THE POWER OF GOD
The longer a person has been a Christian and the more he understands about God’s “so great Salvation”, I am sure his response will be that he is overwhelmed at what God has done for him. This is sure my experience, as I contemplate the “pit from whence I was dug”, and the fact that I have failed the Lord so many times since I became a Christian, and yet God’s grace is still available to me. More than ever I realise that WITHOUT HIM I CAN DO NOTHING. I am utterly powerless, I can so relate to Paul’s words in Romans 7:24 NKJV “O wretched man that I am!” I am so thankful I have an ALL POWERFUL GOD. Hallelujah.
God’s awesome power is manifest in so many ways, and we read story after story in the Old Testament of God displaying His power especially to the enemies of God’s people. When we come to the New Testament we start to see God’s power manifest through the other members of the Trinity. For example, Jesus being will in eternity past to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Sixty years ago, when an evening Gospel/Salvation service was a common practice still in Evangelical circles, we would often sing “Would you be free from your burden of sin, THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD, would you o’er evil a victory win, THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD. I am daily thankful for the POWERFUL outworking of Christ death on the Cross, not only when I repented almost 67 years ago, (and was born again) but that now as a Christian as I fulfil 1 John 1:7 NKJV If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I continue to experience the POWER OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST to cleanse my heart.
Then in the book of Acts as the N.T. Church is about to be born Jesus says in Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Greek word for power used here is Dunamis, where we can see the picture of the English words dynamic or even dynamite. The Early Church would need the dynamic POWER of the Holy Spirit to witness to the known world about the coming of the Messiah, and the message of Salvation. This is the experience of every Believer when they are born again, The Holy Spirit enters their life and we receive POWER to witness by our LIFE and LIPS about Christ and His eternal Salvation.
Paul also speaks of the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in Ephesians 3:20 NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that works in us, The AMP N.T. says Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] POWER that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— The MESSAGE says
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Paul uses a different Greek word for POWER, but there is still the same awesome meaning, not only has the Holy Spirit come into us to give us POWER to witness, but He (The Holy Spirit) wants to WORK IN US, to make us more like Jesus, and also WORK THROUGH US, for His honour and glory.
This POWER can and must impact our praying as Paul highlights ASK, and also our thinking, the Holy Spirit wants us to THINK BIG AND DREAM BIG, and believe GOD’S POWER WILL BE MANIFEST IN US AND THROUGH US.
This is why Paul reminds us that we must be CONTINUALLY Filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and we have to actively co-operate with the Holy Spirit so His power can be manifest IN And THROUGH US.
The OMNIPONTENT (all powerful) God has come to reside in us, may we learn to let Him PRESIDE in us, not only that we personally experience His POWER WORKING IN US, but we see HIS POWER WORKING THROUGH US AMEN,
