April 03, 2019
Receiving God’s Power
There is so much that Christ wants to give us. What I’m talking about is not material wealth but spiritual blessings, one of which is that we might know the “surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:19).
We need God’s power both personally and corporately. But what is required for His power to be released upon us? I believe the answer is the same whether we’re talking about individual believers or local churches.
Faith in God and His Word. It is essential to believe that the Scriptures are absolutely true and sufficient for life and godliness. Any time a pastor or a congregation begins to question the Bible’s inerrancy, sufficiency, or clarity, that church has denied the source of its own power.
Dependence on God. Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing of any spiritual value (John 15:5). In fact, God’s power is perfected in us when we are weak and rely fully on Him (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Obedience. We can’t expect God’s power to flow through us when we are living in outright sin or rationalizing partial obedience. But He’s always ready to strengthen those who obey Him.
Prayer. When we come humbly to the Lord with our needs and in submission to His will, we can be confident that He will work on our behalf.
Sometimes we think that God empowers us to achieve goals, but in actuality, the Spirit comes to live Christ’s life through us. His power flows in us when we submit every area of our life to His authority—including our plans, desires, and future.
Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 30-31
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