SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1419
“Power for Living”
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth… You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:16-17
We live in an evil world. We are constantly assaulted with temptations to sin, and our flesh is so easily enticed to do what we know we should not do.
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing…Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Romans 7:19-25
Jesus told us plainly that to follow His way of righteousness was going to be hard and the world’s way of sin and destruction will be easy.
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus did not abandon us or leave us ill equipped to do life in this world. He promised to send us a Helper to give us divine power to overcome the evil and walk in the righteousness of Jesus. He promised us power for living through His Holy Spirit.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. – Romans 14:18,26
Born Again by the Holy Spirit – The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us Divine power to live a godly, purposeful life for the Kingdom of God. Our own human strength, will, and intellect is woefully inadequate to live an overcoming life. We need the power of God through His Holy Spirit to fight the spiritual battle that we are engaged in. Religion and religious rituals are not enough. We must have a relationship with Jesus. We must be born again by the Holy Spirit.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. – John 3:5
A Lifetime Walk – Not Once and Done – The command in Ephesians 5:18 : …be filled with the Spirit is in the present tense indicating a continuous, ongoing state “be being kept filled”. Power for living requires a continuous in filling of the Holy Spirit that comes through a lifestyle of prayer, worship, and a relationship with the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. – Galatians 5:16,25
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit; – Romans 8:5; Galatians 3:3
Power to Fulfill Our Purpose Through the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit empowers our life walk to be purposeful. Our Father has a plan and purpose for our lives. He has provided the means (gifts of the Spirit) and the catalyst (Power of the Spirit) by which we can fulfill our purpose for His kingdom and glory.
Now may the God of peace… equip you with everything good that you may do his will… – Hebrews 13:20-21
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
Power to Bear Fruit by the Spirit – The power of the Holy Spirit transforms our character. The fruit of the Spirit is manifested in and through us shining the light of Christ and giving testimony to His presence which draws others to receive salvation through Jesus.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… – Galatians 5:22-23
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16
Benediction
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might… praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. – Ephesians 6:10-18
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. – 2 Corinthians 13:14
