A true believer in Yeshua (Jesus) has access to spiritual power from God, which is holy and pure. This power comes from five different sources or avenues.
- Cross — “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).
This first source of power destroys sin and selfishness. It brings us forgiveness. It destroys the evil power of pride and lust. It takes away the devil’s attacks of both temptation and accusation. It destroys the old sinful self and gives us a new birth as children of God. It saves us from punishment in hell and takes away the fear of condemnation and rejection.
The cross is the first and foremost instrument by which God works His will and character into our lives.
- Resurrection — “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10).
We are given eternal life through Yeshua’s resurrection. God gives us abundant life, both in quantity and quality (John 10:10). Through the power of the Resurrection, we have joy, healing, victory: It is a power to live.
His resurrection destroyed all the powers of death that were holding Him down in Sheol (hell), and thus will break the power of death over us (Acts 2:24).
- Ascension — “What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe…, which He worked in Messiah when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality, power and dominion …” (Eph. 1:19-21).
Yeshua ascended and sat on the throne of authority in heaven. When He ascended, He sat down at the right hand of God to fulfill the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 110:1-2 — “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. … Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
Yeshua’s ascension gave Him authority as King Messiah to rule and govern. He rules over powers and principalities in heaven, on earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:10). He shares that authority with us who are submitted to Him. In His name, we have potential to exercise authority toward angels, demons and human government.
By faith in Yeshua, not only are we raised from the dead, we are seated with Him spiritually in heaven (Eph. 2:6). Our being seated spiritually with Yeshua gives us prophetic authority over the nations, to pull down and to build up, similar to the authority that was given to Jeremiah (Jer. 1:10). Ephesians 2 fulfills Jeremiah 1, just as Ephesians 1 fulfills Psalm 110.
- Holy Spirit Anointing — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be witnesses of Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
God desires to fill us with His Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes, He brings power. This spiritual power or anointing gives us boldness—boldness to preach (Acts 1:8; 4:29); to prophesy (Acts 2:18; 19:6); to praise (Acts 10:46; 16:25) and to perform miracles (Acts 4:30; 6:8).
The Holy Spirit is a person; the power is a thing. It is like an electrician who brings electricity. One is a person; the other a thing. The Holy Spirit is God; the power is energy. We submit to the Holy Spirit and use the power He gives us. We are led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14), not by the power.
Seeking just the power for miracles can lead to idolatry and sorcery (Acts 8:19). Yet without that power, we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us and our message becomes empty words (I Cor. 2:4; 4:20; 12:4-6).
- Suffering/Persecution — “I will boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
When Yeshua’s light shines through us in this world, there is an equal and opposite reaction of darkness. Those attacks make us aware of our own inabilities and more dependent on God’s grace. Our motives are purified, and His power comes through in greater ways.
We are called not only to believe in Yeshua but also to suffer together with Him (Phil. 1:29; 3:10). Many are willing to believe in Yeshua, but not to follow Him when obedience demands suffering. This kind of suffering is not masochism. It is not making stupid mistakes (I Pet. 4:15). It is taking a stand for righteousness, which causes counter attacks of evil.
In those times of persecution, God provides special glory (Acts 6:15; I Pet. 4:14). This level of glory power is necessary if we are to break through to revival, whether in Israel or any place else in the world. There is no revival without persecution (Acts 14:22; II Tim. 3:12).
Throughout the book of Acts, the apostles were beaten, jailed, rejected and killed. [Acts 4:3—apostles jailed; 5:18—jailed again; 5:40—apostles beaten; 7:58—Stephen stoned; 8:3—Saul attacks every house; 9:23—plot to kill Saul; 12:1-3—Herod’s persecution; 13:50—persecution in Antioch; 14:5—endangered by stoning in Iconium; 14:19—stoned again; 16:22-23—beaten and jailed in Philippi; 17:5—mob attack in Thessalonica; 17:13—attacked in Berea; 18:17—beaten in Corinth; 19:29—riot in Ephesus; 21:30— riot in Jerusalem; 22:22—another riot in Jerusalem; 23:10—great dissension; 28:3—shipwrecked and bitten by a snake before Malta revival.]
Summary:
– The cross destroys sin and selfishness.
– The Resurrection gives eternal and abundant life.
– The ascension grants authority to govern principalities.
– The anointing of the Holy Spirit gives boldness for miracles.
– Faith in the midst of persecution releases the glory of God for revival.
Let us be vessels for God to manifest His power through us in all five of these ways. {eoa}
For the original article, visit ritg.org.
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