The Power of the Spirit

by Pastor Robert Miller

As Christians we need to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. If we follow Jesus’ example then we will know that we can overcome Satan by speaking the Word and not yielding to temptation. In Luke 4:1 we read, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” The Holy Spirit led Jesus to a place where the enemy tempted Him. When Jesus arrived at that place, He apparently fasted. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that heightens spiritual awareness. In Jesus’ case He was able to “endure” the temptation and to resist Satan by speaking the Word to him. Finding no opportunity, Satan departed from Jesus. Reading from Luke 4:14, “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” These scriptures show us that the power of the Spirit can attract people and give us the opportunity to evangelize. As Christians we should focus on walking in the power of the Spirit.

Following the example of Jesus, we focus on the power of the Spirit when we develop a life style of spiritual discipline. For the Christian this is a must. The first spiritual discipline to develop is to establish a time every day when you are in the Word of God. The Word of God must be planted in your heart. Jesus knew enough of the Word to quote the scriptures back to Satan. Each Christian should possess enough knowledge of the Word so that he can quote scripture back to Satan. Notice that Satan always attempted to get Jesus to question what God had revealed to Him and to question His identity in God the Father. I have found this to be true for Christians today. Satan attempts to attack us by suggesting that we are really not very powerful at all. Ephesians 6:17-18 reveals that the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — “. Time in the Word of God yields an ability to wield the Sword of the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:17-18 also shows us that along with learning the Word of God there must be times of prayer in the Spirit, another spiritual discipline. By praying in the Spirit, I am referring to praying in tongues. Ephesians says to be watchful and perseverant in prayer. Jesus taught the disciples that overcoming temptation is directly related to prayer. From Matthew 26:40-41 we read, “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." As we pray, the Holy Spirit is able to impart power to us. Quoting scripture without a regular time of prayer is not enough to overcome in temptation. It takes the interaction of the Holy Spirit in you with the Word of God planted within you to produce God’s power.

God requires that Christians develop spiritual discipline. The Bible says it takes faith to overcome. 1 John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.” There was an event in the lives of the disciples when it seemed as if their faith did not work. They could not take authority over a demon that had oppressed a young man. Jesus was able to obtain the answer. Jesus told them why in Matt 17:20-21, “So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." The faith to overcome was not there because their spiritual discipline had waned specifically in the areas of praying and fasting. Spiritual discipline leads to sensitivity so that we can hear from the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:17 tell us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is not simply reading the Word that brings faith. The Greek word “Rhema” is translated as “word” in that scripture. We could read that verse this way, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Rhema of God.” Rhema means a revealed word by the Holy Spirit. Rhema comes from the interaction of the Holy Spirit and the planted Word of God in your heart. It becomes very clear why spiritual discipline is very important to the power of God. Faith to overcome comes to us through hearing the Holy Spirit who speaks to us through the Word of God that we are putting in. Prayer and the Word produce the faith we need to overcome. Then as Jesus said when we speak to the mountain it will move. Faith results when the spiritual discipline of the Word and prayer are operating in the Christian’s life. The fame that spread about Jesus came because overcoming faith was working in His life. People were attracted to Him because of it and they will be attracted to you too. God bless!