THE POWER OF GOD
Ephesians 1:18-19. \”I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. He displayed this power in the working of His mighty strength.\”
What is power?
Webster and Biblical words for power
Definition of power
1: ability to act or produce an effect
2: the ability to get extra-base hits
3: capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect
4: legal or official authority, capacity, or right
5: possession of control, authority, or influence over others
6: one having such power specifically: a sovereign state
Power = force multiplied by speed (velocity) P = F × v.
The Hebrew word for power is kowach: firm, vigor, might, strength, wealth
The Greek word for power is dunamis : same as above, add an abundance
There is no way to measure God’s power.
A simple example of power is a nail being driven into wood with a hammer.
The Force is the weight of the hammer acting on the nail.
The velocity is the swing of the hammer
God never defines His power
He shows us His power by what He does.
Consider God’s power acting in our bodies
There are 12 major systems in our bodies that have to function to make us well and sane people,
These different body systems include the skeletal, nervous, muscular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular/circulatory, urinary, integumentary, reproductive, and digestive systems.
All of these systems require God’s Power. For example, the human heart
Normal resting blood pressure, in an adult is approximately 120 millimeters of mercury (16 kPa) systolic over 80 millimeters of mercury (11 kPa) diastolic, denoted as \”120/80 mmHg\”.
A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
In 2020 the human population of the world was 7.753 billion.
The God we serve regulates and keeps track of each heart rate.
LIMITED VIEW OF GOD’S POWER
Exodus 15:6-9
6 \”Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.
7 In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
Verses 6-9 give us three limited views of God’s power acting on man.
The power is in God’s right hand which presents a force to shatter the enemy
At God’s speed
2nd the force from God’s right-hand causes the enemy to fall at God’s speed
3rd the power in God’s nostrils causes a blast at God’s speed to act on the water
Causing it to stand up creating dry land,
God’s power cannot be defined in human terms, but here is what we know
THERE IS POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD
Proverbs 24:5-6
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
6 for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.
Whatever knowledge and strength you have come from God
Daniel 2:23
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
NEVER WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD
1 Corinthians 5:4-5
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,
God’s Power is with us at all times. It can be active in our lives, or passive in our lives if we are not doing anything
That bring Him Glory
In actuality, God’s power is working in us at all times. We are not aware of all the processes that are going on
In our bodies at all times.
WE ARE MADE COMPLETE IN THE POWER OF JESUS
2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Ephesians 3:19. \”May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.\”
WE CANNOT QUESTION GOD’S POWER
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth
God does not tell how He created the Heavens and the earth
He does not tell what process He uses to lay out the universe
Job dared to question the action of God regarding his condition.
Listen to God’s response
Job 38:4-5
\”Where were you when I laid the earth\’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
GOD’S POWER IS ESSENTIAL
John 15:5-6
\”I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.
GOD’S POWER IS CREATIVE
John 1:3
Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made.
GOD’S POWER IS ETERNAL
John 10:28-30
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father\’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.\”
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God\’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
NIV
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
GOD’S POWER IS UNIVERSAL
John 6:40
For my Father\’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.\”
GOD’S POWER IS DIRECTIONAL
Job 37:12-13
12 At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love.
GOD’S POWER IS MIRACULOUS
1 Chronicles 16:12-13
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
Acts 19:11-12
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
GOD’S POWER IS INDEPENDENT
Revelation 22:13
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
God’s power is infused in every part of our bodies
Consider the 12 major systems of the body, they function without your participation
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
GOD HAS HEALING POWER
Matthew 9:21-22
She said to herself, \”If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.\”
Jesus turned and saw her. \”Take heart, daughter,\” he said, \”your faith has healed you.\” And the woman was healed from that moment.
GOD HAS PROTECTION POWER
Psalms 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
GOD HAS PROVISIONAL POWER
Psalms 132:15
I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor will I satisfy with food.
GOD’S POWER IS UNLIMITED
Psalms 147:5-6
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
SUMMARY
Power is the very energy of the life of God himself. It is the supernatural energy that emanates from God\’s being. (2) This supernatural and divine energy or power quite literally fills and indwells the bodies and souls of every born-again believer. God does not call upon us to speculate about the nature of this power.
Power comes to all baptized believers in the form of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
God gives power to all mankind in the form of the spirit in man. The mind, the intellect, is the basis of man\’s power. To His regenerated children, though, He gives an extra, realized capacity to perform His will, just as He gives dunamis to the angelic host to carry out its responsibilities (II Thessalonians 1:7). He equips us with whatever we need to accomplish what He is working out.
If something needs to be done for God\’s design to be realized, we can be sure that God has delegated the power—the capacity, aptitude, authority, and active effectiveness—for it to be done. (Forerunner Commentary)
Don’t limit God’s ability to act in your life.
If you need something, ask God.
He can do exceedingly more than you can ask or imagine.
God wants to work His Power in your life
God is like a power grid
You are extensions of God’s Power Grid.
Who is connected to your power grid?
In other words, who are you influencing with the word of God?
How are you using God’s power in your life?
Rev. M. Mitchell
