What kind of power is available to those who believe in Jesus?
Ephesians 1:18-20I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 3:20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Colossians 1:29That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
2 Thessalonians 1:11So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
The God who created the world and who defeats Satan offers his power to you. If you believe that God sent Jesus Christ to save you from sin, and if you ask him to forgive your sin and remove it, he will replace your sin-filled heart with the power to do good, to accomplish great things, and to resist the forces of evil. But you can only use God’s power for godly purposes.
1 Corinthians 5:3-4You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 3:5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.
When the church is gathered and conscious of God’s presence, they are empowered to preach, teach, practice discipline over individual believers, and make bold decisions for God. The ineffectiveness of the church in the world can often be traced to a partial practice of the corporate life God reveals to us in his Word.
Psalm 68:35God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Micah 3:8As for me, I am filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and strength to boldly declare Israel’s sin and rebellion.
2 Corinthians 4:7We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 13:3-4I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.
Ephesians 3:16-17I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Ephesians 6:10A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
1 Peter 4:11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
God’s empowerment never changes the fact that we remain weak vessels, powerless in ourselves, and always capable of mistakes and sins in a fallen world. One of the greatest ongoing miracles in the world is the way God accomplishes much through such flawed servants. But as God taught some of his greatest servants, his finest moments and greatest accomplishments are often done in and through his weakest servants.
Psalm 60:12With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.
2 Corinthians 10:4We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
Ephesians 6:10-18Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
The empowerment of a believer is always intended for use in the spiritual realm against the forces of evil. God’s spiritual power confronts and overpowers evil spiritual power. The Bible frequently describes that power conflict in war language, in which spiritual conflict becomes a battle and the forces are based in strongholds. The power of God’s truth and God’s Word overcomes the lies, falsehoods, and defective reasoning of evil. The power of God’s weapons defeats the power of Satan’s weapons. The power of God’s presence and protection in a believer’s life overcomes Satan’s threats. The power of faith in and from Jesus Christ overcomes the doubts sown by Satan. And the power in Christ’s authority in a believer’s life can overcome any resistant evil spiritual authorities in this world.
Mark 1:23-26Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
Acts 1:8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The task of taking the gospel to the whole world and to individual lives is an exercise of spiritual power. When people respond and become believers, the greatest work has been accomplished by the Holy Spirit, not the power of our presentation or the persuasiveness of our arguments.
Isaiah 40:29-31He [the Lord] gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Romans 1:11I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord.
Romans 15:13I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 3:16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Ephesians 6:10Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Colossians 1:11We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
2 Timothy 1:7God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
God extends his power to us not just to combat evil but also to give us patience in difficult times so we may grow spiritually mature. And note from Paul’s pattern that we can pray God’s power into the lives of others.
