Power-filled living is dependent on five basic things:
      A. Christ within us
      B. A surrendered life/obedience to Christ
      C. Praying without ceasing
      D. Hiding God's word in our hearts
      E. The Holy Spirit's annointing or leadings.

A. The Power of the Blood of Christ ...why do we need it?
      1. We cannot assume that we are protected by His blood. Isaiah 59:2, "...Your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." Rom 3:26, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom 5:8, "But God conmendeth [showed] his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ dies for us."

      2. Through Jesus' blood we are acceptable to God. Rom 5:9, "Being justified by his [Christ's] blood we are saved from God's wrath." Eph 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Rom 3:25 tells us that Christ is the propitiation for our sins -- he paid the price.

      3. How can I get the blood of Christ to apply to me? Acts 2:47, "God added to the church daily, those who were saved." Rev 3:20, "If any man open the door, I will come in." 1 John 1:6 & 7, "If we say we have fellowship with Christ and walk in darkness, we lie and do not tell the truth. But if we walk in the light as Christ is in the light....the blood of Jesus Christ God's son cleanseth us from all sin." Rom 8:1, "There is...no condemnation then to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

B. The Power of a Surrendered Life ...at any point in our life we have a choice: 1) we may surrender to sin (Satan and his power over us), or 2) we may surrender to Christ and righteousness.
      1. Jesus, our perfect example. John 6:38, Jesus said, "I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him [God the Father] that sent me." Christ yielded his thoughts, desires, actions and his very life to the will of God. He asks the same of us. Rom 6:13, "Neither yield ye yourselves as instruments of unrighteousness into sin: but yield yourselves unto God, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." For power-filled living, we must allow God to make our attitudes what he desires. Ask him to help you, give up your will and desires with all your heart; surrender yourself to His will.
      2. Attitudes, and also actions. Jesus says in John 14:21 "He that keeps his commandments is loved by him....and I will manifest myself to him." Gal 5:4, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful nature." Our surrender of self to obedience to Jesus' commandments allows Christ to manifest himself to us. John 14:2-3 "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and the Christ and the Father will come into him and make our abode with him." Christ, then, becomes our power. Acts 5:32, "[Then] we are his witnesses....and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey Him."

C. The Power of Prayer
      1. Does God really want me to ask him for things? Matt 7:7-11, (Jesus speaking) "Ask and it shall be given....for everyone that asketh receiveth." James 4:2, "...Ye have not, because ye ask not."
      2. How often should we pray? 1 Thes 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." Luke 18:1, "Jesus spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray and to faint not."
      3. What should I pray for? Ps 50:15, "Call unto me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee." Luke 22:40, Jesus said, "Pray that ye enter not into temptation." Ps 141:3, David prayed, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." James 1:5, "If any...lack wisdom let him ask of God...and it shall be given him." 1 Thes 5:18, "In everything give thanks [unto the Lord] for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Phil 4:6, "Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything, tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him." Heb 13:15, "...let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God...the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."
      4. Pray for one another. 1 Thes 5:25, "Brethern, pray for us." As prayer captain, I sometimes ask the people on the prayer chain to pray for an "unspoken" request. That is because the prayer need is of a private nature...and although the individual people may not know the exact need, God does, and those prayers still uplift the one in need.
      5. Why aren't my prayers always answered? We need patience. James 5:11, "...we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the pateince of Job and have seen the end of the Lord....that the Lord is ...of tender mercy." We must ask in faith, believing. Mark 11: 24, Jesus speaking, "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours." Study the Bible more, so that we will know God's will. 1 John 5:14 & 15, "This is the assurance we have in approaching God, if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us...and we know that we have what we ask of him." Are we living as God asks? 1 John 3:21 & 22, "If our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God and whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." James 4:3, "Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your own lusts."
      6. The key to the power of prayer is found in James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Also, knowing the Word of God and using it in our prayer will greatly enhance our prayer life.

D. The Power of the Word of God (the Bible) ...2 Tim 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Jer 23:29, "Is not my word like as a fire, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces."
      1. The Word of God has the power to convict of sin. You may be a very good and moral person and not feel a need for change in your life. But listen to what Jesus says in Matt 22:37 & 38. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Do we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind? Do we neglect reading His Word? Do we neglect praying? Do we neglect putting Him first in our lives? If so, we need to ask forgiveness and invite him into our daily life.

MAny of us desire to share Christ with others that they might have the gift of eternal life. Again, it is through the Word of God that the Holy Spirit convicts a sinner. Heb 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
      2. The Word of God has the power to direct our paths. Ps 119:130, "The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple." John 5:39, Jesus said, "Search the scriptures...they are they which testify of me..." 2 Tim 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God...rightly dividing the Word and the Truth." God speaks to His people through His Word...Our neglect in reading the scriptures is sin.
      3. There is the power for victory over sin through the Word of God. Acts 20:32, "...I command you to God and to the Word of His Grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God." Ps 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee." Remember, when Jesus was tempted he responded with scripture. We have no valid excuse to not read the Word of God. If we can't read well or don't like to, or we don't have time to, we can listen to Bible tapes. We can be fed by the Word of God while we drive, while we do household chores, or whatever.
      4. The power of the Word of God increases our faith. Rom 10:17, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." 1 Pet 2:2, "As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby."
      5. The power of the Word gives us: Salvation -- 1 Johyn 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." Peace -- Rom 8:28, "All things work together for good to them that love God." Joy -- John 15:11, "These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full." Patience -- Rom 15:4, "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Protection -- Acts 20:27-32, (32b) "...I command you to God and to the Word of His Grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

E. The Power of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost
      1. Perhaps you've already noticed that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit work closely together. Eph 6:17, "And take ...the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God." It is vital to recognize that the power of the Spirit comes through the Word of God as well as through the blood of Christ and prayer. They area team and they are all vital to the team. To magnify the Holy Spirit and neglect the Word of God is wrong. The Comforter (which is one name Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit) does not magnify himself. John 16:13, "When the Spirit of truth is come...he will guide you in all truth." The Holy Spirit will not direct us to go against what God's Word tells us.
      2. The Holy Ghost reveals Christ to mankind. 1 Cor 12:3, "...no man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost." The Holy Spirit dwells in the born again. Rom 8:9, "...now if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." Rom 8:16, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."
      3. The Holy Spirit together with the Word convicts us of our sins. It isn't wise to ignore the wooings of the Spirit of God as "My Spirit shall not always strive with man." (Gen 6:3).
      4. The holy Spirit is instrumental in our regeneration, our victory over sin. Titus 3:5, "According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Rom 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom 8:13, "...if ye through the deeds of the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live."
      5. The Holy Spirit guides us. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." John 16:13, "When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth."
      6. The Holy Spirit strengthens us. Eph 3:16, "that he would grant you according to his riches in glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." Eph 6:10, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might."
      7. The Holy Spirit empowers the life of the one he fills. We are told to ask to be filled. Eph. 5:18, "...be filled with the Spirit." Jesus said in Luke 11:13, "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask." The fruit of the Spirit are (Gal 5:22-23, 26): "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...not desirous of vain glory, [nor] provoking one another, [nor] envying one another."
      8. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be a witness. Acts 1:8, "Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...unto the uttermost parts of the earth." Acts 4:31, "...And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the Word of God with boldness." Also in Acts (8:27-29) there is the story of Eunich and how the Holy Spirit led Philip to witness to him.