4 Power Principles
Four principles will help you experience the Holy Spirit’s power in your life.
1. God is the source of all power.
We have no power except what God has chosen to give us, even when we misuse it. God is willing to share His power with us, His children. But our loyalty and faithfulness can only be demonstrated to Him if we have the freedom to choose what we will do. And so God permits us to use our freedom in our own way. Many times we use the freedom God has given us in a way that disappoints Him and hurts others.
Our fallen nature desires independence, so we want to possess “the power” to do what we want to do. We want the power to originate in us. The world defines our importance as a person by how much power and control we have over others. But, in reality, any power we have is from God. It is only by using that power for its intended purpose that our life will have true significance.
God is always in control. He can even use acts of disobedience to fulfill His ultimate purposes. We are totally dependent upon Him, even for our very existence, and we can’t do anything without His permission.
2. God gives us power through the Holy Spirit to serve Him and fulfill the purposes for which He created us.
Our fallen nature doesn’t want power to do God’s will. It wants power so we can do what we want. The world system says “pursue more power so others will serve you more.” Our misguided goal is not to serve but to be served.
We want God to be our super genie. We believe that if we rub Him the right way He will give us what we ask and do what we want. We get it backwards–it’s not about us!
God has created us to serve and honor Him with our lives. He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to enable us to accomplish His purposes.
3. God’s power through the Holy Spirit is available to you from the moment you are born spiritually.
Our problem is not a lack of power. Our problem is a lack of understanding of the power God has already given to us. When you accept Jesus Christ into your life, the Holy Spirit also comes into your life, giving you power to live for and serve God.
At your spiritual birth you were transformed into a totally new person. We are all well aware of how a poor self-image may prevent a person from achieving their true potential in life. The same thing is true in the spiritual realm. God has dramatically changed who we are now in Christ. He has given each one of us incredible untapped spiritual potential. But unless our self-perception changes, we will never be able to put it to use. By faith we must accept the reality of who we now are in Christ and allow God to conform us to our new identity.
You are a child of God! The same God who has the power to speak the entire universe into being has adopted you as His child. God has totally forgiven you for every wrong thing you have ever done. He no longer sees you as a sinner. He is looking at the righteous new nature that you now have in Christ.
4. The Holy Spirit releases His power through you—but you can short-circuit that power.
- God’s power is released when you submit your will to Him. Self-will short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through the light of truth. Living in ignorance or deception short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through our faith and trust in Him. Doubting God and His goodness short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through believing prayer. Prayerlessness or wrong motivations for prayer short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through our praise and worship of Him. Preoccupation with ourselves and our circumstances short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through our humility. Our pride short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through unity within the body. Discord, unwillingness to forgive, bitterness, and an independent spirit all short-circuit the flow of God’s power.
- God’s power is released through our dependence upon Him. Self-reliance or relying on others short-circuits the flow of God’s power.
Ask God to release His power through you, and to help you identify and stop the ways you are short-circuiting His power in your life.