Matthew 18:18-20. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
How can we abide in the power of Christ? Merely knowing about Jesus is not enough. You must know Him personally—walk with Him, hear His voice, and experience His presence. Christianity is not a philosophy to learn or a system to follow. It is a relationship with the living Christ, who promised, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
The power of Christ is not something external that you reach for in moments of need; it is a living presence within you that must be enjoyed daily. To abide in Him is to dwell continually in His life, His love, and His authority. When you walk in union with Him, His power flows through you naturally, just as life flows from the vine into its branches (John 15:1-7).
The most vital way to abide in Christ’s power is through prayer. Prayer is not merely asking for things; it is entering into fellowship with the Triune God. It is stepping into the throne room of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and communing with your Father who already knows what you need before you ask (Matthew 6:8).
Jesus’ entire life on earth was rooted in prayer. Even amid the demands of ministry and crowds pressing around Him, He always withdrew to spend time alone with the Father. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). If the Son of God needed to pray, how much more must we?
Through prayer, you acknowledge that you are not the source of your own strength. You confess that you are utterly incapable. You surrender your will to His, saying, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” You exchange your weakness for His power, your anxiety for His peace, your confusion for His wisdom.
Prayer and praise unleash divine power even in the darkest circumstances. When Paul and Silas were beaten and chained in prison, they did not despair. Instead, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (Acts 16:25–26). The power of the throne of the Triune God responds to the voices of those who worship in faith.
This is the privilege of the children of God—to open and close the gates of heaven through prayer. Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). This means that through prayer, you participate in God’s sovereign work on earth. Heaven moves when the children of God pray in the name of Jesus.
So, stop worrying about anything, and turn everything into prayer. “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests… and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18). The life led by the Holy Spirit knows no failure, for the Spirit Himself intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:22).
To abide in Christ’s power also means making Him the Master of your life. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus was first treated as a guest. But when He became the master of the banquet, everything changed. Water turned into wine—the best wine anyone had ever tasted (John 2:1–11). The same is true in your life. When Jesus remains only a guest, you may have religion but not transformation. But when He takes the throne of your heart, you will experience His miracle-working power for world evangelization.
How can you make Him Master? Mary gave the answer: “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Obedience to the Word of God is the key to unlocking His power. When the servants obeyed Jesus’ simple command to fill the jars with water, they witnessed divine power at work—the very Word that created the universe transforming water into wine before their eyes. Even though the servants were considered the lowest in society, they had the highest honor of seeing God’s miracle firsthand. In the same way, those who obey the Word, even in small things, are entrusted with the great works of God.
To abide in the power of Christ, you must offer yourself completely to God. Paul writes, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). To abide in Christ is not merely to think about Him but to surrender every part of your life—your time, your work, your relationships, your plans—as an offering to Him.
When you live this way, your mind is renewed by His Spirit, and you begin to see the world as God sees it. You no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but you discern “His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). God’s will is clear: the proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit works most powerfully where Christ is proclaimed, for that is where His authority and glory are revealed.
So, abide in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you. In Him, there is divine power to overcome, abundant fruit that lasts, and limitless possibilities. Jesus promised, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). When you remain in His power, you can do all things through Him who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).
Prayer. Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of Your presence and for the privilege of prayer. Teach me to dwell in You, to obey You, and to make You the Master of my life. Let my heart burn with love for You and my life bear fruit for Your kingdom. In Your precious name, Amen.