LIVING BY THE POWER OF GOD
The life of Jesus was characterised by supernatural power. Let's look at some verses in Luke which speak about power in Jesus. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside (Luke 4:14). In Luke 4:36 we read, “All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" Luke 5:17 says, “One day as he was teaching... the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.’ Luke 6:19 and 8:46 says, ‘the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.”
This power didn't die with Jesus. The disciples of Jesus lived with the power (Luke 9:1; Luke 10:19; Luke 24:49; Acts 4:33; Acts 6:8; Romans 15:18; 1 Corinthians 2:5). We are called to renounce the powerless Christianity (2 Tim. 3:5). Jesus “lives by the power of God” so we also may live by the same power (2 Corinthians 13:4). God wants to give his incomparably great power for us who believe (Eph. 1:19; 3:20). For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power (1 Cor. 4:20 NLT). We have the power of God available to us in the following ways.
Power of SCRIPTURES
The great reservoir of the power that belongs to God is His own Word- the Bible. If we are to obtain fullness of power, we must feed upon the Word of God. If we will not take time to study the Bible, we cannot have power, any more than we can have physical power if we will not take time to eat nutritious food. The Word of God has power to convict of sin (Acts 2:37). It has power to produce faith (Romans 10:17). It has power to cleanse (Ephesians 5:25, 26). A daily, prolonged, thoughtful bath in the Word of God will keep a life clean (Psalm 119:9). It has power to build up (Acts 20:32). Paul says, "I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up." The Word of God has power to make us wise (Psalm 19:7; 119:130), to bring peace into the heart (Psalm 119:165), to produce joy (Jeremiah 15:16). Anyone who wishes to obtain and maintain fullness of power in Christian life and service must feed constantly upon the Word of God.
Power of SUPPLICATION
Prayer is a powerful force. Prayer can move mountains if only we would let it. If only we would realise just how powerful prayer can be, we would never feel hopeless. The poverty and the powerlessness of an average Christian find its explanation in the words of Apostle James, ‘You have not because you ask not’ (James 4:2). The first Christians were men of tremendous power. What power Peter and John, for example, had in their lives! What power they had in their work! The secret of their fullness of power in life and service is found in Acts 2:42: " They continued steadfastly . . . in prayers." God delights to answer prayer: "Call upon me," He cries, " I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Ps. 50:15).
There is a place where strength can always be renewed; that place is the presence of the Lord: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Is. 40:31.) We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We often hear the saying, “More prayer, more power. Less Prayer, less power. No prayer, no power.” This is absolutely true! R. A. Torrey says, “Prayer can do anything God can do; for the arm of God responds to the touch of prayer. All the infinite resources of God are at the command of prayer. Prayer is the key that opens wide the inexhaustible storehouses of divine grace and power. "Ask and it shall be given you," cries our Heavenly Father, as He swings wide open the doors of the divine treasure-house.”
Power of SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the person who imparts to the individual believer the power that belongs to God. This is the Holy Spirit's work in the believer, to take what belongs to God and make it ours. Jesus said, `when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you shall receive power’ (Acts 1:8). The power of the Holy Spirit is given to us for many reasons. He helps us to exercise victory over sin. The Bible says, `live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Gal. 5:16). The Holy Spirit will make us daringly different in the dirty world. He helps us to excel in our work. Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of God and so he became an extraordinarily skilled craftsman (Exo. 35:30, 35). Daniel and Joseph prospered in the strange lands which were hostile to their holy convictions because the excellent Spirit of God was upon them (Dan. 5:11; 6:3; Gen. 49:23-25; 41:38). Yes, when you are filled with the Spirit, you will be able to do your work exceptionally and extraordinarily well. He also helps us to evangelise the lost. About the early Christians we read, `they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly’ (Acts 4:31). The Holy Spirit gives us the courage, charisma and spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12: 7-11) to witness for Him. The Spirit-filled believers are powerful means in the hands of God.
Power of SAVIOUR’S BLOOD
The miracle working power that is within the blood of Jesus is still available today. The Bible says that the blood of Jesus is precious (1 Peter 1:19). The blood of Jesus is precious because of its redeeming power. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22). The blood of Jesus has cleansing power (1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5). It cleanses us of all our sins! It gives us victory over all the power of the devil. We need not fear any of attacks of the enemy because the blood of Jesus has already defeated Satan and through the blood of Jesus we can have victory over the devil (Rev. 12:11). An old song goes like this, `there is power, power, wonder-working power, in the Blood of the Lamb...In the precious Blood of the Lamb.’ The Blood of Jesus cannot dry up; neither can it lose its power. Therefore you can plead it a million times, if you want to. The more you plead the Blood of Jesus, the more you can be victorious! The blood of Jesus has life-giving power, yoke-breaking power, wonder working power, demon-paralysing power. Hallelujah!
Power of SURRENDERED LIFE
The great and crucial secret of blessedness and power in our lives is found in the words of Paul, "Yield yourselves to God” (Rom. 6:13). The word "yield" means “to put at one's disposal”. “Put you at God's disposal” is the thought. In other words, surrender yourselves absolutely to God, to be His property, for Him to do with you what He will, and use you as He will.
God is able to use a surrendered life in great ways. God choose Mary, of all women, to be the mother of Jesus. It was because she was totally surrendered to God. When the angel explained God’s improbable plan, she humbly responded, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said” (Luke 1:38). God used Apostle Paul because of his total surrender (Acts 9:6). Nothing is more powerful than a surrendered life in the hands of God.
The surrendered life is a life with Jesus at the centre of every aspect of your life. All personal dreams and ambitions have been completely discarded to serve and follow the Father’s plan. The surrendered life is a choice to follow in Jesus footsteps and live every moment to fulfil God’s will on this earth. It’s following Him anywhere, anytime, at any cost to do anything. The ultimate condition of obtaining the power of in our own life is a surrendered will, a life surrendered absolutely, unreserved, totally to God. Will you yield? GOD BLESS YOU!
