UNDERSTANDING GOD’S POWER

“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “BY WHAT POWER, or by what name, have you done this?” – Acts 4:7

Humanity is yet to come to terms with UNDERSTANDING GOD’S POWER: “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “BY WHAT POWER or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7). The crux of the world’s confusion and misunderstanding of Divine Power revolves around the Question of the Resurrection: “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the RESURRECTION from the dead” (vv.1-2). The devil-infested and reason-driven world system cannot unravel the Mystery of the Resurrection and the Power behind this divine wonder.

Many misconstrue the notion of “The Power of God” as something belonging to God like muscular energy belongs to a man; something which He has and which might be separated from Him and still exist in itself. The “attributes” of God, including “power,” are not component parts of the Godhead or elements out of which He is composed. God is not a “composition” of attributes. He is not a synthetic God made out of the pieces we call attributes. He is the Eternal Being; One who is above all thought and all conception. All the “of God” expressions in the Bible – including the “Power of God” describe not what God HAS but what God IS in His indivisible Unity. He is the Eternal “I AM that I AM”!

The Power of God is His Supernatural Potency, which God gladly releases upon His people for the seamless performance of His purposes. Our Lord promised His Church: “But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). This is referring to the coming of the Spirit AS Power, not just the Spirit AND Power. Pentecost witnessed a Divine Invasion. It was nothing less than God Himself entering into His people with the purpose of ultimately reproducing His own likeness within us. God’s Power came upon powerless folks as a gentle but resistless invasion “from on high” (Lk.24:49). It was not an inherent power in man that could be stirred up from within by a psychological shot in the arm!

God’s Power is all-sufficient. No props or additional help is needed. No auxiliary source of spiritual energy is called for, because it is the Holy Spirit of God that comes with divine power and grace to replace human frailty and weakness. His is an impartation of supernatural energy that affects every department of the believer’s life and abides with him or her forever! The Power of God is neither physical power nor mental power, though it may touch everything both mental and physical in His benevolent outworking. It is not like any other power seen in nature. It is the kind of Power that God is – Spiritual!

The Power of God operates primarily as the Holy Spirit performs His blessed work by direct contact with the human spirit. When He wills, the Spirit may use other means to bring the divine counsel to pass; but His Power is always above and beyond the means. God can use any means to manifest His unlimited power. The Holy Spirit can use a song, a sermon, a good deed, a text or the mystery and majesty of nature, but the final work will always be done by the Impact of the Indwelling Spirit on the human heart. God focuses more on the Person – the heart – than on the vehicle power transmission!

It is the Believer’s privilege to know and understand the Power of God through the revelation of Jesus, His Resurrection, and His Exalted Name: “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole” (Acts 4: 10). There is no confusion or controversy. God’s Presence is His Power! To be indwelt by His Person is to be endued with His Power!