Power to Do |
God's View:
2 Tim. 1:6-7
; Eph. 3:16
-Because God equips us, we are
not to fear the face of man, nor fear the trials that come our way because
we are living for Christ, nor fear the ridicule and persecutions because
we are Christians. This requires a conscious recognition that God's gifts
are within me, and that I must stir them up every day whenever I face life's
situations.
Acts. 1:8 ; Col. 1:11 ; Eph. 1:18-19 -The Holy Spirit of God actually infuses power into the believer's spirit. The Holy Spirit only gives power when we need it at the point of ministering. When we begin to live for Christ, the Spirit of God injects power into our spirit.
Jn. 13:34-35 ; Gal. 5:22-23 ; Eph. 5:2 -The Holy Spirit infuses love into the believer's spirit, the kind of love that loves people even if they are sinners and enemies. It is a love that arises in the mind and the will, not in the emotions. This love is a gift of God, God alone possesses it. He gives this love to all men who live for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and who proclaim Him.
Rom. 8:5-7 l Pet. 1:13 -The Holy Spirit infuses a sound mind into the believer's spirit. "Sound Mind" means self-control, the ability to control one's emotions, feelings, thoughts in the midst of trials and circumstances, no matter how severe or stressful. Holy Spirit gives one mastery over one's mind, heart, and life despite the opposition. When a believer begins to live and bear testimony for Christ, he is delivered from fear and is given enormous power to live and love with a sound mind, with peace and stability and security in a dying and insecure world.
Change:
Rom. 8:16-17
; Eph. 1:13-14
; l Jn. 2:3-5
-We
are to practice walking with Christ day by day, to be in fellowship and communion
with Him, realize who and what we are, heirs and joint-heirs with Christ.
We are citizens of the Kingdom of heaven, not of this earth. This requires
a daily renewal of our mind and our inner life through study and meditation
and practice of God's word.
l Pet. 1:15 ; Jude 24 ; Jere. 17:10 -We are to consider who we are and to judge our ways accordingly. As we do , we will be persuaded of God's keeping power. As I turn over my life and my work over to Christ, Christ will keep and take care of it forever and ever.
2 Tim. 1:13-18
; Rom. 10:17
; Titus 2:7-8
; l Cor. 6:20
-Hold
fast to sound, health giving words, the words of the Gospel, the words of
salvation, the very words of God Himself. A person who loves Christ and sees
the people of the world through the eyes of Christ will love as He does.
Hold fast the truth God has placed in your hands. The believer must stay
close to the Spirit of God and depend upon Him
for the power to do good and effective work. The Holy Spirit alone has the
power to change man's heart.