April 11, 2008...2:44 pm
If I Could Just Feel The Power
Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the [Holy] Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about.
(Luke 4:14 Amplified)
Greetings Everyone!
Today we have a devotional from the pen of a guest writers, Woodrow Kroll and Tony Beckett. Walking in the power of the Spirit requires more than a desire for the spectacular. You will never truly “feel the power” until you have raised your hands in submissive surrender to God.
Dr. J
Read Luke 4:1-30There is nothing wrong with the desire to have the Holy Spirit’s power in your life. Sadly, however, teaching on the subject too often strays from biblical truth. In the quest for Holy Spirit power, many people follow paths paved with emotion rather than doctrine.
There is an interesting sequence surrounding the temptation of Jesus. He was full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit (v. 1). Filling comes with surrender. Surrender allows the Spirit to lead. The Spirit-filled believer will be an obedient believer.
In a setting of temptation, He withstood the direct attempts of Satan to get Him to sin. The Spirit-filled believer also will resist temptation and live a righteous life.
After the temptation Jesus is described as returning to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” (v. 14). It is not incidental that “power” is noted after surrender, obedience and resisting temptation.
There is no short circuit to Holy Spirit power. One must start with surrender and proceed with obedience. Righteousness also is required. A lack of spiritual power is not due to a shortage of emotion. More often it is a shortage of the Christ like life.
If you want Holy Spirit power, follow the example of Jesus. Do not start with emotion but with truth.
Hoping your day is blessed and fruitful,
Dr.J
Joseph A. Cerreta, Ph.D., is an author, broadcaster, popular Bible teacher, and the Senior Pastor of New Covenant Family Church in Holiday, Florida. (C) 2008 by Joseph A Cerreta, all rights reserved.
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