“And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1
Dear Ones:
The whole of creation and the work of redemption is predicated on POWER. Every intervention, act, or intention of God, is in some way a demonstration and proclamation of His power. When God spoke creation into existence, the result was the manifestation of His power, wisdom, and sovereignty. When He works in the heart of an individual to bring them to the new birth, it is a demonstration of His power. As the hymn-writer put it, “…power into strength-less souls He speaks, and life into the dead.” (Wesley) What then does the knowledge of the indispensable power of God have to do with our daily lives? If we would understand the relationship “power” has with us, and us with the power of God, we need to grasp something of its meaning, and the means by which it is made available, or communicated, to us.
The first thing that we need to distinguish between is the so-called power of man, as opposed to that of God. There is a “power” of the flesh, that which originates in and of ourselves. It is put in motion and driven by “self-will,” or the “will of the flesh.” It has its origin in the mind, emotions, and will of man. It begins and ends with man. It is therefore exercised according to the dictates of mans wants and desires, and not those of God. In essence, it is a self-centered power to choose, rule, and work, generally for the glory of man. When we step into the sphere and dimension of the power of God, we step into the infinite, and that which is of a nature that has its only reference and nature in God. The Gospel not only tells us that God is the GIVER of power; He IS that power: “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor.1:24) So then, the power that God gives, and the power that He is, is the expression of His blessed and holy nature, unique, Divine, pure and good. It is a power that is given only for His purposes, according to His will, for His glory. It is the very power of Christ, manifesting itself by virtue of the Holy Spirit, in perfect conformity with the person of Christ.
The second thing that we need to see and grasp concerning this power of God, is that God has given this power to us in Christ, for “all of our hourly need.” If God has quickened us together with Christ by the power of the Spirit, and if we have been placed in living union with Christ, and are KEPT by the power of God, then it is the will of God as sons, children of God, that we LIVE by this power, that same power by which Christ lived on this earth. When Jesus came up out of the waters of the Jordan, after being baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit came upon him very quietly in the form of a dove. However, that beautiful and wonderful, quiet anointing, was both Jesus’ confirmation of His mission, and the assurance of the power to accomplish that mission. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He LIVES by the power of God.” (2 Cor. 13:4) Since we have been called to “follow in His steps, ” “abide in Him,” “walk by the Spirit,” we are also to “…live with Him BY THE POWER OF GOD toward you.” (v.4) The questions must be asked, “How,” and “How much?”
In writing to the Ephesians, Paul wrote concerning praying for a vision of this power: “…that you might know…what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He raised Him from the dead.” (1:19,20) Paul then goes on to pray for them that they would be, “…strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” (3:17) Lastly, his expectation in praying for the Ephesians, according to his vision of the power of God, is expressed in this: “NOW unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER that works in us, unto Him be glory in the church.” (3:20,21)
Dear Father, open our eyes to see the immeasurable, and more-than-sufficient, power of God in Christ. Give us grace to pray for the strengthening by the Spirit, that Christ, our power, may dwell in us by faith. Grant us to KNOW this power of the resurrection, as we LIVE by the power of God, every day for Thy glory. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad