I've been reading a bunch of A.B. Simpson lately. For those who don't know, he is the founder of our denomination, the Christian and Missionary Alliance. His writings and sermons are typically incredible because of his faith in God, his knowledge of Scripture, and his love for the lost.
See this section below about how believers have the power of Christ in them to accomplish the works he has already prepared for us to do as well as no excuse for not serving. (For the weak-willed or those pressed for time, simply see the italicized parts.)
"The Apostle Paul devotes a whole chapter, I. Cor. Xii, especially to explain and illustrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit for service. He begins by declaring our absolute dependence upon the Holy Ghost even for power to bear the simplest testimony to Jesus Christ. He then shows the diversity of the Spirit’s gifts, but declares that to every one some manifestation of this divine power is given for improvement and service.
The wisdom of nature was regarded as foolishness with God, and Christ was received as wisdom and utterance. The talents and the pounds were not natural endowments, but spiritual endowments. Our
good works were declared to be "prepared for us that we should walk in them," so that the weakest and humblest saint could minister "according to the proportion of faith," and as of the ability which God gave." Indolence, timidity and unfruitfulness were left without excuse. In themselves all were equally insufficient even to think anything as of themselves and all had equal claims to His all-sufficiency, and equal right to say: "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."
This power reached out alike in every direction of Christian life and service. It was as necessary for a deacon in administering the finances of a church, of a private member in giving his means to God, as to an apostle to his ministry, or a saint on his knees. Every service for the Lord must be in the Holy Spirit and in the strength of Jesus, or it could not be acceptable to God. He only is acceptable to the Father, and only His life and work in as can be accepted above. All our service, therefore, is simply partnership with Christ. It is Christ working in us His work. This was His promise when He went away. "He that believeth in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto the Father."
That does not mean that we shall do the works that He used to do, but that we shall do the works He is still to do, the works that He is now carrying on in His resurrection life as our Living Head, through us, the members of His body. He is the power; we are the executioners of that power. Our works are but the complement of "all which Jesus began both to do and to teach."
This power, therefore, can never exalt the possessor into self-importance. It is not his power at all, but simply Christ in him. It differs entirely from mere human power. It is not oratorical power or personal magnetism, that subtle influence which some possess in a marked degree. It is not intellectual power or logical force, the power of persuading other minds. It is not sympathetic power, the exquisite capacity to move human sympathy, kindle feeling, excite emotion and sway human hearts at will. It is not even moral power, the power to rouse the conscience, to alarm the guilty soul, to persuade men to reformation of life and conduct. All this may be merely natural. Spiritual power is far deeper and higher. It is the power of God. It brings men to feel the presence and the fear of God. It leads men to know God, to love God, to obey God, to be like God, to receive God. It is God in man leading man to God."
