BIBLE FACTS OF THE DAY

Bible Facts Of The Day, September 26, 2026 “POWER THAT LIVES WITHIN US – Part II”

PART II — THE POWER NEGLECTED

“Why Do Spirit-Indwelt Believers Sometimes Live Powerless Lives?”

Here is where this message becomes deeply personal.

If the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, why can Christians sometimes appear spiritually powerless?

Why are we sometimes defeated by the same temptations?

Why are we afraid to witness?

Why can our prayer lives become weak?

Why can our worship become mechanical?

Why can our spiritual passion disappear?

The problem is not that God has become powerless.

The problem is not that the Holy Spirit has become weaker.

Often the problem is that we are attempting to live the Christian life in the strength of the flesh rather than depending upon the Spirit.

1. WE CAN GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:30

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Notice something remarkable.

Paul is speaking to believers.

They have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Yet Paul says:

Do not grieve Him.

This means possessing the Spirit does not mean every decision we make is controlled by the Spirit.

We can choose anger.

We can choose bitterness.

We can choose unforgiveness.

We can choose lust.

We can choose pride.

We can choose disobedience.

And when we continually resist God’s will, we should not be surprised when our spiritual lives become weak and ineffective.

2. WE CAN QUENCH THE SPIRIT

1 Thessalonians 5:19

“Do not quench the Spirit.”

Imagine a fire burning.

Then someone continually pours water over it.

Paul uses the language of quenching.

The Holy Spirit may convict:

Forgive that person.

But we say:

“No.”

The Spirit may lead:

Pray.

We say:

“Later.”

The Word says:

Flee temptation.

We say:

“I can handle it.”

God gives an opportunity to speak about Christ.

Fear says:

“Stay quiet.”

And eventually we can develop the habit of resisting what God is calling us to do.

The issue isn’t that the Holy Spirit lacks power.

We are resisting His work.

3. WE SOMETIMES TRY TO DO SPIRITUAL WORK WITH HUMAN STRENGTH

This may be one of our greatest mistakes.

We think:

I can handle this.

I know enough Bible.

I have been a Christian long enough.

I have preached before.

I have taught before.

I have served before.

I know what I am doing.

But Jesus said:

John 15:5

“Without Me you can do nothing.”

Talent cannot replace the Spirit.

Education cannot replace the Spirit.

Experience cannot replace the Spirit.

Programs cannot replace the Spirit.

Personality cannot replace the Spirit.

You can have excellent organization and still lack spiritual power.

You can know theology and still neglect prayer.

You can know Scripture intellectually while failing to walk dependently upon God.

God never intended us to live the Christian life independently of Him.

4. FEAR CAN SILENCE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN POWER

Paul told Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

How many times have we known what God wanted us to do but fear stopped us?

“What will people think?”

“What if they reject me?”

“What if I fail?”

“What if they laugh at me?”

Peter knew fear.

But after Pentecost, something changed.

Acts 4:31 says:

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

Fear says:

“Be silent.”

The Spirit gives boldness to say:

“Jesus Christ is Lord.”

“Maranatha! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

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