… and in the strength of his power.*
Summary: Paul has already told us to become strong in the Lord, enabling the power of the Lord God to fill us and overflow us. In this passage he points us to the source of the power, God.
It is one thing to become strong in the Lord and another to be in the strength of his power.
Yesterday, we discussed being strong in the Lord. In one sense, it means to strengthen our relationship with the Lord. In another, it means to increase our capacity for God’s power in us. Maybe, what it boils down to, is increasing our faith.
But … faith in what?
Ponder, for a moment, the magnitude of God’s power. The first sentence in the Bible reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
How? How did God create everything?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3)
God created all things by the power of his Word.
When God became man, he walked the earth as a humble carpenter named Jesus. The power of God was revealed again and again.
In Matthew 4:1-11 we see Jesus led into the wilderness by the Spirit. Jesus the Spirit, is challenged to master Jesus the flesh, which he does. Then, Jesus is tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). Again, even though weakened by forty days without food, he proves himself master of the situation. The power of God overcomes both the flesh and the devil.
In Cana of Galilee, he used his power to change nearly two hundred gallons of water into the finest wine. He did not use incantations. He did not appeal to any secret powers. It was the power of God in Jesus.
When John the Baptist asks Jesus if he is the promised one, Jesus tells John’s disciples, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Luke 7:22) These are examples of the power of God.
Is there anything God can’t do? Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14: 22-33) and allowed Peter to do the same. Another time, he calmed the wind and the sea with a word (Mark 4: 35-41). More than once he raised the dead back to life (Luke 7: 11-17, John 11: 38-44).
Which brings us to the oddest example of them all.
A fig tree.
The morning after Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the morning after he was hailed as “king,” a very short time before he allowed himself to be crucified, Jesus cursed a fig tree.** When his disciples expressed amazement that the tree died so quickly, Jesus said:
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21: 21-22)
Such is the strength of his power.
Application: Fall into the arms of God’s Power.
Food for Thought: How does what we think about God’s power affect or impact what we do with God’s power?
*Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
**The story of the fig tree is a fascinating episode in the life of Jesus. It deserves to be explored in detail. God’s Word relies heavily on metaphors and parables, and the fig tree is no exception. Why Jesus cursed the fig tree goes much deeper than simply being hungry.
How does what we thing about God’s power affect or impact what we do with God’s power?
It can be everything.
I did a study once that very heavily relied on that concept. The idea is, your thoughts/ beliefs about God correlate with your thoughts of yourself, mankind, and sin.
If God is big and powerful you’ll find yourself small and sin is an issue keeping you from God.
If God is small or limited, you’ll find yourself nearly equal and sin is negligible.
If God isn’t real, you’ll find yourself most important and sin doesn’t even exist.
Start with any one of these items and your view of them, it would be impossible to live out a belief that doesn’t effect the other elements.
Second, Jesus mentions the size of one’s faith. He says your faith only needs to be the size of a mustard seed. Prosperity gospel would conclude you need more faith if you don’t pray a miracle into being…. but God never said that. I think they get focused on size being mentioned once, when the important parts are: you need faith, your faith must include a big and powerful God, your prayer needs to align with His will, and God has more options than ‘yes’ for an answer.
Angela,
Thank you! Great comments!
Your three scenarios with “Big God,” “Medium God,” and “No God,” are very interesting and illuminating. I agree that the less we understand God’s power and presence, the less worried we are about offending God (sin).
There is one thing about the mustard seed analogy. Jesus goes on to explain that the smallest seed in the garden, the mustard seed, grows into the biggest plant in the garden. I think there may be a correlation there between the growth of the seed and how God wants our faith to grow. (Matthew 13:31-32)
Perhaps it takes a big and powerful faith to believe in a big and powerful God?
I agree. I like “A’s” description.
God’s power is unlimited. But we limit what we do with that power based on the condition of our faith. If we have little faith then we will not seek God’s power but our own. Our prayer lives are probably the best indicator of whose power we are depending upon.
Thanks Rich!
You make a powerful point. We don’t pray if we don’t believe.
PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL!!! We are about to see an example of God’s power.
10-09-2023, How does what we think about God’s power affect or impact what we do with God’s power?
Mark 10:8-9, And the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
Think for a moment, imagine you are the husband or wife of another, you have been made one flesh by God, and you spend 1 to maybe 2 hours together, once each week. You might even dress nicely and carry a powerful book which teaches about conduct for a proper marriage with you. The rest of the time you do whatever you choose. What kind of love does this demonstrate? How strong would your marriage be??
Now read and digest the fact that Every believer, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has been spiritually joined with Christ. We are His bride.
1 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:3-5, 6:8, Galatians 6:8
As believers we have responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Now is the time to “daily” seek His guidance as we study His word, become sensitive to His voice, and allow Him to empower each to live in obedience to His will.
All those who reject God”s call to grow in our relationship with Him, will be like the fig tree, bearing no fruit, and drying up. They can answer to Jesus when they see Him.
Ron,
Powerful words! Thank you!