The Word of God teaches us that the instant a human heart surrenders to the love and Lordship of Jesus Christ, a magnificent, supernatural miracle takes place. The Holy Spirit of God, creates and transforms that human spirit into the very nature of Christ (Romans 8:29). He enters in and dwells in that recreated spirit, completely encompassing it with the full measure of the unlimited power of God (Romans 8:9-11)! Everything that makes God, Who He is, is tied up in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And that same Spirit of God is alive inside of every child of God!
So then, if you and I, being born again believers, have all of this unlimited, immeasurable power, alive inside of us, what do we have to do to see it activated and released in and through us? Can you just imagine how different your world would be if you were able to unleash, that same power that created the universe and sustains its existence? I imagine things would look a lot different, if we were living from that power activated inside of us.
Ephesians 1:19 says, "...[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,"
Do we realise that not only has the God of this universe made us His holy habitation, but He desires that we have a full and complete understanding of exactly how glorious and immeasurable His power is in and for us. God's power, activated inside of us, will cause us to overcome any challenge or obstacle that would stand in the way of us living in His abundant life of victory and blessing!
If God desires for us to know and understand His power so that we can operate in it, then we can be sure His word and Spirit will reveal exactly what we need to know to do that. I did a bit of digging myself, and found some essential keys that will unlock and activate the unlimited power of God in our lives.
THE KEY OF KEEPING GOD'S WORD ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS!
Since the word of God is alive and reveals the true nature and character of God, it's the very best source of truth concerning God and His glorious power in and for us. In order to receive a revelation of who we are in Christ and Who God is in us, it's essential for us to consistently renew our minds to the truth of God's word, by continuously meditating on it. The more God's word dominates our thinking, the more its truth becomes our day by day reality!
While negative thoughts speak louder than the promises of God, fear and doubt reign over our thoughts and decisions and despair overwhelms and distracts us from knowing and experiencing the manifest power of God in our lives. Even though that power is inside of us, in the form of the Holy Spirit, a person captivated by doubt and fear is unable to activate or operate in that power.
Colossians 3:16, tells us to let the word of God dwell in us richly. That means it has to be made to feel completely at home in our hearts! We need to welcome it and be excited and grateful to have its wisdom and truth in us, knowing that it is life and peace and has the power to change everything about us!
That's what it means in 2 Corinthians 3:18, when it says that our minds and bodies change and transform into the image of our inner spirits (that were recreated into the image of Christ at our salvation). As we behold the truth of what God's Word says we have and are - like looking into a mirror and seeing its reflection; God's power goes to work and changes us! Keeping God's word alive in our hearts transforms us from a place of glory to glory!
This is a large part of what that change or transformation looks like: James 1:21, "So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls."
Honestly, I think too many of us underestimate the importance of keeping the word of God alive in us. It's probably the most important key to keep our minds free from fear and our hearts full of faith. Jesus made a big deal of this too! In John 15:9-13, He said to abide in the word so that we can remain in His love, so that His joy (inner strength) will be in full measure in us! The only way to overcome fear and doubt (the faith killers), is to keep the word of God dominating our thoughts and steering our lives! Remember, without faith, it's impossible for the power of God to be activated inside of us. And without the word alive in us, faith doesn't grow, but its enemy fear does. The book of Proverbs urges us to make the wisdom or word of God the principle thing in our lives, it has to be our final authority because it will protect, sustain and cause us to prosper by the power of God!
THE KEY OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE.
The word of God tells us to always give thanks, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord! (Colossians 3:15,16).
The phrase give thanks comes from a compound, Greek word, made up of the words eu meaning, overwhelmingly good feeling; and charis meaning grace. When we give thanks, it activates and becomes an outpouring of grace from the depth of our hearts! We may begin the words of praise from our minds, but as our hearts join in, the Spirit of God inside of us begins to spontaneously fuel that praise into a powerful outpouring of grace!
You see, the Greek word for grace, as I mentioned, is charis. And derived from this word, is the word chara. And do you know what the word chara means? It means joy! In other words, joy (chara), is produced by the grace (charis) of God, that is released from inside of our spirits when we give thanks, from our hearts to the Lord!
This means joy isn't a human-based happiness that comes and goes. Rather, true joy is divine in origin, a fruit of the Spirit that is manifested particularly in hard times. It is the manifest power of God, working in and through us! Joy is the supernatural strength of God that empowers us to stand strong and overcome any challenge we face in this life, and it's activated and released through thanks giving! Joy is a Spirit-given expression that flourishes best when times are strenuous, daunting, and tough!
When the incorruptible seed of God's word has been placed inside us, that divine seed produces a joy that isn't based on outward events or circumstances. In fact, when times get very challenging, the supernatural life of God rises up inside us to defy that devilish pressure! This supernatural joy will sustain us in even the hardest of times and it is released through our thanksgiving and praise!
THE KEY OF LIVING THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE!
I have studied the word of God concerning how effective and potent the power of God inside of each believer is. There is no force in the universe that matches it. However, all that spiritual power is rendered utterly useless if we act foolishly and entertain any form of unforgiveness or strife in our lives. Faith is the only force that will activate God's unstoppable power but it cannot and will not, operate if we are not living by the commandment of love. The name of Jesus won't work, our faith won't work, all the gifts of the Spirit won't work - even praying in tongues will be foolishness to us, unless we are walking in God's love! Because love is the power charge! It's the activator and conduit through which the power of God can flow! When we speak forgiveness over those who hurt or disappoint us, and let every offence go, we allow the love and healing of God to fill every corner and space of our souls. The Bible clearly teaches us to pray for and bless every one of those who have wronged us - not with our own love, but with the love of God that freely flows inside of us. The minute we utter those words of blessing, that river of God's love becomes like a mighty torrent, it saves our souls and protects our minds from the onslaught of the enemy! Then, as we remain in God's love and an attitude of forgiveness, that power flows powerfully into every circumstance that concerns us and destroys every plan the enemy has launched against us. Just like the mighty Red Sea that closed over the Egyptian soldiers that pursued the children of God, it will cover over and destroy the enemy's strategy concerning you! So above all else, we are to be wise and walk in love - it will cause us to be more powerful than the enemy can stand!
Keeping the word of God alive in our hearts, always having a thankful heart and continuously walking in the love of God will activate the unlimited power of God that is in and for us. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to live and enjoy abundant life here on earth. A life free from doubt and fear and every oppression of the enemy. We can live on purpose, in the fullness of His blessing when we allow His power to manifest and flow through us. Living in the full, unlimited power of God - there's just no better way to live!
ANDRÉ AND JENNY ROEBERT are the senior pastors and co-founders of River Ministries situated in East London, South Africa, incorporating various ministries, each geared to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the nations of this world.
For more info visit: myriver.com
