Friday, March 4, 2011

Power

Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

exousia power

power: exousia, power of authority. This sounds like the word "exorcist", one who has power to cast out demons. This is not a power given by a certain church, but the power of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples were given this power before the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost.

Transforming power given through Jesus

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Jesus gave power: exousia, the same word used for power in Matthew 10:1. This power was to become a son of God. Wow, this was transforming power, to make us new creations, spirit born son's of the most high God. It came through believing in the name of Jesus. Power to cast out devils but more importantly power to become a son of God. Judas was given this power to cast out devils, but he did not have the faith in Jesus and God did not give him the power to become a son of God.

Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is important to acknowledge that this miracle came not by being born a Jew or a Christian, nor was it by our will, nor by someone else willing it, but we were born of God. Jesus is God and He was given power from the father and all authority. Through belief in Jesus, power came upon us to change us, to forgive our sins and to make us holy children of God, this was a sovereign gift from God. God chooses and we respond by giving our will to him by faith in Jesus.

Jesus has all authority and power

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (exousia) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus was given all power in heaven and in earth, this can only be from God; his father shared all things with him and Jesus is God the Son. Jesus gave this command to his disciples and if we are his disciples it is also for us. Go, teach and baptize; what about salvation? Salvation is the work of God. He saves them by faith in Jesus, it is not up to us. We are to teach his word and to baptize them with water, again it is God who baptizes them in the Holy Ghost; the baptism of Jesus, we are not to teach them to speak in tongues, it is of God. The gifts are from God, not man. We may lay hands on them and the power is of God.

Dunamis or dynamis power

2Ti 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,(dunamis), miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

Dunamis, is Holy Spirit power from God for doing miracles. His power flows through the Spirit filled believer. Do not forget the love and a sound mind. No gift is given apart from love and the mind of Christ.

Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Mar 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power,(dunamis) and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power,( dunamis) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis) to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (kratos)

kratos ,mighty power, dominion power and strength

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, (exousia) and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Three words were used in these verses for the power of God.

Exousia power, power given by Jesus to cast our devils and power given to be a Son of God.

Dunamis power dynamis (dynamite), this is the power of God through the Holy Spirit, to do miracles and to bring people to salvation.

Kratos is the mighty power of God, kingly power of the sovereign God.

All three of these powers were mentioned in Eph 1:18-20

Judas was given exousia power to cast out demons, but not being saved the devil entered him. Jesus gave us a new power, dunamis, with the Holy Spirit to enable us to do the work of the Lord.

God the father is all powerful, kratos, he chooses us and enables us to be witnesses with power given from above. All is for the glory of God.

There is one more Greek word for the power of God that I want to mention.

Pantokratōr, Our God is almighty,

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (pantokrator)

Thank you father for receiving us as your son's and daughters. amen

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