Becoming Powerful

Recap:

Becoming Better | Becoming Less | Becoming Free | Becoming Perfect | Becoming “Fruitful” | Becoming “Servants” | Becoming Powerful

Hook:

Think with me for a moment about something difficult you wish you could accomplish.

Maybe it’s learning another language. Maybe it’s running a marathon. Maybe it’s playing an instrument.

Have you ever wanted to ride a unicycle?

I have.

But there’s a problem — I can’t do it. Why? Because I don’t have the ability. I can watch videos. I can buy the unicycle. I can admire people who do it. But desire alone does not create ability.

Now that would only be mildly disappointing if riding a unicycle was the goal of life.

But there is something infinitely more important that I want to do… and cannot do on my own.

I want to become a Christlike disciple.

And here’s the truth: There was once a time when I didn’t even want that.

I cannot create in myself the desire to follow Jesus. I cannot transform myself into Christlikeness. I cannot work hard enough to become holy enough. I cannot love my enemies naturally. I cannot forgive like Christ forgave. I cannot love God with all my heart by sheer effort. I cannot love my neighbor as myself consistently.

The Christian life is impossible apart from the Spirit of God.

That is why Jesus said in

Acts 1:8 “8 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.””

Not might receive. Not could receive. You will receive power.

God never intended for us to become Christlike disciples through grit, personality, or self-improvement alone.

Philippians 2:13 “13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Notice the two things God provides:

The will — the desire, the passion

The work — the power, the ability

The Holy Spirit gives both passion and power.

The passion to do what God has called you to do!

You ever wondered why there are times when you or someone else are locked into God and His ways? You ever wonder why there are other times where you are not dialed in to God and His ways?

Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”

So what’s the difference?

Indwelling means the Spirit lives in every believer. Filling refers to how much control and influence the Spirit has in your life daily.

It’s possible to belong to God while resisting His influence.

The filling of the Spirit is surrender.

It is waking up daily and saying: “Lord, guide my thoughts. Guide my desires. Guide my reactions. Guide my words.”

Practical Test: Assure the Wondering Wanderers

Have you ever wondered whether the Holy Spirit is in you?

Ask yourself this:

Do I desire to please God?

Even imperfectly? Even inconsistently? Even weakly?

Where did that desire come from?

Because naturally, we do not wake up wanting self-denial. We do not naturally choose holiness. We do not naturally stand for unpopular truth.

That passion or desire is evidence of God working in you. Because the motivation, the will, the passion—comes through the Holy Spirit.

Some of you may be in a dry season right now.

You feel distant. Unmotivated. Spiritually tired.

Hear this clearly:

Dry seasons do not mean God has abandoned you.

The Spirit has not left you.

Sometimes God uses dry seasons to deepen roots instead of producing leaves.

A tree’s deepest growth often happens underground where nobody can see it.

Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep trusting.

How much do you allow the Holy Spirit to influence your daily life, thoughts, and affections? Are you going through a dry season? Are you seeking Him further?

The Holy spirit provides the will, the passion and then God provides the POWER…

The power to act to accomplish the calling—that purpose God has for your life!

Now when we hear the word “power,” we often think of outward strength.

But Scripture emphasizes inward strength.

2 Timothy 1:7 “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Ephesians 3 says we are:

“strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”

The Spirit gives power to:

stand when culture pressures you,

forgive when your flesh wants revenge,

remain faithful in suffering,

resist temptation,

speak truth courageously,

love difficult people,

endure hard seasons.

This is supernatural strength.

Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Recap/Closing:

Many of us have had the great privilege of opening our hearts to the grace of God.

And through the Holy Spirit, God is transforming us:

Becoming Better | Becoming Less | Becoming Free | Becoming Perfect | Becoming “Fruitful” | Becoming “Servants” | Becoming Powerful

Not by human effort alone. Not by personality. Not by striving.

But by the Spirit of God working within us.

Philippians 2:13 again: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

He gives the passion. He gives the power.

So where are you in becoming a Christlike disciple?

Do you need renewed passion? Do you need strength? Do you need freedom? Do you need filling?

Ask Him.

Ask God to fill you with His Spirit in a fresh and powerful way.

Humble yourself before Him.

Trust that your Heavenly Father will give you everything you need to become what He has called you to be.

And remember:

The God who calls you is also the God who empowers you.