CHANNELS OF POWER: PART ONE

Power is usually associated with someone who has authority or major influence on people, systems, and (or) structures. In our generation, we often see people either misuse or abuse their power. Rarely do we see someone using their power for selfless reasonings. Jesus echoed this in Mathew 20:25, when He said to His disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.” No matter who has the power or how it's being used, one thing is certain: God is the source and author of ALL powers. As followers of Christ, God has given us access to His power, not to abuse it or misuse it but to transform our lives, assist the body of Christ, and advance His Kingdom. What if I told you that you also have access to God’s power, would you believe it? In this article, we will discuss what is power, the source of power, and the purpose of power for those who are in Christ Jesus.

What is Power?

Power is the ability to enforce a change or compel compliance. It is the capacity to exude both inner and outer strength to the degree that is consistent with God’s will and scripture desire.

Source of Power: 

All power is from God, accessed through Christ, and administered to us by the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 62:10 "God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God."

Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."

Colossians 2:10 "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [a]principality and power."

Purpose of Power: 

1: It is our Inheritance 

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Ephesians 1:18-21 "the eyes of your [a]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality[b] and [c]power and [d]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come."

Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

2: To live a life of dominion 

Genesis 1:26 26 "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [a]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

 Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

3: Fulfil the destiny 

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me [i]to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are [j]oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

4: To be an effective witness and influence our generation 

 Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who [a]believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Acts 4: 33 And with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

 Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

 Today, there are various methods to access power. However, as believers, we must center our access to power in God through Christ, being certain that His power is pure, and eternal, and cannot be taken away from us. Each time we say no to temptation, choose a righteous living over an unrighteous one, resist the devil, or yield to the Holy Spirit to transform us, we are exercising the power God has given us. Power is not always about the public display of miracles signs, and wonder, it is our inheritance that allows us to fulfill our purpose and further the kingdom of God.