RECEIVE POWER

By Jemima Rayan

Power is something that everyone would like to have. People in authority have power. In the Bible we see the word 'power' so many times and the word power simply means ability -God given ability. It may refer to mental, physical or spiritual areas.

We see in the Bible that God chooses simple people and makes them great people for Him. David was just a shepherd boy. But the power of God upon David made Him a great King. We see in the Bible that the power of God overshadowed Mary, the mother of Jesus and she conceived. Miracles happen when the power of God comes upon people.

We see in Ps 62:11 that… power belongs to God. The Bible clearly says that the power belongs to God, and Him only. We serve a God who is all-powerful. His Word is full of Power. His Spirit is the Spirit of power. His blood has power. He is in fact full of power. The Prophet Micah says in Mic 3:8…. 'Truly, I am full of power'. How true that is!

God gives His power to His people:

Rev 2:26 says, 'And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end to him I will give power over the nations'. You can be one of the recipients of the power of God. God wants to give His power to us. Ps 68:35 says, 'The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people'.

God wants to pour out His Spirit of power on you and I. We serve a God who has unlimited power. Don't limit God. He cannot be limited. Do you say, 'I am so weak … I do not have what it takes! '. Listen, God wants to fill you with His power'. We have to think big. God uses the weak to confound the strong. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. You are a child of God and God wants to empower you. Are you ready?

Let us see three things the power of God could do.

1. Power to witness

Acts 1:8 says, 'You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we receive power. His Spirit is called the Spirit of power. God wants us to be witnesses in our own homes first. That is what He means by saying witnesses in Jerusalem. Then we go to the next outer circle, Judea and then the next outer circle, Samaria and then He takes us to the ends of the earth. God does not want us to be so limited in our witnessing. God has great plans for us and He has great power also. The amazing part is that God wants 'you' to receive that power.

2. Power that works:

Eph 3:20 says, 'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us'.

In Col 1:29, Paul says, To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily'

Paul encourages us in Eph 6:10, 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

As believers, we need to have confidence in the power that works in us. The God given ability that works in and through us is all that makes the difference. Paul wants us to be strong in the Lord. Strong in who the Lord is! We need to humbly acknowledge that, it is the Lord's doing all the time.

3. Power to get wealth:

Moses said in Deu 8:18, 'And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day'.

God wants us to have wealth. Wealth does not mean only money. Money is just a part of wealth. Wealth means abundance. God wants us to have a life that is over flowing with abundance in every area. A person who has money can be poor in other aspects of life. Poor in health, poor in relationships, poor in his thinking etc… God wants us to receive His covenant of prosperity- to receive wealth without wealth controlling our lives. Then, He wants us to be a channel of blessing to others. This is the model that God has for every believer. It is up to the believer to step up to the plate and receive His power.

May the power of the Most High God overshadow you in Jesus' name. Amen