Day 48: Conforming by the Power of the Holy Spirit

It is impossible to be like Jesus by your own strength and ability. Trying to live your Christian life by your own strength makes you no different from people of other religions. Your outward man may be changed through self-discipline, but the real you––your inner man––can only be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Why is the Holy Spirit so important? The Prophet Isaiah says, “It shall come to pass in that day, that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil” (Isaiah 10:27). The Holy Spirit is the anointing oil. He will empower you to overcome your struggles. The Holy Spirit breaks every yoke of bondage.

There are two vital steps in conforming to the image of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. The first step is to surrender. When you surrender, you yield yourself to God. You must admit your failures, your rebellion of His Lordship and any willful disobedience; then yield to Him with the Holy Spirit’s help. Surrendering is also forsaking or giving up. Sometimes you have to give something up, not because it is sinful, but because you have allowed it to have priority over God’s will for your life.

The second step is to have faith. Do you have the right kind of faith? Dead faith–– faith without works––takes you nowhere. Demonic faith––mere belief in God and His power––is not enough to change you into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Dynamic faith––a faith that touches your intellect, emotions and will––is the type of faith that truly brings transformation and change. This is the kind of faith the Holy Spirit will give you. This kind of faith causes you to step out and do what God says, and then miracles follow.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?

ACTIVATION

• Take a moment to surrender yourself to God. Yield your mind, will and emotions to Him and allow Him to direct the conversation in your heart.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to lift you up with dynamic faith. Ask Him to transform your thinking, your feelings and your decisions by His power.

• Watch for miracle moments! Let the Spirit show you how He is working around you and through you, and then expect to see His miracles unfold in front of your eyes!

FURTHER STUDY

Romans 8:5–11; 1 Corinthians 2:4–5; James 2:17–20; Galatians 3:3

Pastor Larry & Pat Downing
Foothills Community Church
Collections of thoughts from varied sources
Scripture verses from KJV or NIV unless specified