The Power to Live and Do!

The following instance was frequently cited by A. J. Gordon: An American with an English gentleman was viewing the Niagara whirlpool rapids, when he said to his friend: "Come, and I'll show you the greatest unused power in the world." Then he took him to the foot of Niagara Falls. "There," he said, "is the greatest unused power in the world." "Ah, no, my brother, not so," was the reply. "The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the Living God."     -Christian Endeavor World 

Jesus said those who receive the Holy Spirit, receive power. Power for living, power to witness, power to pray, and power to perform miracles. What it amounts to is power to be like Jesus in this world. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16-17).

Power to live like He would have us live. Power to emulate Him with our lives. Power to do the things He did - and greater. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12) How can we do the miracles Jesus did? With the help of the same Holy Spirit by which Jesus performed them. With our immersion into the Holy Spirit’s influence comes an opportunity to be clothed in power from above.

So many people struggle in their Christian walk. Part of them want to live a consistent Christian life and live godly in Christ but another part of them keeps them from being successful in doing so (Romans 7:15, 18-19, 21-25a). Paul compares the Christian life to walking with the Spirit. He says, Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

In another place he presents the Spirit as the Sanctifier and the alternative to succumbing to the sins which weigh down so many. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). It is the power of the Holy Spirit which enables believers to turn from the sins that hinder them and live in spiritual victory.

One of the things Jesus told us the Spirit would do is to empower us to share our faith. To boldly proclaim the truth. Think of Peter’s transformation at Pentecost. He went from being scared by a school girls’ question to pointing his finger in the face of 3,000 Jews and telling them about Jesus. This man (Jesus) was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross! 

Many years later the same apostle would write admonishing every believer to be ready to share their faith with those who asked why they believe what they believe. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,..." (1 Peter 3:15)

The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses for the Lord. The Great Commission tells us to make disciples of all nations ... "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:20) That is why Jesus instructs us to receive the Spirit.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26). Many Christians struggle in their prayer-life. They find it really difficult spending any quality time praying. They've prayed their whole prayer within the first few minutes and feel defeated and miserable for not being able to pray longer. They don’t know what else to say. Others feel defeated because they don’t feel as though their prayers are effective. They aren't sure they see results to their prayers. They question if they have ever gotten a direct answer to prayer. 

Yet that isn't the picture anyone gets when they read the Bible’s description of a believer’s prayer life. So since this person’s experience doesn't measure up they feel inferior and disheartened. They feel threatened by prayer services. They think they are doomed to a life of inadequate prayers. The good news is that the Spirit helps us pray when we don’t know how.

In closing, to open your life to the Spirit of God is open your life to power. The baptism in the Spirit is no guarantee that we will be like Jesus, or that we will utilize the Spirit’s power. It is only a guarantee that He will make that similarity possible and that power available. The option to conform to Christ-likeness, or to operate in the gifts or not, is always up to us. But those are options made increasingly available to us through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Receive the gift of the Father. In simple, child-like faith take the Gift He offers - His own Spirit. Believe this Gift is available. That He is meant for you. That God desires His power flow through you empowering you, equipping you, enabling you. Desire the best Gifts. Diligently seek to be filled with His Spirit. Pray for this Spirit baptism - until you've received it. Remain open to letting God use you in incredible things.

Scripture: Genesis 1:1; John 14:26; Psalm 28:7; Philippians 3:12; Galatians 5:22-23; Acts 1:22; 3 John 1:3

Prayer: For all You have given, Thank You God;
For all You have withheld, Thank You God;
For all You have withdrawn, Thank You God;
For all You have permitted, Thank You God;
For all You have prevented, Thank You God;
For all You have forgiven me, Thank You God;
For all You have prepared for me, Thank You God;
For the death You have chosen for me, Thank you God;
For the place you are keeping for me in heaven, Thank You God;
For having created me to love You for eternity, Thank You God. Amen

May God bless you always,

Danielle