WHEN RIGHT LIVING REQUIRES REAL POWER

Scriptures:

John 14:26

Acts 1:8

Galatians 5:19-21

Big Idea:

We are expected to live right, but we are not expected to live right without power. God has not only called believers to live a life that pleases Him; He has given us the Holy Spirit so we can live with power, victory, boldness, love, and self-control.

Key Thought:

Stop trying to live by willpower what God designed to be lived by Spirit-power.

I. THE PROBLEM WE MUST RECOGNIZE — THE FLESH STILL FIGHTS

Before we can understand the power God has given us to live right, we must first be honest about why we need that power. There is a real battle going on inside the believer. There is a new nature that wants to please God, but there is also the flesh that still tries to pull us back into old patterns, old desires, old attitudes, and old ways of living.

Galatians 6:7-8 reminds us that whatever a person sows, that person will also reap. If we sow to the flesh, we reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit, we reap life.

Ways to know you may be walking in the flesh:

1. Fear instead of faith

Fear can hinder obedience, weaken boldness, and keep believers from walking in what God has called them to do. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but His Word promises His presence, relationship, strength, help, and sustaining power.

2. Lust after things that satisfy the flesh

The desires of the flesh must be brought under the authority of God. When desire is not controlled, it grows into sin. Galatians 5 shows that the works of the flesh affect every area of life.

The flesh can corrupt desire, worship, relationships, emotions, and appetite.

3. Entertaining fleshly thoughts and desires

Sin usually does not begin with the outward action. It begins with permission. A thought is allowed to stay, desire is allowed to grow, and opportunity is allowed to develop. The mind must be renewed by the Word of God.

4. Selfishness

The pride of life shows up in self-centeredness and self-sufficiency. It makes a person focus on image, recognition, personal strength, and the desire to impress others instead of depending on God.

5. Holiness is not a priority

Holiness matters to God and should matter to us. When holiness is not a priority, the flesh becomes more comfortable, compromise becomes easier, and spiritual power is neglected.

II. THE POWER WE MUST RECEIVE — WE CANNOT OVERCOME THE FLESH WITHOUT THE SPIRIT

Where there is no spiritual power, there is no ability to overcome the flesh. Where there is no spiritual power, there is no victory over the enemy. Where there is no spiritual power, there is no light.

We cannot live a victorious Christian life in our own strength. The Christian life is not difficult without the Holy Spirit; it is impossible without the Holy Spirit.

We need the power of God because:

- The flesh is too strong for human effort.

- Temptation is too persistent for good intentions.

- The enemy is too strategic for casual Christianity.

- God’s assignment requires God’s ability.

God does not command us to live right and then leave us powerless. If God requires holiness, He provides help. If God calls us to witness, He gives power. If God calls us to stand, He gives strength.

III. THE PERSON WE MUST RELY ON — THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES POWER, LOVE, AND SELF-CONTROL

The source of the believer’s power is the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 teaches that the Holy Spirit is our Helper. He teaches us and reminds us of what Jesus has said.

Acts 1:8 teaches that believers receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and that power enables us to be witnesses for Christ.

The Holy Spirit gives us:

Power — to witness, serve, obey, endure, and overcome fear.

Love — to serve God and others without being controlled by selfishness or fear.

Self-control — to live with discipline, balance, and a sound mind.

The Holy Spirit is not optional for the believer. He is not an accessory to the Christian life. He is the power of the Christian life. He teaches, reminds, strengthens, convicts, corrects, empowers, and enables us to become what we could never become on our own.

The real issue is not whether power is available. The real issue is whether we are yielded.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Ask yourself:

Am I trying to live right in my own strength?

Am I feeding the flesh or sowing to the Spirit?

Is fear keeping me from obeying God?

Are there desires, thoughts, attitudes, or habits that I have allowed to remain unchecked?

Is holiness truly a priority in my life?

Am I yielded to the Holy Spirit, or am I still making room for the flesh?

CLOSING THOUGHT

A house can be beautifully built and fully furnished, but if it is not connected to power, it will not function the way it was designed to function. In the same way, believers can have religious language, church attendance, and outward appearance, but without the power of the Holy Spirit operating in the heart, they cannot live at full spiritual capacity.

When the power is flowing, the lights come on. What was cold can be warmed. What was dark can be illuminated. What was inactive can begin to function.

God has not called us to live powerless lives. He has not called us to be defeated by the flesh, dominated by fear, controlled by lust, ruled by selfishness, or silenced in our witness. He has given us power to live right.

Final Thought:

God has not only called us to live right; He has given us the power to live right, and that power is the Holy Spirit.