Focus: The Spirit's Power In The Believer's Life

Text: Eph.3:16

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."

A born again believer in Christ is a powerful person because the Spirit of God in him is the all-powerful. No believer in Christ should say, 'I am powerless,' no, not when the Spirit lives in him!

Micah says, "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD…" (Mic.3:8). God says to Zerubbabel, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts…" (Zech.4:6). The Spirit of God in the believer's life is empowering. Jesus Christ tells the disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…" (Act.1:8). Receiving the Spirit of God means receiving His power. He comes with power. 

The Christian and the church of Jesus Christ can't afford to be powerless in this world. God's work is done by the power of God, not by human ability. God's word is preached by the power of the Spirit, not by mere human eloquence or human adequacy. 

Nothing we are ever called to do in the name of God should be done in the energy of the flesh.

Jesus Christ instructed the disciples to "not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me" (Act.1:4). We need the Spirit. Even Jesus never functioned without the Spirit. He had the Spirit without measure. At His baptism the Spirit of God came upon Him. He said it that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him (Jh.3:34). In His preaching, Peter said, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with POWER: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Act.10:38). All that Jesus did in His life and time was done by the power of the Spirit of God.

Child of God, regardless of all the teachings you have received either for or against the Spirit, you need the Holy Ghost. Don't lie to yourself! Don't be deceived! No one can be a Christian by His own power. No one can live the Christian life by his own energy. No one can do even the smallest work of God without the power of the Holy Spirit. That was why the Lord Jesus Christ told the disciples to wait till they were endued with power from on high. He says, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but TARRY YE in the city of Jerusalem, UNTIL ye be ENDUED WITH POWER from on high" (Act.24:49). That means that they were to do nothing until the Spirit comes upon them with power. In fact, John the Baptist says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the HOLY GHOST, and with FIRE" (Mt.3:11). 

The Spirit comes with power and fire - purifying and energizing fire - the fire of holy passion. O how we are in dire need of the light and heat and energies of the Spirit!

If you have received the Holy Spirit, where is the fire in your life? Think about it. We are still living in the period or dispensation of Pentecost - of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is still here for all of us. His work continues till the church is raptured, and even beyond that. The church is powerless without the Holy Ghost. The believer is powerless without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is here on assignment the same way Christ was here on assignment from the Father. I pray you experience the power of the Holy Ghost and be ready for action. May you in accordance with Paul's prayer be strengthened with might by the Holy Spirit in the inner man! Amen!!!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter