Power

POWER

(A WORD STUDY)

Lk 12:5 "...power to cast into hell;"
Lk 24:49 "I send the promise...endued with power from on high."
Jn 1:12 "...gave he power to become the sons of God"
Jn 10:18 "...I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Ro 1:16 "..the gospel of Christ...is the power of God..."
Ro 15:13 "...through the power of the Holy Ghost."
1Co 1:18 "...the cross is... the power of God."
1Co 1:24 "...Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
1Co 2:4 "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"
1Co 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
1Co 4:19-20 "...not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
2Co 13:4 "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."
Eph 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,"

There are 6 different Greek words for "power": "dunamis; kratos; ischus; energeia; exousia; arche".

Each has it's own meaning and may greatly alter the sense or intent of a statement by its particular use. Hence, the difference between "power" and "authority".

But, not to labor the point, I won't spend time on a word-study here! I'm not sure it's possible to discuss God, or to get to know Him apart from His Power!

Notice Paul makes that point as to his method of evangelism - by Power, not by words! Hmmmm..... "demonstration"!

Notice he says a demonstration of the Spirit as well as the Power. And he uses the two as though they ought not to be separate when applied to man! Hmmmm.

Notice that certain things are pinpointed by Paul as THE power of God, as "focal-points" of God's power (where God concentrates His Power). The "gospel", the "Spirit", the "cross", "Christ": ...all these are specifically singled out as "the power of God".

Paul thinks so much of this power that he says the Kingdom is made up of nothing else! By Kingdom, he means the Kingdom of Faith. The Kingdom is God's Power; and our Faith stands in/by that Power.

And then he talks about the "working" of His mighty Power. "Demonstration" and "working", Hmmm...

There is one aspect of God's Power which I think is far more powerful than any "act" or "work" which "demonstrates" or represents it; rather than the Power of His Actions, the Mighty Power of His Thoughts!

Witness His Plan of Salvation which He kept Secret until it's full Revelation in Jesus Christ!

But wait, there might be a "Power" even Greater than this! How about the Power not of His Thoughts or Actions, but of His Character? His Love. Here is surely the Greatest Power of All!

But if Love is +What+ He Is (and Love is surely the Greatest Power of all!), what about +WHO+ He Is? And, as Son of God, is Jesus merely an "Act" of God, or is He every Aspect of God and His Power, and Glory, and Majesty - Expressed, or not! Is Jesus Christ +WHO+ God IS?

The Reality of the Truth of God's Power and Love Expressed AND Reserved ("eye hath not seen....") Who IS Jesus Christ is forever Manifested in the Godhead, Three In One! Such as Loved Creation and ReCreates Love In Himself +IS+ "Power"! Christ Is His Powerful Love!