Walking in the power of God is necessary for every child of God. So, you’ve given your life to Christ and are serving God, and now you’re desiring to walk in the power of God. I’ll tell you something: your desire is good. However, to receive God’s power, you must make the sacrifice. What do I mean? You must forgo worldly pleasure in order to achieve righteousness and holiness and to walk in God’s power and authority. It takes purity to operate in the power of God. God reserves his power for those who will honor him.
Peter was very timid before, but after Jesus endowed him and the other disciples with power through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, their lives were no longer the same. Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost won lots of souls for Jesus because it was delivered with power, backed by the Holy Spirit. According to the Bible, about three thousand souls were added to them on the same day. (Acts 2:14-41).
Talking about supernatural living, how can one walk in the power and authority of God? See what God says in Isaiah 55:1–2: Come, all ye who thirst, and all ye who have no money; come, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. So why do you spend money on things that aren’t bread? and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Hear diligently from me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Walking in the power of God is not reserved for the pastor alone. God has no regard for persons; however, in every nation, he who fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him. Acts 10:34-35.
You can’t buy God’s gifts with money. There is a price to pay for power. God is saying that you’re going to pay a price that does not require money. That price is holiness; it is purity. You cannot enjoy the newness of life without purity. If you’re a child of God and you’re not enjoying the newness of life, something is wrong. You cannot enjoy the fullness of redemption if you continue walking in sin. Neither can you walk in power without purity. Christianity without power is frustrating. The foundation for power is purity and holiness.
In Psalm 66:3, it is written: “Say to God, how terrible are thy works! Thy enemies will submit to you because of the greatness of thy power.” There is a power of God in you. The Spirit of Christ inside of you is the spirit of power. So, as a child of God, you need to be conscious of the person of God that is in you and walk by him. It takes power to subdue your enemies. So, great purity will always give birth to great power. Walking in the power of God is possible only if you walk in holiness and use the power of God to glorify Himself, which means winning souls.
But how can you operate with this power? In Psalm 110:1—3, the LORD said unto my Lord, “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” The LORD will send the rod of thy strength from Zion, and he will rule over thee in the midst of thy enemies. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning; thou hast the dew of thy youth.”
You need to stay connected to God if you are to walk in the power of God. And remaining at God’s right hand implies purity. Without holiness, power is nowhere in sight. Similarily, without power, you cannot subdue your enemies. I’m not referring to actual physical combat, but rather to spiritual conflicts that go unnoticed by the naked eye. As the foregoing indicates, there is a price to pay. It is not money that God is talking about; it is purity.
The challenge of holiness consists in overcoming the temptation to compromise and commit sin. If you desire God’s power, then you must shun sin and love righteousness. You might make occasional mistakes, but it is not in your own best interest to sin willfully against God. Walking in the power of God demands responsibility. God expects you to conduct yourself appropriately at all times if you are to walk in his power. But if you sin, be quick to recognize your error, repent immediately, and decide not to repeat the same mistake again.
Jesus operated with an extraordinary power that Satan could not resist. He subdued the devil by sitting at God’s right hand, exemplified by a life of purity. Sitting at God’s right hand for you does not imply physical sitting, but rather remaining connected to him through your mind and spirit. And how do you stay connected? It is through a never-ending pursuit of God. Feed on the Word, pray always, and live a holy life.
You need to be conscious of God and serve him in righteousness and truth because the Spirit of God is in you. Walking in the power of God is possible if you will mind after God’s business, loving the things that he likes, and pursuing righteousness. What does God like? God is interested in winning souls. If you become interested in this business as well, then you’ll be sitting on his right hand, and he will endow you with power.
Jesus’ appearance made the devil say, “Have you come to destroy us before our time?” His appearance made the demons afraid. The Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus after he was baptized by John the Baptist transformed him. (Matthew 3:13-17). Even the demons asked the sons of Sceva, saying, “Jesus I know, Paul I know, and you; who are you?” They recognized the presence of God’s power in the lives of Jesus and Paul, but not so for the sons of Sceva. (Acts 19:11-20). You cannot enjoy Christianity without power.
From the very moment Adam fell for Satan’s tricks, he could no longer command him. Satan held him captive, and not just him alone; the whole world was kidnapped. Remember, everything God created was under Adam’s control, even the devil. But when he sinned, he lost this privilege. Power left him. No wonder God said, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” So there you have it; if you want to walk in the power of God, be holy.
One final thought though: what do you want the power for? God doesn’t give his power so that you can just pocket it. God worked special miracles through the hands of Paul because he was deeply committed to winning souls. So, if you really need the power of God, make up your mind to win souls for Jesus, and then God will empower you for the same purpose.
