The Purpose of Power
For just a moment, consider the first image that comes to mind when you think of power. Is it lightning, tornado winds, or a rocket ship, or perhaps a sumo-wrestler, influential leader, magnetic speaker, or maybe even Samsom or Goliath from the Bible? While I don’t know what your image was, I’m confident it was just as powerful, if not more, than the possibilities I listed, and most notably, is one of the ways you personally define power.
What is Power?
Much like love, the word power is used to describe many things, and therefore has a wide range of meanings. Most commonly however, power is used to describe something or someone that has or exhibits great strength. Additionally, power is used to describe a person of influence or authority. The Scripture, on the other hand, describes power with just one word or rather just one name—God. In the Bible, only God is described as all-powerful, defined as omnipotent, meaning He’s the only One who has unlimited power and complete authority.
The Power of Jesus
In the Old Testament, God’s power was evidenced in His mighty acts, such as the parting of the Red Sea, the crumbling of Jericho's walls, and miraculous daily provision during the Exodus. In the New Testament however, God's power is on full display in the Person of Jesus, the embodiment of His Power. So much so that the Gospel writer Luke described Jesus as “powerful in everything he said and did” (Luke 24:19 GNT). The power of Jesus, in complete contrast to the world powers of His day, was rooted in humility, and expressed through compassionate acts of healing, forgiveness, justice, surrender, obedience, and godly authority.
The Promised Gift
In the final days of His life, Jesus met with His disciples to encourage and prepare them for life in His absence. In one critical conversation, Jesus told His friends that although He would be leaving, He would send them a Helper to be with them forever (John 14:16). And true to His Word, Jesus did just that. Fifty days after His Resurrection, the Helper, also the promised Gift (Acts 1:4), made His entrance in a most spectacular way, evidenced by a mighty wind and fiery tongues settling on every person present, enabling them to speak in various languages (Acts 2:3-4). This momentous and historical event, the Day of Pentecost, changed the life of the church forever, empowering believers in every generation to live on mission with God.
The Need for Power
Jesus told His followers that God would send them a gift—the gift of power. Why this gift? Well, quite frankly, it’s because His followers then and still today need it. The truth is we are not capable of living for God on our own. And Jesus spoke of this very thing in His brilliant illustration of God as the Vinedresser, Himself as the Vine, and all believers as branches. Jesus explained that abiding or remaining in Him was the key to fruitfulness. He was also clear in stating that apart from Him, we were powerless to accomplish anything (John 15:4-5). You see, God’s power was not only a promised gift, it was also a necessary gift, equipping followers of Jesus then and now to live confidently, unashamedly, boldly, and courageously in this world.
Power is Not an Option
Living powerlessly is clearly not an option for us as Christ-followers. Instead, we must rely on God's power at all times and for every reason. It is only by God’s power at work within us that we are equipped to face life’s challenges, share the Gospel, love, serve and forgive others, surrender our will, walk in faith, choose obedience, give generously, pray effectively, and ultimately experience and reflect the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10). For these reasons and countless more I am convinced that living with power is our best, most blessed option, allowing us to live effectively, faithfully, and fruitfully.
So perhaps today, take some time reflecting upon the tremendous gift of God's power, realizing it is available to you simply by asking (Matthew 7:7), and is also necessary in accomplishing all He has called you to do and to be.
Pray
Father God, thank You for the privileged and purposed gift of Your power, equipping me to live on mission with You in this world. I am humbled and grateful to know that Your strength is available to me, and that You have a purpose for this power in my life. I also recognize that apart from Your power working through me, I am ineffective in accomplishing anything on my own. Help me to always rely on Your power, and to use it in a way that reflects Your glory and brings honor to Your name. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Reflect
In what specific way(s) are you encouraged, knowing God’s power is available to you to live for Him and fulfill your calling?
Encourage others with your response to this week’s question HERE!