Power For Living

Have you ever wondered how you can become the person you really want to be? Why is it that when we try SO hard we fail so often? At times we seem to be prisoners of our habits-chained in the dungeon of evil desires. Unaided by the grace of God, we are all helpless prisoners. We are captives of our fallen sinful nature. We may desire to change, but we don't have the power to change. Separated from God, we are subject to death. The death of Jesus paid the penalty of sin for every person. However, this gift must be accepted individually. It becomes effective when a person chooses to acknowledge Jesus as Savior. God's grace provides pardon from the penalty of sin. It also provides a new power for living. In our lesson today we will discover the real secret of power for living in the twenty-first century.

01. What promise does the Scripture give to those who surrender their lives to Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

02. Can human beings accomplish this change themselves?
Job 14:4, Jeremiah 13:23
04. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!
23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
Note
The Bible tells us that it is impossible for us to change ourselves no matter how much we will to do it.

03. How did Jesus describe this change to respectable, God fearing Nicodemus?
John 3:1–8
01. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
02. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
03. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
04. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
05. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
06. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
07. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
08. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

04. How does this miraculous change take place?
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Note
When an individual surrenders totally to God, the Holy Spirit takes possession of the life. The result is a mysterious union with God. The person becomes a new individual. They are now under the control of a completely new nature (Romans 6:6-11). By receiving Christ, they receive power for victorious living (John 1:12) and day by day, as they abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit writes the principles of the law upon their heart (John 15:4; Hebrews 8:10)

05. Does this mean that our good works are the basis for our salvation? If not, then what is the basis of our salvation?
Romans 3:27–28
27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Note
Salvation is totally of grace, never of works. By faith we receive God's grace. Even when the born-again Christian obeys God, it is Christ who empowers them to work. Our role is to cooperate with Christ and let Him work in us. Our responsibility is to be willing to do anything Christ asks us to do. Love is the motive for obedience. Christ will never ask us to do anything that He will not provide us the power to do.

06. How can I have this power to live a life that honors Christ?
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Note
To receive Christ is to receive this power. As He enters our lives, He is the power for victory. In our natural state we are incapable of doing good. When we want to do what is right, another power seems to take possession of us. Through Jesus we have the power to overcome. We no longer need fail again and again, fixed in the rut of perpetual discouragement. Now we can be victorious.

07. When Jesus enters our heart through the Holy Spirit, what does He give us?
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

08. What is the evidence that Christ does in reality dwell in our hearts?
Galatians 5:24–25
24. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Note
The greatest evidence that Christ dwells in our hearts is a transformed life. To "crucify the flesh" is to voluntarily go through the pain of surrendering our will to Christ.

09. What was the one guiding principle of Jesus' life?
John 8:29
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

10. When Jesus breaks the bondage of sin, what wonderful privilege does He offer us?
Romans 8:15–17
15. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17. and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Note
What a wonderful privilege to know we are an adopted son or daughter of God through Christ. We are part of God's royal family with all the rights and privileges of a family member. We never need feel lonely, insecure, or uncertain again. Jesus is our Elder Brother, God our wonderful, loving heavenly Father; the Holy Spirit our Counselor and Guide, and the angels our protectors.

11. What does Christ promise He will do deep within us?
Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Note
God promises to change us from within. He will place His law in our mind so we know it. He will also write it in our hearts so we love it. When God changes us inside, we will love to do His will.

12. What was Jesus' heart hunger?
Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me - To do Your will, O God.’ ”
Note
Jesus' longing was to do the Father's will. His heart's desire was to please God (John 8:29). The heart desire of every Christian who has been transformed by God's grace is to do God's will.

13. When will this miraculous new birth take place?
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Note
Jesus delights in giving us new power for living. As we consciously choose to invite Him to become the Lord of our lives, His dynamic, life-transforming power changes us. He lifts us from our human weakness and gives us His divine strength. No longer must we battle the desires of our human nature alone. We are now conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Christ we are free to become the people we were born to be.

Concluding Question
At some time we have all allowed sin to hinder us from the full control of the Holy Spirit. Would you like to repent of your sin and surrender your life fully to Jesus and allow Him to completely change your nature?

FOR FURTHER STUDY read the following Bible passages-Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah:
1. Jesus' birthplace-Bethlehem: Micah 5:2.
2. Jesus' virgin birth: Isaiah 7:14.
3. Jesus' family line: Genesis 49:10.
4. Jesus' ministry: Isaiah 61:1-2.
5. Jesus' betrayal price: Zechariah 11:12.
6. Jesus' betrayed by a friend: Psalm 41:9.
7. Jesus' mocked and spit upon: Isaiah 50:6.
8. Jesus' crucifixion: Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22:16.
9. Jesus' death and burial: Isaiah 53:7-12.
10. Jesus' resurrection: Psalm 16:10.