Activate the Power of the Holy Spirit
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20
As a believer we have the power of the Holy Spirit inside us. However, that power will not work until we put it to work! The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, so He’ll not force you to turn down the television and jerk you up off the couch and say, “Now you listen to me!”
The Holy Spirit has been sent to help us do the will of God and to strengthen us and counsel us. But He won’t do anything until He is asked. That’s why James 5:13 says if you’re in trouble or afflicted, pray. It’s prayer that puts the power within us to work.
Wow, just think about that! The Spirit of Almighty God — the Spirit that hovered over the face of the deep and carried out God’s Word at Creation — is the same Spirit that is inside of you and me. He’s just waiting on you and me to call on Him!
If Jesus came into your house and sat down at your table, you’d put aside everything to talk to Him. You wouldn’t rush through and say, “Jesus, I’m really so happy to see You and I wish I had time to talk to You, but I’ve had such a busy day and I’m so tired right now. Maybe we can spend time together later.”
You wouldn’t do that! If Jesus was sitting in your room and you could see Him, you would fall on your face and begin to worship Him. You wouldn’t care how tired you were….you would jump at the opportunity to fellowship with Him!
The Holy Spirit is in us and He’s waiting on us! He’s ready anytime of the day or night. He is saying, “I am here to help you, to strengthen you and to lead you. I want to comfort you today. You know that problem you’ve been having? I want to help you with that. I want to help you get that out of your life.” The Holy Spirit has things He desires to show each of us. Things we’ve been trying to figure out. He’s waiting to help us overcome every obstacle in our life. Ask Him for His help each and every day. Take time to pray….and to pray in the Spirit. Your prayers activate the power that is at work within you!
Ephesians 3:16-21 (NCV) “I ask the Father in His great glory to give you the power to be strong inwardly through His Spirit. I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. And I pray that you and all of God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God. With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen”
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Using the Power of the Holy Spirit!
1. Some people use the Holy Spirit’s power as a toy to be played with.
This was the problem of the Corinthian church. They so enjoyed talking in other tongues by the Spirit’s power that they were just having a good time in their services. There was a lot of disorder. Outsiders thought they were crazy. Paul let them know that all things should be done decently and in order. They should learn to so channel the power of the Holy Spirit that souls would be saved, not turned away from Christ.
2. Some people call attention to themselves instead of giving glory to God.
If the Holy Spirit gives a man faith for healing the sick, it is not so that he can shout: “Look at me, everybody! Miracles! I have lots of power!” Or if God uses someone to give messages in prophecy, it is not so that he can say: “Everyone had better listen to me! I am a prophet! Come to me if you want to know what to do.” Such pride brings many problems.
3. Some people just don’t use the power that the Holy Spirit has for them.
This is the most common mistake of all. Some have seen the misuse or imitations of the Spirit’s power and are afraid of anything supernatural. The Thessalonian church had this problem. Paul told them to test the spirits to see if they were of God and not to accept any false prophecies or imitations of God’s work. But they were not to throw away the real along with the imitations.
Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good, and avoid every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22).
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is like having your house wired for electricity. It’s not wired so you can sit in the dark and say: “I’ve got electricity at last!” Turn the light on! Use the power! In the Book of Acts you have God’s pattern for the right use of the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is the Pattern for You
The power of the Holy Spirit in the early Christians made their lives clean and good in a civilization noted for its crime and corruption. An inner joy and peace made them sing and praise God when they were beaten and thrown into jail for Christ’s sake. Full of God’s love, they forgave and prayed for those who tortured them. This is power used rightly!
They had a powerful message and gave it with powerful personal conviction. They knew what they were talking about. Anyone without Christ was lost, but Jesus would save those who believed on him. They spoke with wisdom, logic, and courage beyond their own abilities — power that convicted their hearers of the truth and convicted them of sin.
They had a powerful faith. They knew that God was with them and would work through them as He had promised. So in Jesus’ name they commanded paralytics to walk and they did. They prayed and things happened. Sick people were healed. Prison doors opened. Multitudes of sinners turned to God.
This power in the early Christians made them witnesses, just as Jesus had said. They had the boldness and urgent desire to tell all their neighbors about Jesus. They had a mission to fulfill. Courage, love, a great vision, and total commitment to Christ drove them on from town to town and country to country. They were determined to give the good news of salvation to every man, woman, and child in their world.
This is the pattern of power in the early Church. Their power then was the power of the Holy Spirit who filled them and worked through them. What they did was the natural outflow of Spirit-filled lives. The Bible tells you their experience in detail because it is the pattern for Christians today.
