The Purpose of Biblilcal Power - Damon J. Gray
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
– Colossians 1:9-11, ESV
I write often about my frustration with the self-focus of Western Christianity. It is so antithetical to the Biblical worldview and the perspective of those who live, even today, where the Biblical narrative was lived out. To them, everything is community. It is about community and for community. To view life as about me and for me is unthinkable and shameful to them, as it should be to us.
I was reflecting this week on power, and the way Western Christianity twists biblical power into yet another personal plaything that comes with the Christian package. The message conveyed to the audience is, “You have this power, and just look at all the cool things you can do with this power.”
In this week’s blog posting we are going to examine biblical power to see what it is and what it does.
Paul’s Prayer for Power
Toward the end of the first chapter of the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he gushes a beautiful prayer on their behalf. If you ever want to pray for another person and are not sure how to pray for them, turn to the end of Ephesians Chapter One and pray that prayer on their behalf. You’ll be blessed and they will as well.
Sandwiched right in the middle of that prayer, we find this phrase:
…and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…
– Ephesians 1:19, ESV
In context, Paul is talking about the power of God, rather than the power of the believer. It is God’s power toward us. Paul is praying that the Ephesian believers would have knowledge and wisdom and understanding of how overwhelmingly great that power toward them truly is.
It is power that raised Jesus from the dead! Resurrection power. It is a power far above and beyond any earthy rule, power, authority, or dominion. That is the power that is directed toward you. Despite Paul’s prayer that the Ephesians understand that power, I don’t believe we can ever fully comprehend it. But understand, it is God’s power, not ours.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers was that they would know this power of God toward them, not because it is some ethereal, abstract force to be manipulated, but rather the lived reality of Christ’s resurrection authority operating in and through his body, the Church.
Power of Gospel Proclamation
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
– Romans 1:16, ESV
Don’t lose sight of the fact that the quote above was sent to the church at Rome. Rome was the seat of power and power is the thing Rome valued the most. You’ll recall the exchange between Jesus and Pilate wherein Pilate boasted to Jesus that he had the power to release him or to crucify him.1 Jesus boldly responded, telling Pilate he would have no power at all unless it has been given to him from above.
In the statement from Paul, above, he makes it unmistakably clear that gospel power far exceeds Roman power. You employ that power, that greater-than-Rome power, every time you speak the gospel of Jesus Christ!
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
– 1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV
Just prior to his ascension, Jesus told his disciples that they would receive power, and it was power with a purpose. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”2 The power of the Holy Spirit is directly linked to the believing community’s ability to carry out the mission of God. This power transcends hostility and physical limitations. When the apostle Paul spoke the gospel, he did so not with bravado, or admirable eloquence, “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”3
Power of Believer’s Endurance
Later in his letter to Ephesus, Paul prayed again, this time that the believers would “be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”4 “filled with the fullness of God,”5and he assured them that God is able to do immeasurably more than all they ask or imagine “according to the power that is at work with in us.”6
For the church at Colossae, Paul prayed that the believers would be strengthened with all might, according to God’s glorious power and, specifically, for endurance and patience with joy.7 The power Paul was praying for is an internal fortitude, patience, and sustained endurance while undergoing trial. And we can face those trials boldly because, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”8
Power for Godly Living
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.
– 2 Peter 1:3, ESV
You lack nothing…nothing you need for living a godly life in Christ Jesus. And note that Peter is not saying God gives us the power to live godly lives but, rather, that God’s divine power has granted that all the tools necessary for godly living to us. We have everything we need because his power has granted us those things. His power granted us everything required to be “rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith.”9
Power of Powerlessness
I’ve heard well known preachers say we need to “build our spiritual muscle.” While that may play well in some crowds, it is completely antithetical to the biblical message. Though it seems paradoxical to the world, in the framework of the biblical kingdom, God’s power is displayed not through imbuing men with strength and self-sufficiency, but through dependence and weakness, ensuring the glory always remains with God.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
– Psalm 8:2, ESV
Though we don’t know what it was, the apostle Paul wrestled with some sort of illness or encumbrance that he desperately wanted to be freed from.10 Repeatedly, Paul prayed to be loosed from this “thorn in the flesh,” and each pleading was met with non-deliverance.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
– 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV
There is a reason we need to be exceedingly cautious about following “rock stars” in the faith, and certainly take a cautious look at yourself if you are striving to become one.
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
– 1 Corinthians 2:3-5, ESV
Power of Protection
The power of God operates as a protective, spiritual guard that preserves the community of God until the day of redemption. The apostle Peter writes that we, “by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”11 God owns the power and he is the one able to keep us until that day.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
– Jude 1:24-25, ESV
Key Concepts
When you encounter someone talking about the power of the Christian life, cautiously observe what or who they present as the focus of that power. Biblical power is never given for self-aggrandizement, but always for witness, for service, for endurance of trial, and for edification of the body of Christ.
And when Peter saw [the stunned crowd] he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
– Acts 3:12,16, ESV
1. John 19:10
2. Acts 1:8
3. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
4. Ephesians 3:16
5. Ephesians 3″19
6. Ephesians 3:20
7. Colossians 1:11
8. 2 Timothy 1:7
9. Colossians 2:7
10. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8
11. 1 Peter 1:5
