Focus: The Power Within

Text: Eph.3:20

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

The believer in Christ is God's powerhouse in the world. The outside power of God connects with the power in the believer to making divine things happen here on earth. Externally, God has power to do anything; internally, God has His power lodged in us. 

The power within us connects to the power outside us, and as the powers connect together, we begin to experience the supernatural reality of God. As the power explodes, the construction work of the Spirit begins. Paul writes, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil.2:13). It is a construction project that will never fail. God begins and finishes it in His own time. Paul says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work IN you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil.1:6). Divine power is at work in us. We are not powerless; indeed, we are powerful.

This power is productive; it is meant to produce divinely intended results.

Paul says, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the EFFECTUAL WORKING of his POWER" (Eph.3:7). God's power is known for its efficiency and efficacy. He says again, "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his WORKING, which WORKETH IN me MIGHTILY" (Col.1:29). By laboring and striving, Paul was drawing from the divine power inside him. He was placing a demand on the anointing of Christ available to him. The power of God in him was the standard of his exertion. He did not waste the power of God. He used it up. He put it to work and saw that it yielded results.

In Hebrews, the author prays for God to "make you perfect in every good work to do his will, WORKING IN YOU that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Heb.13:21). What a prayer! Paul exhorts, "Finally, my brethren, be STRONG in the Lord, and in the POWER of his MIGHT" (Eph.6:10). This power is the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He lives in us. His presence is the presence of God's infinite power.

All we need is to tap into this great energy - this immense might and glorious power. All we need is to yield to the Holy Spirit. He enables us to live right, be at liberty, love and serve God's people, and achieve the divine purpose on earth. 

I say again, it is the power to live the best of life, love like God, and do the best of work on earth. The Spirit is ON you and IN you; it is both the external and the internal presence of the Spirit.

E. Stanley Jones powerfully wrote: "If the Holy Spirit can take over the subconscious with our consent and cooperation, then we have almighty power working at the basis of our lives, then we can do anything we ought to do, go anywhere we ought to go, and be anything we ought to be. Life is supplied with a basic adequacy. The conscious mind determines the actions, the unconscious mind determines the reactions; and the reactions are just as important as the actions. Many Christians are Christians in their actions—they don't lie, steal, commit adultery, or get drunk; but they react badly to what happens to them: they react in anger, bad temper, self-pity, jealousy, and envy. When the depths are upheld by the Holy Spirit, then the reaction is Christian." 

I pray that the fire of this message will burn in your heart, stirring, inspiring and galvanizing you into action.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter