Whose power works in you?
Practical Christianity for Today's World • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsHoly Spirit Power available to work in the beliver with the gifts given for the body.
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Power Source
Power Source
(insert picture here of power source; saved as plugged in to power on computer already)
Insert illustration of being plugged into power then turning on the power to allow the power to work.
Whose power do we operate under? We may say we operate under God’s power, under the power source of the Holy Spirit, but do we? Tonight we are looking at the power source, the examples, the need, the application
We all need strength to the inner man (Eph3:16)
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Do you feel you need strength to go on, to endure, to persevere? You are not alone, we have some great bible examples of others that needed it too
Moses need it for He did not think people would listen (Exo4:10)
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
(expand on what the results were) the power parted the Rea Sea
13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.
17 “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 “Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”
Exo14:17-18
19 The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.
Gideon needed it for he did not think he had any strength (Jud6:15)
Gideon needed it for he did not think he had any strength (Jud6:15)
15 He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”
Judges6:15
(expand on what the results were) God delivered Israel and demolished the Midiannites (Jud7:19-22) - just reference this passage
How about a few more just to drive home the point?
David needed God’s power to deliver (1Sam17:45-47)
Peter needed God’s power to walk on water (Mt14:28)
Paul needed God’s power to save after understanding God’s creation in HIm,
and calling him (Gal1:1; Rom1:16)
So, again, let me ask the question do you ever feel you need strength, power to carry on, to endure, to persevere?
Look at Paul’s prayer (Eph3:14-19)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Don’t we all need Gods strength and power for salvation, and for sanctification?
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Because of who Jesus is, our High Priest, His power makes it possible for us to draw near to God the Father through Christ the Son who sent His Spirit to dwell in the heart of the believer.
We can never separate the power of God from the Spirit of god, for God’s Spirit is power (Act1:8)
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
ASK EVERYONE TO TURN IN BIBLES TO 1COR12:1-13 WE WILL GET THERE EVENTUALLY
I. God’s power at work
I. God’s power at work
In the scriptures previously used, the stories previously told we can see God’s power at work. Not just at work in the people, but through the people too.
First the power was to grow their personal faith and trust in God (Heb6:1).
Power to leave the elementary principles behind
1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Then it was to grow them by transforming them (Php3:14; 1Cor9:24; Heb12:1)
Then it was to grow them by transforming them (Php3:14; 1Cor9:24; Heb12:1)
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Power to press on to the goal!
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
Power to run the race and receive the prize
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Power to run with endurance
It is the same for us, God wants to grow us and transform us by the power that is at work in us.
Back in Eph1 we are told about the power that God has towards us (Eph1:19); and here in Chapter 3 we see the power that strengthens us
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
What kind of power?
Resurrection power (Php3:10)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
Transcending power (Act1:8; 2:4)
Already mentioned Act1:8 of the power of the holy Spirit, then there was the outpouring and proof of it.
Transcending power (Act1:8; 2:4)
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Subduing, captive taking power (2Cor10:5)
Act
Power that can take every thought captive
Subduing, captive taking power (1Cor10:5)
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Subduing, captive taking power (1Cor10:5)
An overruling power over the powers of darkness of this world (Eph2:2)
An overruling power over the powers of darkness of this world (Eph2:2)
(expand on this some)
This power does not originate in us; it originates in heaven from the throne of God.
Power poured out as promised on Pentecost on all flesh
Being plugged into the power does not mean you turn on the power switch and unlock the power that is there to accomplish was God wants to accomplish.
This power when unlocked is as the scripture says, power to strengthen the inner man (Eph3:16)
This power comes with a reason
II. Power has a reason
II. Power has a reason
The power available, the power at work in us comes with a reason (Eph3:17).
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts!
For when Christ dwells in your heart, then you are giving Him your all and His all will work through you (Mt9:4; Heb4:12; Jn16:6, Act11:23; 1Jn3:20)
For it works in the mind
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?
For the power at work in you, is active, sharp, piercing and able to judge the intentions of the heart
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It works on the emotions
6 “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
and it works on the will
23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
So the heart, the place in which Christ sent His Spirit, His power to dwell encompasses all of us including our conscience
20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
We need the power, the power to strengthen our inner self, so we do not condemn or discount ourselves.
Don’t have Christ just in your heart, allow Him to be settled in your heart.
(insert illustration) - visiting someplace or being a guest, compared to being a resident)
Our inner man (3:16) needs to be strengthened by the power for there is much to be accomplished. But first we need the power to
Swallow up all our deadness
To conquer all rebelliousness
To take captive the troublesome things, thoughts
And to exercise the overruling power of the Truth!
When we recognize the power available, accept the power and unlock the power, in other words exercise the power, then we will be strong in our spirit, which is what Paul’s prayer was about in the first place.
III. Power to fill us
III. Power to fill us
Power available, power provided, power will accomplish it’s task (Eph3:19)
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Fullness of God dwells in Christ (Col1:19) and that dwells in you and you are made complete (Col2:10)
19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
All His fullness dwells in You!
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
And in doing such you have been made complete!
Not just filled with knowledge or doctrine (teaching) but with the fullness of God! The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all at work in you and through you. THis is the power that can do all things (Eph3:20)
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
How do we unlock, turn on this power-source that is in you?
IV. Power unlocked
IV. Power unlocked
Power available, power known, power delivered still needs to be turned on. (Eph1:19; Psm27:8; Php3:10-11 and Psm119:11)
The power at work toward us is the power that is available to work in us
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
David wanted the power, by the word to work in and through Him
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”
And how about a reason?
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
So we may not sin, and in the N.T. look at what Paul says
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Php
So we may know the power of the resurrection, fellowship of suffering with end result resurrection from the dead.
Are we desperate while others are indifferent (expand) - power works when we turn it on and put it to use to accomplish its given task. We need to be desperate for God, Don’t be in indifferent christian who is content on just having the power but doing nothing with it, for this is a matter of life and death, could be yours, could be others in which you were to share the gospel with.
When we unlock the power and use the power then God is glorified (Eph3:21)
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Power to use to the gifts given to us as the body (1Cor12:1-13)
Everyone should have Bibles open to 1Cor12:1-13, if not do it now.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Because of the Spirit that is God’s power at work in us we are given gifts (v.1)
Because of the Spirit that is God’s power at work in us we are given gifts (v.1)
Gifts that vary (vv.4-6)
Gifts used for the common good of the body (v.7)
For we are one body (v.12)
We have one Spirit (v.13)
His power and His resources to be used for His purpose and will give Him glory when we allow His power to work in you and through you. Don’t be satisfied with just having the power, use the power to accomplish His task.
First you need to know about the power
(Lead to encouragement; insert slide)
(Insert exit slide too)