8-10-09 God's power

God’s Powerful Promises of Power

“The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the Living God.” This is on the foreword page of this chapter on Power. I really had to laugh at the two choices that I have to work with this time: Power and Victory. When I first chose my three promises to write on, I really felt that all three choices were things that I know and lived. Funny how things turn around and we aren’t where we thought we were.

I have not felt very powerful or victorious lately. I realized that I haven’t been standing in the power that I have in the Lord. Since I was not walking in victory at this time, I realized that the power in the Holy Spirit was my stepping stone to my victory. I only had to be led by Him. I have been saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit for 36 years. I have gone through so many things but the Lord has and is always there—“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit has come upon us and is in us. He doesn’t leave us when things get rough or when they don’t go the way we want. The Holy Spirit loves us, teaches us, guides and directs us in the things of the Lord. That brings us through those hard times. Jesus knew what we would go through and that is why He sent us the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us the power from the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit.

When do we get God’s power? We get it at salvation and then we get more of this power when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This power helps us in all aspects of our Christian walk. We don’t just keep this power to ourselves. We are to use this power to serve others and to witness. We aren’t to keep this power to ourselves but to tell others what we have seen, heard and learned through God’s word. Just calling out the name of Jesus is power. We are made strong through Him. In writing this devotion, I have realized that I have been trying to do things in my own strength. I have turned this weakness of mine over to the Lord and am exchanging it for His power.

The power that we have is also for service. We are empowered with ‘spiritual gifts’ to help others. We are to put this power to work not hold on to it. Without using it we become weak and inadequate. We need to know and realize the importance of living a Spirit-filled life. To be used by the Holy Spirit we need to be obedient believers—staying on top of things in our lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.

My son, Shawn, and I made a pact to fast ‘negativity’—to not allow ourselves to slip up with our negative communication. I didn’t follow through the way that I wanted to and the way I knew I should have. I allowed myself to believe the lies of the enemy in certain areas of my life. I knew the power that I have in my life but I didn’t stand in victory the way I should have. This allows sin to enter in. We then need to get things right with the Lord by confessing our sin and asking for forgiveness. We need to rely on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to show us the power that we have within ourselves.

The Holy Spirit never leaves us and is fully available to us all the time. We need to remember why we were given this power—to be an example of what God can do in our life. God enables us with His wisdom and His power to minister to others. The less that we try to do things on our own the more there will be of God’s power and limitless abilities. Respond to God’s call to serve. Pray and see what He would have you do.

Just by seeking Him on what He wanted me to write in this devotion He has set me free. I was able to see the errors of my way—not out and out sinning but sinning just the same by not walking in the power that He has given us and listening to Him and staying in His word. Don’t try to walk in your own power but in the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

Diane Harper