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!