Power From Above

 There is a power that comes to us from God. In Ephesians 3:16 Paul says, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power"—dia pneumatos—"through his Spirit in your inner being." It is the power of the Spirit of the living God who dwells in every believer. So Ephesians 5:18 exhorts us, "Be filled with the Spirit." The Holy Spirit dwells in us to animate us, empower us, direct us, and strengthen us to do what we need to do.
There is a popular teaching today that says Jesus Christ can be Savior but not Lord. But this teaching that we can have this salvation without any responsibility is a lie. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12-13 tells us, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. . . ." Our responsibility is to do what God wants us to do. But that is not the end of the sentence. It continues, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do according to his good pleasure." God will empower us to do his work.
This divine, exceedingly great, resurrection power of God dwells in us. But how can we appropriate it? Ephesians 1:19 gives the answer: "this incomparably great power for us who believe." It is by faith and trust in God that we access and appropriate this mighty power of God. There is no other way. Unbelief cuts us off from it. Our anger, our murmuring, our sin of every kind cuts us off from it.Faith accesses this power that is resident in us. Little faith means little power. Growing faith means growing power. Great faith means great power. Jesus said, "All things are possible for those who believe." Mark 10:27

The Purpose of Power 
Why do we need this power? We need it because we have enemies. The first enemy is the world. We face opposition, not only from corrupt people in the world who oppose God and the gospel, but from the spirit of the world—its values and philosophies. In today’s society we are bombarded with worldly values and images portrayed in newspapers and books, on television and, above all, through the new technology of the Internet. As we go to school or work, we are being corrupted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boasting of things. Worldliness will creep into us, and we will begin to talk, think, and act like the world, if we are not careful.
Second, we have an enemy in ourselves called the flesh. Our sin nature is not exterminated when we are regenerated; it remains in us, though we are given a new nature. It manifests itself, not only in gross sin, but in laziness, procrastination, and various other sins of omission. Our flesh is frail and weak; we experience sickness and pain, and finally we must die. Death is the last enemy, and we need the power of God to face it.Third, there is the devil, and we must not ignore him. This personal, very powerful devil and his demons are a reality that are directed against us every day. The Bible warns us that the devil, like a roaring lion, is among us, if possible, to swallow us up. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. We are told to resist the devil.
That is why we need the mighty power of God working in our mind, our will and our emotions daily. Directed by the word and empowered by the Spirit, we can do good works every day. The Spirit of God will speak to us and empower us on the basis of the Scripture. So we must read God’s word, pray effectually, go to worship acceptably, work productively, resist temptation, love God’s people, bless our enemies, keep God’s moral commands, love our spouses, train our children, bless those who curse us, forgive freely, serve God’s people, resist the devil, praise God in pain and face the last enemy, death itself, in triumph. May God help us to pray and believe and appropriate his power for living, that we can say with Paul, "I can all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength"! Philippians 4:19
If you don't have Jesus in your life, you do not have power over the devil. You are at his mercy and he has no mercy. The bible says that "Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy." [John 10:10b] But the first part of that same verse says that "Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly." Jesus is waiting to forgive your sins and give you this abundant life if you will confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive and save you. Then you will experience that Power from above! 

Putting on the New Man

The apostle Paul speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God tells us Christians we are to put off the old man and put on the new man which was created in Christ Jesus for good works. Eph. 2:10. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. We put on the new man by first renewing our minds. How we do this.

I. What we put into our minds determines what comes out. Proverbs 23:7 ⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Jesus said in Luke 6:45 (NKJV)  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. The word heart here refers to the mind because we don’t think with our heart but our mind.

The following scriptures tell us to fix our thoughts on these kinds of things. Philippians 4:8 (NLT) ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

II. Putting on the new man requires surrendering all we are to God. Read Rom. 12:1-2 tells us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We renew our minds by reading God’s word to find His will and by prayer to communicate with Him.

God has given intellectual powers to man. Man thinks, reasons, and understands. Christ says that our minds and thoughts are to be centered upon God. We are to love God "with all our mind." When men push God out of their minds, their minds are void and empty of God and of His truth and morality and filled with evil thoughts.

III. We are to have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (NLT) ¹³ When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. ¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. ¹⁶ For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Believers understand fully, as did Christ himself, the significance of the cross and what it meant for mankind’s salvation. We understand the importance of reading God’s word and praying. God speaks to us thru His word and praying is communicating with God. Praying is for listening as God speaks to our hearts.

No one can completely comprehend God (Romans 11:34), but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believers can understand spiritual truths that He chooses to reveal to us. Believers have insight into some of God’s plans, thoughts, and actions because, with the Spirit within, we have access thru God’s word and prayer to the mind of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, believers can begin to know God’s thoughts, talk with him, and expect his answers to their prayers. Through His Sprit we can grow in putting on the new man.

what we put into it determines what comes out

how to renew yours

how to have the mind of Christ

 IV. Must control your mind—every thought. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Worldly weapons—wealth, fame, and political might—may wield some power on this earth, but they are useless in spiritual battles. The Devil’s strongholds include every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God and rebellious ideas. God has given us the power through His Spirit to control our thoughts.

When we pause and ask ourselves, where did this thought come from, we are bringing those thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Does what I am thinking glorify God and Jesus? Would I want Jesus to see me do this thing I am thinking? We have been given weapons to fight against the devil and his angels!

According to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I have underlined in the following passage God’s mighty weapons. They are faith, truth, righteousness, the gospel message, and the word of God. The Holy Spirit equips Christians for the struggle, providing the weapons they need to be strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News –Gospel message so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

 Conclusion: As we put on the new man Christ created us to be we will see how victorious we can be against the attacks of the devil. This new man requires a renewed mind that the word of God brings to us. We must read God’s word daily and pray to Him. God says in His word when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. And when we find Him by reading His word, we will have the power to live victoriously the new life we have been given over self, sin, and the world. Let’s live who we were created to be.

INVITATION: If you have never asked Jesus to save you, you are totally lost forever. But you can change that by asking the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to forgive your sins against a Holy God and invite Him to live in you and take charge of your life. When you do that you will become a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  You will also be given a home in Heaven with God the Father and Jesus Christ His Holy Son for an eternity.