It’s common to feel weak when we face spiritual battles, because, in fact, we are weak and helpless. On our own we can do nothing. We are helpless against the forces of Satan and the world without and our sin nature within. But when we belong to God and become part of His army, He gives us the power we need to follow Him to victory (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). Unfortunately, too often we don’t use that power. Sometimes we don’t even know what it is! Here are some of our power sources:
THE POWER OF PRAYER. God delights when we spend time in His presence in prayer and meditation. Prayer is much more than just telling God what we want Him to do for us. When we limit it to that it’s no wonder we are disappointed and feel our prayers aren’t answered. Prayer is communication: speaking and listening to God. Even when we don’t know what to say we can sit quietly in His presence. Prayer is praise and worship. After describing the armor God provides for our spiritual warfare, Paul emphasizes the importance of connecting with God through prayer: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18. Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
THE POWER OF THE WORD. We have the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), to stand against the temptations and lies of the world. Jesus used it when tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-13). Believing God’s promises and praying passages of Scripture have great power. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16
THE POWER OF PRAISE. Praise invites God’s Presence (Psalm 22:3). He dwells close to us when we praise Him. And praise is a powerful weapon as well. It makes the enemy flee. It pushes back the darkness that surrounds, and blocks the attacks and lies against us. Evil will not stick around if we’re praising our God, who will fight our battles for us. In the story of Jehoshaphat, we see God miraculously defeat the enemy, because of the people’s obedience to praise Him. “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:22.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. God promises His Presence around us and His Spirit within us at all times, especially when we need His strength. When we yield to Him and submit to His Lordship over us (Matthew 16:24; 2 Corinthians 10:5), His Spirit will provide the guidance, wisdom, courage, insight and awareness we need (Ephesians 6:11-17). The same power that raised Lazarus from the dead, parted the sea, broke open prison doors, and cast out demons, is the same powerful Spirit still alive and at work within us today. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26
We are overcomers because He has overcome and we are in Him. There is power in Jesus. Use it! (November 4, 2024 Doylestown, PA)
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:11
“For 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.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Which of the power sources mentioned above do you most often tap into?
Which aren’t you availing yourself of? How can you do that starting now?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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