the Light of God, into the darkness. And there shall be light.
In the tomb, what were the odds of Him (Jesus Christ) coming alive? Zero. What this shows is that God doesn't need things to be possible. Because with God, all things are possible. Even if it's impossible, with God, it will not remain impossible.
The power of the resurrection is the power of the impossible.
This is indeed the power of the priesthood - the fullness of the priesthood. This is the promise of "...all that the Father hath". We may be using different terms, but the truth is the same. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteWe who hold the priesthood have had it conferred upon us. The fullness of the power of the priesthood can only be given by the voice of the Father directly to us. Near God-like power bestowed upon His mortal sons to do His will.
ReplyDeleteThe JST states,"And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;
And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.
For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;
To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world." JST Genesis 14:27-31.
Every Melchizedek priesthood holder can have God, the Eternal Father, tell them personally that they now have the fullness of the power of the priesthood in this life. Thanks again for this wonderful post.
Ken and Scott,
ReplyDeleteYou're 100% right.
Could there may be a more fundamental power at work here?
Notice the last five words -- "the power of the impossible." What was the one operative force that empowered a nation of people walking across an ocean bed with water on both sides? That gave Abraham the hope to see posterity? That enabled a jar of flour and jug of oil staying full until a famine passed? That healed a grown man of leprosy after dipping seven times in a river? That protected three men in a fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke? That fed over five thousand people off of five loaves of bread and two fish? That led families across a desert and ocean to the Promised Land? That motivated a young boy to pray in a grove, expecting an answer?
In my opinion, it wasn't priesthood. It was this gender-less, station-less, priesthood-less, ageless, race-less, timeless source of true power called...faith in Jesus Christ.
When we contemplate all that the Savior has done, does and will do, astounding new vistas of possibilities open up that transform darkness to light and lifelessness to life for every man, woman and child who truly believes on Jesus Christ. Here's what Yeshua Himself said:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; ***and greater works than these shall he do...***" (John 14:12; emphasis mine)
In the Lectures on Faith, Joseph said, "for when faith comes, it brings its train of attendants with it--apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, gifts, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues, &c. All these appear when faith appears on the earth, and disappear when it disappears from the earth. For these are the effects of faith and always have, and always will attend it. For where faith is, there will the knowledge of God be also, with all things which pertain thereto revelations, visions, and dreams, as well as every other necessary thing in order that the possessors of faith may be perfected and obtain salvation."
Certainly everything -- EVERYTHING -- is possible with the Lord.
And I believe the cool part of all this is this:
Some of the best stories, some of the best examples, of faith that will ever be had among humanity's children will be written in the few short years immediately prior to Christ's return.
If I may add a comment. I agree with everything both of you have stated. Think of the work just prior to Christ's return of the 144,000. Millions of faithful saints sealed up to eternal life in all those temples. Miracles upon miracles proceeding those sealings. For a thousand years generations will be marveled by the first hand events leading up to the Savior's return. And all of those wonderful events will happen to each of us. God please give us the strength to remain true!
ReplyDeleteI am new to your site having just found it this summer. I wanted to say thank you so much. Your messages are timely and just what I've needed to hear. My friends and family are suffering from much turmoil and these messages have helped keep our focus on our savior and remind us who it is we are seeking. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGod acted when there was nothing to act upon.
ReplyDelete