Why Many Christians Lack Power in Their Lives

Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The power to live the Christian life now, in this life, comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life isn’t just difficult to live; it’s impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Promise of Power: Receiving the Holy Spirit

If you take what Jesus said there in context, it makes it even more powerful. He had just told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–5). They possessed the greatest news the world had ever heard—Jesus’ resurrection and everything He had accomplished—but Jesus didn’t want them to share it until they received the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wow! That is amazing!

The disciples had just witnessed the greatest miracle the world had ever seen. They had all the facts. What more could they need?

They needed the power of the Holy Spirit. And so do we.

Transformation Through the Holy Spirit: A Historical Perspective

Prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, these same disciples ran and hid during the crucifixion of Jesus. They also displayed an amazing ability to not understand what Jesus was saying at times. There’s a reason they were called “duh-ciples.”

But after the day of Pentecost and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, these same men were transformed. They stood boldly before the scribes and Pharisees who had once intimidated them, fearlessly declaring their guilt in crucifying the Son of God. They performed miraculous acts like Jesus did (John 14:12), including raising people from the dead. Moved by the Holy Spirit, they wrote books of the Bible. All but one of these apostles went on to suffer a martyr’s death and held firm until the end.

Just as Jesus told them, the disciples received power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and it changed these very average men into powerhouses who set in motion the new church age and established the kingdom of God here on earth.

Modern Christianity and the Need for the Holy Spirit’s Power

The disciples didn’t just tell people what happened to Jesus; they demonstrated that Jesus was still alive and living in and through them. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”

Today we have more people than ever proclaiming truths from God’s Word, but few are doing it in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many who have received the Word have experienced the forgiveness of sins, but they lack the power of the Holy Spirit to live a victorious life. They talk about the power of God, but very few demonstrate it.

There needs to be an emphasis on how important the ministry of the Holy Spirit is in the life of the believer. Failure to do this has diminished our witness and produced a lot of impotent Christians. Actually, that’s a misnomer. The word Christian means “little Christ,” and these powerless believers aren’t living anything like Christ. I’m not saying they aren’t born-again, but they aren’t Christlike.

That’s the reason the world has rejected Christianity. It’s not because the things Christianity stands for are not true but because Christianity is being presented in a powerless way. Jesus used miracles to draw people to Him and His message, much like we use a bell to attract attention. If Jesus needed miracles to draw and convince the multitudes, how arrogant is it for ministers today to think they can accomplish God’s will on their own, without demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit?

Personal Testimonies: Experiencing the Holy Spirit

On an individual level, few Christians have accessed this power of the Holy Spirit in their personal lives. Believers suffer depression and discouragement, when the Holy Spirit was given to comfort and encourage us (2 Cor. 1:4). Jude said that we build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20). That’s talking about praying in tongues.

When I was born again at eight years old, I became one of these powerless Christians I’m speaking about. Faith comes by hearing the truth of God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), and my denominational church didn’t preach about the power of the Holy Spirit. But all that changed on March 23, 1968, when I came face to face with God’s glory. I received this baptism of the Holy Spirit, and my life has never been the same.

Choose to Pursue the Holy Spirit

Receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues isn’t just a one-time experience. Those who have the Holy Spirit have God’s power, but it has to be accessed. The Holy Spirit doesn’t force Himself and His ability on anyone. You have to pursue God’s power in order to get it to manifest in your life. Spirit-filled believers need to pursue and appropriate more of the Holy Spirit’s power manifesting in and through them.

You need to keep yourself encouraged in the Lord. And I tell you, this baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is a vital part of the Christian life. The people who are on fire for God are people who have had a second encounter with the Lord beyond just forgiveness of sins. They have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which includes speaking in tongues. And if you don’t have this, you need it.