Clothed with Power

God gives special, extraordinary power for the extraordinary challenges of an expanding witness to Christ. This extraordinary power fell on the Christians at Pentecost and then repeatedly throughout the book of Acts for the challenges of witnessing to Christ. And not only the book of Acts; the letters of Paul talk of this same extraordinary power available to Christians (Eph. 3:16). It is the very fullness of God, as unimaginable as that sounds.

When God sovereignly pours that kind of power out on a church, we call it revival. And God's purpose in revival is that our witness to Christ will have more conviction, more courage, more wisdom, and more effect, so that God is greatly glorified and people are reached.

Four ways to seek this power:

1. Immerse yourself in the Word of God. It is almost certain that you will not be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit if you are not filled with the Word of God (1 John 2:14; Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29). If you want the power of the Holy Spirit in your life—if you are tired of being a weak replica of ordinary non-Christians—then change your routine and immerse yourself in the Bible. Read it, think about it, memorize it, use it.
2. Believe the Word of God. Trust that God intends to do wonderful things for his glory through you, because that is what the Bible teaches. Be expectant that the Holy Spirit within you will give you power according to God's Word. In Romans 15:13, Paul says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (emphasis added). In other words, the power of the Spirit is the result of the believing, and it begets joy and peace.
3. Pray earnestly for power, and fast. We should ask God for the power of his Spirit. And sometimes we should do this with fasting. Luke 4:14 says that Jesus came from his 40-day fast full of the Holy Spirit. It may be that God reserves his extraordinary power for those who long for it in extraordinary ways—and show that longing by extended fasting and prayer.
   
4. Obey the Holy Spirit. Obey the Holy Spirit even before you feel his power. Many of us have resisted the Holy Spirit so often that we are unfit for the flow of his power. The channels have become so clogged with fear and self-consciousness and doubt and rationalization and worldly preoccupation that what we allow through is a barely discernible trickle of God's love.

As we begin to immerse ourselves in God's Word, battle the unbelief of our hearts, pray and fast for power, and do what we know what we ought to do, little by little the old, clogged channels are cleared, and we begin to feel the power flow again.

Adapted from "How to Be Clothed with Power" by John Piper. Find it at DesiringGod.org.