____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ May 7, 1995 ____________________________________________________ "Power" From God by Tom Edwards ``Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the POWER of the Lord was present to heal them'' (Luke 5:17, emphasis mine). ``Power'' in this particular verse is from the Greek word ``Dunamis,'' and from which comes our English word ``dynamite.'' Christ had an unlimited measure of the power of God in His life for He was--and is--deity (John 3:34; Col. 2:9). Interestingly, in Mark's account of the woman with the twelve-year hemorrhage who was healed by touching the hem of the Lord's garment, the Scripture shows that Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him when this occurred (Mark 5:30). This, of course, was miraculous power. It was by the same power that Jesus created all things in the beginning (John 1:1-3). How awesome, as we strive to fathom the immensity of the universe that Jesus ``spoke'' into existence. How can we even begin to conceive the full magnitude of such power? After God used His power to bring the universe into being, He did not have to miraculously keep up with it, for He made it to be self-sustaining. The orbit of planets and stars, the life cycle on our planet, etc., have been designed to continue in a natural order--without the aid of miracles. Miracles, therefore, are no longer necessary for their continuance. Similarly, the church was made possible through God's miraculous power. Men were inspired by the Holy Spirit that they might receive and instruct the much needed word of God that could save the sinner's soul. Not having the New Testament in written form led to the necessity of miraculous impartation of the Lord's truth. In Acts 2, for example, the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and miraculously spoke in languages that they had not known to the Jews from every nation under heaven who were in Jerusalem that day; and they were all hearing of ``the mighty acts of God''--each in his own language. As a result, 3,000 souls believed, repented, and were immediately baptized into Christ for the remission of sins. Miraculous gifts continued for a while in the early church, as the Lord used them to convey His truth as well as confirm it (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3,4). Now, however, since the complete revelation has been delivered once and for all (Jude 3), the miraculous is no longer needed for man's acquirement of the truth. Rather, it is now up to each one of us to turn to the Scriptures for our guidance and soul's salvation. The word, having been confirmed by miracles, no longer needs to be confirmed any more; rather, it needs to be believed and obeyed. Interestingly--but not really surprisingly--we find in Romans 1:16 where God has put His ``power'' for our redemption. The verse quotes Paul as saying, ``For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.'' It's fascinating that the same Greek word used to express the ``power'' in the miraculous signs and wonders of the Lord is also used to describe the wonder-working power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though the power in the gospel that changes one's life is not miraculous, it is transforming and rejuvenating to the one who believes and obeys it (Rom. 6:3,4; 2 Cor. 5:17). The miraculous revelation of God's word which Paul received, he wrote, so that others could naturally read--with a spiritual interest and the eyes of faith--in order to perceive those same revelations. Though with Paul, the word came miraculously, this is not the same with us today; but the power of that message is still the same. Christ's power is eternal (Matt. 6:13), but if we want to be forever a part of that then we must ``tap'' into it through the written revelation, during our temporary time on this planet. There will be no ``second chance'' after we leave this earthly life (Heb. 9:27). As one old preacher used to say, ``If you don't accept Jesus as your Savior, you will one day have to stand before Him as your Judge.'' If we allow the ``power'' of God to dwell in us--through heeding His message--we will have the fortitude and ability to meet any challenge. It was the Lord Himself who told Paul, ``My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness''; and Paul responded by saying, ``Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me'' (2 Cor. 12:9). Both the term ``strength'' as well as ``power'' in this verse comes from the same Greek word ``dunamis,'' which we have been considering in this lesson. The Scriptures can give us the power to accomplish many things. As Paul mentions elsewhere, ``I can do all things through Him who strengthens me'' (Phil. 4:13). This is also seen in another form of the Greek word ``dunamis'': the word ``dunamai,'' which is translated in the KJV as ``is able,'' ``can,'' ``which is able,'' ``could,'' ``might,'' ``mayest,'' ``shall be able,'' and ``were possible.'' Consider the following verses where this Greek word is found (all emphasis mine): ``For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He IS ABLE to aid those who are tempted'' (Heb. 2:18). ``Now to Him who IS ABLE to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy'' (Jude 1:24). Not only does this power enable God to do certain things, but also man as well: ``Put on the whole armor of God, that you may BE ABLE to stand against the wiles of the devil'' (Eph. 6:11). ``above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will BE ABLE to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one'' (Eph. 6:16). This particular Greek word (dunamai) is used at least 210 times in the New Testament. Yes, there is a powerful and positive message in God's word for those who are willing to believe and obey it. Why not do so today--if you haven't already--so that you may have God's power working greatly in your life?! ``For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes....'' (Romans 1:16). ************************************************ Psalm 139:13-16 13) For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. 14) I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. 15) My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. 16) Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________