Power is the ability to do work, or to effect a cause, or to make something happen. When there is no power there is no work, no movement, no activity, no cause, and no life. Obviously, power is part of the nature of God. It is an inherent and inseparable element of who he is (Romans 1:20). On the other hand, power is not an inherent element of human nature. In fact, whatever power we possess as human beings was breathed into us by God at creation (Genesis 2:7). It was then appropriated by us for selfish purposes, causing us to fall out of a perfect relationship with our creator when we used that power to sin. But God graciously and mercifully continued to allow his power to animate us even though we employed it so often for anti-God pursuits. Mankind lived in a strange zombie-like existence in which our bodies were animated by the breath of God, but our actual being was powerless – or dead – to commune with God because of our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3).
The Greek word frequently used in the New Testament, and translated in English bibles to the word “power,” is dynamis (pronounced doo-nam-is). That Greek word is the root of English words like dynamite. And that’s an apt root word, because there’s enough power packed into a single, small stick of dynamite to do the work of many, many people. That dynamite kind of power is what Jesus promised his followers after his resurrection, but before he was taken into Heaven (Acts 1:8). They got that kind of power in Acts 2 at Pentecost. Prior to receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the followers of Jesus were frequently cowering and powerless. For instance, prior to Pentecost, when the Lord was being arrested, his disciples left him and fled, while Peter was too feeble to associate himself with Jesus in the high priest’s courtyard outside where he was being held (Mark 14:32-50, Mark 14:53-72).
But after Pentecost, Peter completely associates himself with Christ by giving a public and dangerous sermon in which he acknowledges the deity and messianic nature of the crucified Jesus (Acts 2:14-41). Then, there’s the courage of Stephen. After Pentecost, Stephen does not run away from danger, but powerfully testifies to the messianic nature of Jesus, then rebukes his own religious people for their stubborn resistance to God’s Holy Spirit (Acts 6:8 - Acts 7:51). His own people then promptly stone him to death, but not before he powerfully models Jesus by interceding on their behalf and asking God not to hold their murderous sin against them (Acts 7:54-60). That’s dynamite!
Dynamis is the ability to live a Godly life, and do those things that God would have you do. It becomes part of your nature, so that your trust in God allows the Holy Spirit to flow through you, to produce good works, to produce good fruit, and to be able to overcome the world. It is this kind of power that allows Paul to do all things through Christ who strengthens him (Philippians 4:12-13). When we are made right with God, our bodies are no longer just animated. We are no longer zombies. We are alive to God – no longer dead to him, and have the ability to overcome sins and avoid trespasses. Now, go and use the power God gives you to do his work, to effect his causes, and to make things happen!
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