Power

 

As I write this, they are forecasting a winter storm to hit here later this week. People are making preparations as they remember the storm we had 5 years ago which crippled the area. Many people were without power or running water for days.

 

Recalling the storm got me thinking about the different meanings of “power”. On the one hand, it represents the force that allows something to function, e.g. electrical power. It can also mean control over someone or something. The original Greek translations of the New Testament have several different words that can be translated as power: Dunamis (Mark 9:1) is the ability to do something while exousia (Matthew 28:18) refers to having authority. Kratos (Ephesians 1:19) and energeia (Colossians 1:29) are sometimes translated as power, the former meaning the power given to someone because of their position and the latter the energy to accomplish a task.

 

We speak of God as being omnipotent, or all-powerful. All the definitions above apply to Him. He created the universe and everything in it. He has the ultimate authority over the world because He created it. He can do all things.

 

Christians are given power by God to help them with their everyday trials and to advance His kingdom here on earth. Jesus told His disciples before returning to heaven, “You will receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8). Jesus also told His disciples, “I have given you authority (exousia)…..to overcome all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). Paul wrote, “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy (energeia) Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29). God’s power is available to us through the working of the Holy Spirit but we must take hold of it. Like an object which is unplugged, we have no power on our own.

 

As is true for most things in life, power can be misused. We are witnesses to this in the world today. Nations go to war against other nations to have dominion over them. Other countries endure civil wars where factions fight for control over other factions. Political and business leaders seek power for their own benefit. Others in authority abuse their power. We are called to stand up to and speak out against those who misuse their power to the detriment of others.

 

We may also want to stop and consider this from a personal level. Are we open to God’s power? Are we allowing it to work in and through us or are we going through life on our own? Are we using our power in the service of others? Whether at work, church, or home, we need to maintain a servant’s heart.

 

May Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians be for us as well, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17).

-----

The individual posts in this blog have been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog.  It is available for free as an E-book through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through them.