A believer who lacks power would be unable to fulfill their God-given destiny. God’s intention for mankind is to make us an extension of himself. This intention is expressed in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Although, a believer is one step closer to seeing this intention fulfilled in his life because he has accepted Christ, nonetheless, he would never be able to see this intention come to pass in his life if he lacks power.
What is Power?
Power according to a general physics definition is the ability to do work. This definition can be rephrased to help us understand what power means from God’s perspective. It can be rewritten as the “ability to do God’s intention.” This definition brings many thoughts to mind. One of those thoughts is how specific God’s power is in the way it works. The power of God only works in the direction of God’s intention. God’s power supersedes all but will only function in the direction of his intention. Any believer might have a desire to see the fulfillment of God’s will in his or her life, or family; they might desire to see God’s will fulfilled in their country, but this desire will never see the light of day if that believer lacks God’s power. God’s power is the only means to God’s work/intention.
The disciples of Jesus in the book of Luke chapter 24 verse 49 were told to wait in Jerusalem till they received power from on high. He already gave them the commission to preach his gospel to every creature, but they still had to receive power before they could begin to walk according to that commission. These men had walked with Jesus for three and half years, and one would assume that the “closeness” they had with Jesus was enough power to do what he commissioned them to do, but it wasn’t from Jesus’s perspective.
Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
The verse above gives us a view of what the power the disciples were supposed to wait for would do for them when it came. The ‘b’ part of that verse reveals that this power would make them witnesses. The disciples had walked with Jesus, eaten with Jesus, and slept around Jesus, and still, they didn’t have any ability in themselves to witness him. This revelation is a humbling one, and accurately depicts our lack of strength in the face of fulfilling God’s intention. When the promise eventually came, it was as advertised. The disciples became a wonder in their time. The book of Acts is a testimony of the wonders revealed in the lives of these men. All of these happened as a result of them receiving power. It was God’s intention for them to witness him, but the ability to do so only came as a result of them receiving the power of God.
The scripture is filled with an unending bank of promises from God to us (believers). These promises are God’s desires for us, but just like the disciples could not perform God’s intention themselves, these promises can only be fulfilled by God’s ability.
These are three reasons why we need power:
● To witness Jesus. It is impossible for us to accurately/sufficiently witness Jesus to the world without power.
● To resist the devil. We need God’s power to resist our enemy, the devil (1 Peter 5:9).
● To walk in divine purpose. The power of God is God’s fuel to sponsor his will. Hence, the need for the believer to seek God’s power for the fulfillment of God’s purpose (will) in his life.
Power is a singular word in the English bible, but there is more than one in the original scrolls that make up the bible, because of how broad this word is from the perspective of the original languages of the Bible (Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic). These are four words for power from the New Testament.
● Dunamis. This is inherent or potential power (Acts 1:8). This power is accessible to every believer of Christ, but it will only exist as a potential until it is activated.
● Exousia This is known as jurisdictional power. It is the power that works based on permission. A believer might have permission to work in the teaching ministry because he was led by the Holy Spirit to be involved in it, but his activity would be illegal if he begins to “operate” in other offices that differ from what he was called/led to be involved in (Luke 10:19).
●Ischus.
● Kratos. This is the power that surpasses all powers. It is the ultimate power. It is God’s power (Ephesians 1:19).
