Knowing God through His Word — Part 20
God’s power to live a Christian life sustains me. Without out it, I’d fail. It saddens me that words about His authority and power bounce off many people. I’m thinking of a friend of mine. She is a “good” woman—moral, honest and caring, but I wonder if she knows Jesus. She says she does, but she has no sense of sin and trusts in her own goodness. She doesn’t seem to need or want His power or to grapple with the truth that God’s Kingdom is one of holiness and that Christians live by His supernatural grace and power. During three troubled times, when friends prayed for her and her family, God powerfully intervened on her behalf. She acknowledges the miracles and a healing but is double minded. She says my kind of faith and my need for God’s strength is good for me, but it’s not for her. She doesn’t get Him—I thought of her today when I read these verses about God’s power.
God’s kingdom is in power.
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power 1 Corinthians 4:20.
In the last days. . .people will be lovers of self. . .having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1,2,5.
God’s power gives salvation, life and godliness to all who believe.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1: 16.
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.
God gives us power over our human frailty.
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.
God gives us His power to over our own emotions.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and of a self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7.
God gives us His power in our all our weakness.
[Paul wrote,] Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live by him by the power of God. 2 Corinthians 13:4.
God’s power gives hope.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope Romans 15:13.
God’s power strengthens us.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength [power] of his might. Ephesians 6:10
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. Colossians1: 11.
God’s power guards us through faith.
. . .who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time 1Peter 1:5.
God’s power, through a gift of grace, ministers to others
Of this gospel I [Paul] was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. Ephesians 3:7.
God’s power can cast out unclean spirits and heal sickness and disease
He . . .gave them authority [power] over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction Matthew 10:1.
And they were all amazed, and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!
Luke 4: 36.
God’s power is in the cross— which means that to access it, believers must die to themselves and live in Christ Jesus.
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.
LORD, we need Your strength and power. Help us in our weakness.
