It would not be a stretch for us to say today that many Christians consider themselves to be powerless. It would also be true that many believers often accept the circumstances of life, as just that – simply the “cards they were dealt”. They accept the natural as an unchangeable and unchallengeable force… often explained away as the will of God. Yet we saw last week that above all things God wishes for us to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.

So today we will be taking a look at how to prosper our souls, and also how to make use of the power of God in our lives, so that we will no longer be powerless, but prosperous.

To answer these questions of power and prosperity, we must first find the solution to another question: Where does our power come from? God, yes, but the Bible is more specific than that… and we should thank God that it is written in more detail than a simple one word answer. Every detail in the Bible is important, no matter how insignificant it may seem at first.

Let us examine Acts 1:8:

“But you will receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you will be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.”

We can see here that we receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and this is an important key to understanding the gift which God has given us. You see, most believers do not understand this wonderful Holy Spirit which is our constant companion, and the third person of the Trinity. It is a subject often skimmed upon in churches, or ignored outright. As a result, the power of the Spirit is often mocked in popular media, television and movies. Yet it is in the Bible and therefore it has a plan and purpose for us to know. Always remember that everything the Bible is written for our benefit, and nothing is there simply as filler.

Now take a look at 2nd Timothy 1:6-7:

“Therefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Many believers often quote verse seven, but very rarely are they aware of verse six, so let’s look at both together. Paul here was instructing Timothy to stir up the gift of God which was in him by the laying on of Paul’s hands. Here is a clue as to what this gift of God is.  If we examine the history of Paul’s ministry, we find this in Acts 19:6:

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.”

This makes it very clear that the gift of God that came through the laying on of Paul’s hands, was the Holy Spirit, and specifically of note here is speaking in Tongues.

In the verse in 2nd Timothy which we previously read, the directive is to stir up the gift, first we see it is a gift (singular not plural). Second we also see that it is something which we can stir up. My friends, there is only one gift which stands alone, and that we have the ability to stir up at will, and that is speaking in Tongues… our heavenly prayer language.

The blessing of Tongues is that the Holy Spirit takes control of our most potent weapon, our mouth, that part of us which the Bible says holds the very power of life and death. When we release this area to the Spirit, there is incredible power.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, being God and outside of space and time, can pray prayers through us which we are incapable of praying. He can pray for people and events which we do not know of, or things which will happen in the future which we can not tell. Also, the Spirit will always speak and pray the perfect will of God at all times. And what again, is God’s perfect will for us? That we would prosper in all things and be in health.

The scriptures say in 1st Corinthians 14, that a person who speaks in an unknown Tongue, edifies himself. The word “edify” means to instruct, benefit and uplift. Whenever we let the Holy Spirit speak through us, we are instructing, benefiting and uplifting ourselves, for that is always the perfect will of God for us as believers and His beloved children.

So start using the power and gift that God has given to us. Today we do not have to wait for the Holy Spirit, all we have to do is ask for and receive Him as the gift of Jesus Christ. Release yourself to Him, and let His marvelous blessings fall upon you right now wherever you are. There is no distance or time in prayer.

He is waiting to give to anyone who is ready to receive.