A Power Passage!

Every time we read through the Scriptures we ought to allow the power of God’s message to speak to us and strengthen our faith for powerful living. However, there are some passages that seem so packed with power there is a sense in which we should perhaps feel the buzz of the high voltage contained therein as we personally connect it to our life.

Throughout Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he used some powerful expressions relating to God, our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the greatness of God’s love and the hope of which we as Christians ought to feel the assurance. One of these “power passages” is toward the last verses of the first chapter. We will begin the passage mid-sentence because most of this chapter (in the Greek) is one very long sentence anyway. Inserted in brackets are four Greek words to which I wish to draw attention.

We read. . .
“(18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the immeasurable greatness of HIS POWER [(Gk.) DUNAMEOS] toward us who believe, according to the WORKING [(Gk.) ENERGEIAN] of his great MIGHT [Gk. “tou KRATOUS tes ISCHUOS autou”, “of the strength of the strength of Him”] (20) that he WORKED [(Gk. ENERGESEN)] in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,” ( Ephesians 1:18-20)

In verse nineteen alone Paul used four different words drawing attention to the POWER OF GOD. The first is from “DUNAMIS” which refers to power or ability and is the word Nobel thought of when he named his invention dynamite. The second is from “ENERGIA” which refers to work or working power and we might do well to notice its similarity to the English word “energy.” The third is from “KRATOS” which refers to power or strength. The fourth is from “ISCHUS” (or “ischys”) which points to ability, force, or strength.

Do we get the idea Paul did not want the WORKING of GOD’S POWER and STRENGTH to be missed in this text? Based on the reality of GOD’S POWER working in us and on our behalf is the connection on which Paul would eventually point to our salvation being brought about by the WORK OF GOD rather than by our own works. ( Ephesians 2:8) If salvation were based on our own ability, power, or works we could not have the assurance that is ours based on the POWERFUL WORKING of God that makes it possible.

May we never read the above passage the same again, but instead be encouraged by the POWER OF GOD that works mightily on our behalf and in our life. Acknowledging GOD’S ABILITY to do everything He has said He will do can impact us for powerful living as we trustingly live to serve His purposes in this realm.

Have a great day LIVING LIFE PLUGGED INTO GOD’S POWER PANEL!
Carl

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