My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of Godin Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:10–13)
Have you ever tried to push a car by yourself when the engine wasn’t working? For most of us, it is not possible for us to do so in our own strength.
The key to living the Christian life is trusting in the Holy Spirit to live through us, and not trusting in ourselves to do so. The flesh in itself does not have the power to live the Christian life.
The Holy Spirit is like the engine in the car; the car will not move without the engine working. The Holy Spirit is like the battery in a flashlight; unless the battery is working, there is no light. For the car to move and serve its purpose, the engine must be turned on. For the flashlight to shine a light beam, the battery must be engaged.
For us to live the Christian life, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and be controlled by him. This occurs when we ask him in faith to fill us and empower us to do his will.
Being filled with the resurrection power of Jesus allows Christ to live his life in us. He is the one who prompts us to work and fulfill the purposes of God. He is the one who empowers us to do his work. He is the one who gives us the desire and the power to strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This is Son Power at work!
Today, ask yourself:
In what ways am I attempting to accomplish God’s plans and desires in my own strength rather than relying on the power of the Holy Spirit?
How has this website helped you?