A personal Biblical and Theological view, By Darrell Pollard

Power is most clearly understood as God’s sovereign authority and divine enablement—His capacity to act according to His will and to empower others for His purposes. It is not self-generated, and it is never rightly separated from God’s character, God’s Word, or God’s Spirit.

Biblically, power includes both the miraculous and the mundane—it is the Spirit’s enabling presence to fulfill God’s purposes, whether in preaching, parenting, perseverance, purity, or proclaiming the Gospel.

The Sovereign Rule of God

Today, the church of Jesus Christ is in the world not just to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” but to help accomplish that will in the power of the Holy Spirit. God is on His throne and Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).

It was a random ordinary morning breakfast with a church leadership friend. I can’t stress enough how grateful I was for this meeting. In the middle of the conversation at the table, the Holy Spirit revealed to me just how important and powerful the proper use and understanding of the word “Power” is. The word and its use are so theologically important for our doctrinal understanding, and I can see clearly how crucial this subject should be with the local church.

After the meeting, I was reflecting on just a few major misuses within the Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel movements, particularly with words like: impart and authority. In the slightest misspoken way, these words can suggest that we have power to move God’s hand and will. Saying that we have the authority to “impart” anything, in the wrong context, can overstep biblical interpretation and sound doctrine.

We are simply vessels—not source-givers.

The misuse of words and false doctrine encourages spiritual elitism, implying that some have the power to transfer things that only God alone bestows. It opens the door to misuse of spiritual authority, especially if tied to subjective experiences rather than biblical truth. We must understand the impact and dangers that this kind of false teaching can have.

The Biblical and Theological Subject of Power

This subject is weighty and rich in theological debate—it wrestles with the very heart of God’s purpose in redemption. The very question concerning the pursuit of God’s power cuts through layers of shallow teaching that have left a powerless church behind.

The absence of power should burden any true shepherd. It is one of the greatest crises in the modern church today: the absence of expectation for real spiritual transformation, power, and holiness, and the deceptive comfort of a mere intellectual belief that bears no fruit.

My Testimony in This Journey

I can remember when I was a child in church and the preacher would say each and every Sunday, “Repent of your sins, and ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart and save you.” In 1985 at the age of 18, I followed those instructions—walking down the aisle, praying the sinner’s prayer, and following up in believers’ baptism.

But from 18 to 30, I lived in the pleasures of my sin. From 30 to 40, I wrestled with the Word of God—lacking understanding, sound theology, and true discipleship.

It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I truly began to seek, yield to, and depend on the indwelling and empowering Holy Spirit—the only One who can transform, restore, and renew a person through a Spirit-led life of power.

Though I spent almost a decade pursuing “power” through bad theology and shallow teaching, it was God’s sovereign grace that brought me through to soundness. He refined me through error, shaped me through weakness, and made me a vessel of truth—not by strength, but by surrender.

God created His redemptive plan of empowerment so that we might experience Heaven’s power in our earthly weakness.

1. Why Would God Require Regeneration, Transformation, New Creation, and Fruit?

• Because God doesn’t just want to forgive sinners—He wants to restore image-bearers.
• He doesn’t just want to rescue us from hell—He wants to make us holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15–16), conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), and display His glory in transformed vessels (2 Cor. 4:7).

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:14. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” – 2 Cor. 5:17.

This is not a condition for salvation, but it is God’s design—and the expected evidence of new life.

2. The Forgotten Necessity of Power

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation…” – Romans 1:16

Yet in many churches, the gospel has been reduced to a contract, not a new creation.

We say:

• “Just believe and you’re saved.”
• “Don’t chase emotionalism.”
• “Be careful with power and gifts—you might get weird.”

So, people settle for intellectual belief without Spirit-powered transformation. They know about Jesus but don’t walk in Him (Col. 2:6). They accept forgiveness but never experience fullness. And no one dares say something is wrong—for fear of sounding judgmental or extreme.

3. Why Is This Power So Absent Today?

Because in our fear of imbalance, we’ve abandoned expectation.

Yes, we rightly want to avoid fake spiritual chaos and performance-based religion. But in that caution, we’ve:

• Neutered the gospel’s power,
• Taught people to be content with conviction, not transformation,
• And abandoned experiential Christianity for safe theology.

Now many believe—but never burn with holiness. They confess—but never carry the cross. They’re sealed—but never sent.

And no one stops to ask: “Where is the power?”

4. We Must Teach Both Grace and Power

Warren Wiersbe modeled this well:

• Grace through faith,
• Spirit-empowered transformation as the norm—not the exception.

We cannot preach a gospel that removes the expectation of Spirit-indwelling evidence.

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… He will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit…” – Romans 8:11

This isn’t only about resurrection—it’s about present, Spirit-empowered living.

5. My Grief Is God’s Grief

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” – Revelation 3:1
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Col. 1:27

The Laodicean church is alive in name but dead in Spirit. Many today claim Christ—but miss Christ in them.

6. I’m Not Alone

This isn’t criticism—it’s intercession.

• The answer is not emotionalism or charismatic chaos.
• Nor is it dead orthodoxy or theological safety.

The answer is:

• A gospel that saves and transforms—never salvation plus works, but a salvation that works;
• A Spirit who convicts and empowers;
• A church that teaches grace and power;
• A faith that works through love, not effort.

Biblical Balance: Weakness and Power Held Together in Christ

1. We Acknowledge Our Weakness

“Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” – John 15:5; “We have this treasure in jars of clay…” – 2 Cor. 4:7; “When I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Cor. 12:10

“Weakness is not a flaw—it’s God’s design to magnify His glory.”

2. We Live by Resurrection Power

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…” – Phil. 3:10; “His divine power has given us all things…” – 2 Peter 1:3; “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” – Acts 1:8

In One Sentence:

“We walk with a limp like Jacob, leaning fully on the Spirit’s power, so that Christ’s strength—not ours—is made visible and effective through our lives.”

Practicing the Balance

1. Begin Each Day in Weakness and Humility
   – Acknowledge need, not self-pity. This keeps pride low and hearts soft.
2. Renew Your Mind with God’s Word
   – Don’t just accept weakness—rehearse His strength. (Romans 8:11; 2 Tim. 1:7)
3. Step Forward in Obedience by Faith
   – Even when you’re limping, walk by trust, not feelings. (Phil. 4:13)
4. Stand in Christ’s Authority
   – Speak, serve, pray, and confront with confidence in His name. (Matt. 28:18)
5. Stay Anchored in Scripture
   – Power that contradicts the Word is not from the Spirit. Let the Word keep you bold and grounded. (Eph. 6:10)
6. End the Day in Surrender and Gratitude
   – Whether weak or strong, rest in grace—not performance.

Summary:

• Acknowledge your need.
• Embrace His power.
• Obey with faith, not feelings.
• Walk in Christ’s authority.
• Stay grounded in the Word.
• End each day in surrender and thanks.

This is how you walk with a limp like Jacob and live in resurrection power—to the glory of God.