God’s Power For Living

The fourth “P” word in this series of articles is “Power.” The power of God begins with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christians. Just prior to Jesus leaving Planet Earth and ascending to the Father, Acts 1:8 records, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”

The power of the Holy Spirit enables a Christian to live a godly life. Second Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…that we may “become partakers of the divine nature…” God’s divine nature includes the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, which are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

God’s power also makes it possible to resist the satanic forces of spiritual darkness so prevalent in the culture today. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” by putting on the full armor of God. The “armor” is truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer”(verses 14-18).

Divine power is able to overcome addictions. It can intervene in situations in which we have no control, and can perform miracles of emotional and physical healing. It can cause all things to work out for the good of developing Christ-like character (Romans 8:28-29).

Most importantly, God’s power is able to save one’s soul. First Corinthians 1:18 says, “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” When Jesus died on the cross he bore the judgment for our sins, and “the wages of sin is death”(Romans 6:23). However, Jesus rose from the dead, and the power of his resurrection offers the free gift of eternal salvation to all who call upon God’s saving grace, and believe that anything is possible with God.