Obedience Unlocks God's Power
Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. (Ephesians 4:23 CEV)
Throughout the Bible, you will see a significant principle repeatedly illustrated. It is only, after an act of faith is taken that the Holy Spirit releases power.
When Joshua faced an impassable barrier, the flood waters of the Jordan River lowered only after, the leaders stepped into the rushing water in obedience and faith.
Obedience unlocks God’s power.
God waits for you to act first.
Do not wait to feel powerful or certain.
Move despite your weakness.
Doing the right thing despite your fears and feelings is how you collaborate with the Holy Spirit. It is how your character develops.
Our choice to live for God and our efforts as redeemed Christians to bear fruits of faith are authorized by the Holy Spirit.
Our attempts and even our commitment to spiritually grow is the work of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. It is never something that we do apart from Him and His support. There is nothing that we need to do to add up to what Jesus has already done for us. Because of Jesus, God is already pleased with us as He is ever going to be. While our efforts have nothing to do with our salvation, it has a lot to do with our spiritual development.
At least eight times in the New Testament we are told to “make every effort” in our progress toward becoming like Jesus.
Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.(Luke 13:24)
Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.(2 Timothy 2:15)
Let us. Therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(Hebrews 4:11)
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.(2 Peter 3:14)
Let go of your old ways of acting.
Everything ... connected with that old way of life has to go.
It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! (Ephesians 4:22)
Change the way you think.
Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. (Ephesians 4:23)
Be transformed by the renewing of your minds. (Romans 12:2)
Develop the habits of Jesus.
Character is essentially the product of habits.
It is how you habitually act.
Put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)
God waits for you to move first.
What are the steps that you need to take to move out of your fears and feelings?