For the Christian worker, the power of God is not a luxurious option, it is an imperative necessity that believers are commanded to possess (Eph. 6:10). Genuine success in Christian service depends upon its constant possession. Its presence insures spiritual victory, while its absence automatically spells certain defeat. Specific enfillments of God’s power are available for every essential facet of the believer’s service.

1. God’s Saving Power: (Rom. 1:16; John 1:12) The divine manifestation of this power is the essential element that produces the New Birth. When the Holy Spirit implants the seed of God’s Word into the sin deadened soul, conversion’s miracle occurs (I Peter 1:23) in a mighty act of the power of God.
Today, there are many bogus conversions where an outward profession of faith has been made, but with little/no evidence of a regenerated life. It is obvious in these cases, that God’s saving power has never been truly experienced by these pseudo-believers.

2. God’s Sustaining Power (I Peter 1:5). God’s power not only saves, but it sustains! The miracle produced in the New Birth results in an eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9), that historic Fundamental Baptists term “eternal security.” God’s sustaining power insures believers that their salvation possession is secure until the rapture of the saints in the air (Phil. 1:6, I Thess. 4:13-18).

3. God’s Strengthening Power (Rom. 16:25). The apostle Paul did not possess inherent magical talents. His fervent tenacity in adhering to God’s will was the effectual working of God’s power (Eph. 3:7). In Col. 1:10-11, saints are assured that they can live fruitful lives that are worthy of their divine calling via the demonstration of God’s glorious power.

4. God’s Soul-Winning Power (Acts 1:8, I Thes. 2:4). Evangelizing lost souls is not an easy task. Bringing unconverted sinners to Christ (John 1:41-42) is not a skill based on human temperment and natural disposition. Genuine soul-winning endeavors, as well as any other Christian endeavor, are the product of God’s divine power upon Holy Spirit filled believers (Phil. 4:13).

5. God’s Stewardship Power (II Cor. 8:3) The Macedonian saints gave generously, not out of their prosperity, but in their poverty. The unanticipated faith-promise bounty these consecrated saints sent to Paul was a divine exhibition of God’s miraculous stewardship power in their lives, as they dedicated their meager provisions for the fulfillment of the Great Commission mandate.

6. God’s Suffering Power (II Tim. 1:8). Spiritual suffering for Christ’s sake is an intrinsic part of the believer’s life that cannot be avoided if a saint stands true to Christ (Phil. 1:29). Persecution, because of an uncompromising stance for the gospel, is a Scripturally predicted event for the Christian soldier (II Tim. 3:13). God’s enabling power is equally available for phyical suffering as well (II Cor. 12:9).

7. God’s Satan-Resisting Power (Heb. 4:12). This satan-resisting power comes from saturation with God’s Word. Christ impecabbly resisted satan’s three temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life with the written Word of God (Matt. 4:4-11). Believers who would overcome these temptations (I Cor. 10:13) must utilize this same weapon.

This divine power comes when (a) we sincerely desire it-Phil. 3:10; (b) confess all known sin-Prov. 28:13, Ps. 66:18, (c) submit our lives totally to God’s Holy Spirit-Eph. 3:20; (d) learn the secret of fervent prayer-Mark 9:29 and (e) trust the Word of God-Josh. 1:8). God’s power (I Cor. 2:5) is readily available for all saints who truly desire & seek it. D.J.