Various approaches of psychology speak of various "drives".  Some talk about the sex drive as being the primary drive, while others talk about the drive for self-fulfillment.  Others speak of the power of addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or various drugs.  Theologians often speak of the dominance of inherited (original) sin.  Behavioral therapists talk about the strength of learned behavior.  Physicians and psychiatrists talk about the influence of chemical imbalance upon people causing them to exhibit inappropriate behavior.

    From the human side, his body must have said, "I don't want to go without food and water, especially for forty days."  His emotions must have said, "I don't feel like going through this all alone."  His intellect must have said, "There has to be another way."  His will must have argued, "I don't think I can handle this."  How then was he able to walk through this experience and come out victorious?  What drove him?  It was the Spirit of God in Him.

     (4) God also put the Spirit upon the seventy elders that they might judge the people along with Moses (Numbers 11:17).  (5) Moses laid his hands upon Joshua, and he was filled with the spirit of wisdom to lead the people (Deuteronomy 34:9). (6)  God put His words in the mouth of Jeremiah and make them to be as fire that they would devour the people (Jeremiah 5:14).  Jeremiah said, "But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I would not stay" (Jeremiah 20:9a).  Jeremiah was motivated from within -- compelled to speak the words that God had given him. (7) "The word of the LORD came expressively unto Ezekiel ... and the hand of the LORD was upon him" (Ezekiel 1:3).  Ezekiel was burdened to do what God had directed him to do.  Furthermore, "And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me" (Ezekiel 2:2).  The Spirit caused Ezekiel to rise to his feet.  (8)  The prophet Hagai wrote that the "LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel" and the spirit of the people "and they came and did the work of the house of the LORD of hosts, their God" (Haggai 1:14).  Have you ever made a commitment to go to church and turn right around and stay at home?  Commitment and willpower will only take one just so far.  We need the Spirit to "drive" us to do what God would have us to do.

    Peter explained, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:21).  Again, it was not just a good idea to be carried out by the willpower of man.  The prophets didn't just get up one day and say, "I think that I will prophecy for God today."  We should see that the men of God were driven by the power of God.  The picture is of a leaf that falls from a tree and is carried along by the power the wind.  The leaf had to let go of the tree then be carried by the force of the wind.  We have to let go of self and allow the Spirit of God to carry us along in the direction that He desires for us to move.

"But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ" (Acts 9:22).

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20).

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10).

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry" (I Timothy 1:12).

"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 2:1).

"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion" (II Timothy 4:17).

"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:34).

    1. The power of the Holy Spirit is offered to every Believer, beginning on Day of Pentecost.  Jesus offered the rebirth by the Spirit on the day of his resurrection (John 20:21-22).  Then fifty days later, they receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4).

    2. The primary requirement for the Believer to receive this power of the Holy Spirit is to ASK (Luke 11:13).  This is not a lighthearted asking but an asking out of a necessity to have the power to live the Christian life.  It is a continual asking with a determination to receive that power.

    3. We also should understand the awesomeness of the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul prays that the church come to know ... "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephesians 1:19).   Paul had everything from the world's perspective, but he counted it to be a pile of manure compared to the knowledge of God.  He said, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Philippians 3:10).  Paul also declared that this power was the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11).  Peter declared that it gives on the ability to speak.  "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 4:11).

    4. We should understand that the power is invested within Believers enabling them to do the will of God.  Again, Paul prays, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ... Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:16, 20).

    5. We are to depend upon this power when we find ourselves to be weak.  Paul declared, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (II Corinthians 12:9).

     6. We are not to lay this power upon the shelf or neglect it.  Paul wrote to the young minister, Timothy, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery" (I Timothy 4:14).  We are to utilize the power for living the Christian life.

    7. Last, we are to stir up this power.  Again Paul instructs Timothy, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands" (II Timothy 1:6).  The word picture here is of one taking a poker and stirring some dying coals causing them to burst into flames.