DENISE LAGRIMAS: "Struggling with the Power Within"

Beloved, I offer this to encourage you.

For weeks I have been hearing the words "Power Struggle" and as I watched circumstances and events taking place around me I was certain that we had been in a power struggle and to be honest all I could see was the enemy hard at work. Then one night as I came home exhausted after a service I heard it again "Power Struggle" and I said "yes Lord I know there is a power struggle going on and He said "NO LISTEN TO ME There is a power struggle and it has nothing to do with your enemy."

I then became attentive to listen closer.

"My people are struggling with the power I have given them. The power inside of them. They do not understand the magnitude of this power, some don't feel worthy of the power, and some doubt the power, some just think the power is to be used only in the church assembly. The power that I have given has come through MY Son JESUS and His resurrection and that power is not a gift, it is a manifestation of the life of Jesus in you. If you continue to struggle with the power within you then you become as a doubter and a deny-er of My Word. Those who live by the Spirit will operate in the spirit."

I understood that I needed to know more about this power. I have often heard messages of the Power of God and have seen it in operation especially in my own life when it came to deliverance and healing from bondages from the past, yet, I still felt like I was missing something.

We have the Same Holy Spirit

It soon hit me. The Holy Spirit is in operation within me and I am not allowing Him to have control. Oh it's easy to release control in the things like keeping me from temptation, or sharing the salvation message with inmates and young people, but when it comes to exhibiting the power in manifestation then that is different because I am no Benny Hinn or Kathryn Kuhlman. Yet God said that I have the same Holy Spirit so why am I limiting him?

The scriptures say in Acts 1:8 "but you will receive power from on high when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Judea, Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth."

If we have the Holy Spirit we have received the power!!!

When Jesus defeated death by way of the cross He unleashed awesome power to all of creation. Phil 3:10 "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to His death."

We receive this resurrection power the moment we step into our rightful place of inheritance through salvation.

When Jesus was silent while being beaten, ridiculed, mocked and mistreated, His silence unleashed unshakable power that broke the back of powerlessness in God's creation. Isaiah 53:7says "He was oppressed and He was afflicted yet He did not open his mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers so He did not open His mouth."

When you choose to open not your mouth in tough situations you exhibit power. Your silence has power over the enemy, over powerlessness. When Jesus forgave those who did such things, that forgiveness produced power beyond comprehension in a measure that defeated all deception.

Matt. 9:6 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins then He said to the paralytic 'Get up pick up your bed and go home.'" Then He tells us in John 20:23 "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any they have been retained.

We must know and note the power of forgiveness.

Yes though our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against rulers in heavenly places. Our weapon is The Power within us - The Holy Spirit alive and present.

Christ alone has defeated the enemy and WE WIN!!

Along with the power over the enemy He gave us power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, open blind eyes, and preach the Gospel with Power. He said everything that He had done would be nothing compared to what we could do "greater works shall you do because I go the Father". Looking at His works can definitely cause one to struggle with our power, but our promise is He died that we may live and was resurrected so that we might also be resurrected with Him. And, additionally, that The Holy Spirit would be active and acting in our lives.

We are in such a prophetic time period - when God is speaking through anointed prophets and giving His body encouragement and words of strength, especially since perilous times are ahead.  At the same time, the enemy has a parallel plan to pervert the prophetic voice through selfishness and pride. "Through the Pride of Life, tickling ears and idol worship"

Be Careful of What You Hear and Receive

We know we are to be careful of what we hear and receive. And we are also told not to judge the prophetic voice harshly unless it is proven deceitful. Today, many go around saying "Thus Sayeth The Lord" and to be honest, it frightens me because I hold the Word of the Lord so Holy, and I never want to say "Thus sayeth" unless "He really sayeth." Psalm 101:7 says, "He who practices deceit shall not dwell within My house and he who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before Me."

So speaking for the Lord, when it is not the Lord, is asking for trouble.

This is where that power of The Word comes in. We have the power of the Holy Spirit in operation in us, and when the prophetic voice is heard, the Spirit recognizes His own. We must be so in tune with the Holy Spirit, that we know and recognize His motion, His movement, His warnings and His urgings. We should not receive what He has not received, no matter how much it appeals to our desire. Look for His confirmation!!!  (Is. 44:26 Confirming the word of His servant and performing the purpose of His messengers.) Recognize and know the power.

Do not struggle with the power within you. Let that power flow from you and release it to this lost and dying world.

Again let me recap some of our most vital power sources

1.Power of Prayer & Fasting
2.Power of The Word
3.Power of Silence
4.Power of the Gospel - witness
5.Power over death raise the dead
6.Power to heal the sick
7.Power to cast out demons
8.Power to forgive
9.Power of the Resurrection
10. Power of Blessing through tithing, giving & sharing. (A simple "God bless you" has power)
11. Power to Speak the oracles of God, when God given.

Be Blessed I pray,

 

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep Elijah List website, email contact info, and author contact information intact. Thank you and blessings, Steve Shultz, Publish, The Elijah List http://www.elijahlist.com