Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you . . . .
Power - dunamis - strength power, ability A. inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; verb - dunamai - to be able to do something; to be capable
Jesus told his disciples to "wait for the promise of the Father" because "John truly baptized with water" but that they "would be baptized with the Holy Spirit" and with that receiving of the holy Spirit - they would "receive power" to become witnesses. I submit that we also when we are born again and receive the holy Spirit that we receive that "same" power. It is inherent meaning that it lies within that gift of holy spirit and is energized by God through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people - Ye men of Israel why marvel ye at this? or why look you so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk. Peter was trying to get the people's eyes off him and to the true power that had made the man whole . . .And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom you see and know: . . . It was the name of Jesus Christ, the man's faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the holy Spirit that made the man strong or whole. That same Spirit lies within each born again believer. We seem to live so below par (I include myself) . . . Through the power of the holy Spirit we should be able to do the things Jesus Christ did - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12 Were the apostles any better than us? Did they have "more faith" than us? I don't think these apply because God gave to every man the measure of faith and God is no respecter of persons. It makes me sad . . . just think how we could effect the world if we truly relied and realized the power we have within us through the holy Spirit!
Paul said he didn't use enticing words of man's wisdom but he determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified and that his preaching was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power and that our faith should stand in that same power - the power of God. 1 Co. 2:4,5 Do we not also know Jesus Christ and him crucified? Where is our demonstration of the Spirit and of the power that dwells within that gift given us? Our trust and our reliance - our faith stands by the power of God.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his (God's via the holy Spirit) power (dunamis - inherent power) to us-ward who believe according to the working of God's mighty power [kratos- 1)force, strength; 2)power, might, mighty with great power, a work of power] My, my, my - look at this - what is the EXCEEDING GREATNESS of the power He has given us and it is according to the work of HIS great mighty power! This inherent power is according to the working - ACTIVE WORKING of God's almighty power -
And look at this one: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is God which puts forth power that energizes the holy Spirit within you both to will [to intend, to desire, to love to do a thing] and to do - to be energized to utilize that power towards HIS good pleasure. It is God working within the hearts of believers to LOVE to do the things that PLEASE HIM!!!!!
My prayer for you all - That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of christ, which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fulness of God. NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL WE ASK OR THINK ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US . . .
That gift of holy Spirit within us is considered a treasure: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Co. 4:7) Our faith, our stand, our walk, our obedience, our trust is all in the power of God - not of us. Can we do anything to make ourselves better, to make ourselves good, without the power God has given us through his gift of Holy Spirit? That is the power we must draw from and that it the power that causes us to stand.
Hope this makes some kind of sense - sometimes it's hard putting things together in words that you hope will be understandable to others . . . . God bless.
P.S. Oh my gosh - I didn't realize this was so long . . .
Power - dunamis - strength power, ability A. inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; verb - dunamai - to be able to do something; to be capable
Jesus told his disciples to "wait for the promise of the Father" because "John truly baptized with water" but that they "would be baptized with the Holy Spirit" and with that receiving of the holy Spirit - they would "receive power" to become witnesses. I submit that we also when we are born again and receive the holy Spirit that we receive that "same" power. It is inherent meaning that it lies within that gift of holy spirit and is energized by God through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people - Ye men of Israel why marvel ye at this? or why look you so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk. Peter was trying to get the people's eyes off him and to the true power that had made the man whole . . .And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom you see and know: . . . It was the name of Jesus Christ, the man's faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the holy Spirit that made the man strong or whole. That same Spirit lies within each born again believer. We seem to live so below par (I include myself) . . . Through the power of the holy Spirit we should be able to do the things Jesus Christ did - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12 Were the apostles any better than us? Did they have "more faith" than us? I don't think these apply because God gave to every man the measure of faith and God is no respecter of persons. It makes me sad . . . just think how we could effect the world if we truly relied and realized the power we have within us through the holy Spirit!
Paul said he didn't use enticing words of man's wisdom but he determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified and that his preaching was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power and that our faith should stand in that same power - the power of God. 1 Co. 2:4,5 Do we not also know Jesus Christ and him crucified? Where is our demonstration of the Spirit and of the power that dwells within that gift given us? Our trust and our reliance - our faith stands by the power of God.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his (God's via the holy Spirit) power (dunamis - inherent power) to us-ward who believe according to the working of God's mighty power [kratos- 1)force, strength; 2)power, might, mighty with great power, a work of power] My, my, my - look at this - what is the EXCEEDING GREATNESS of the power He has given us and it is according to the work of HIS great mighty power! This inherent power is according to the working - ACTIVE WORKING of God's almighty power -
And look at this one: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is God which puts forth power that energizes the holy Spirit within you both to will [to intend, to desire, to love to do a thing] and to do - to be energized to utilize that power towards HIS good pleasure. It is God working within the hearts of believers to LOVE to do the things that PLEASE HIM!!!!!
My prayer for you all - That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of christ, which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fulness of God. NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL WE ASK OR THINK ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US . . .
That gift of holy Spirit within us is considered a treasure: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Co. 4:7) Our faith, our stand, our walk, our obedience, our trust is all in the power of God - not of us. Can we do anything to make ourselves better, to make ourselves good, without the power God has given us through his gift of Holy Spirit? That is the power we must draw from and that it the power that causes us to stand.
Hope this makes some kind of sense - sometimes it's hard putting things together in words that you hope will be understandable to others . . . . God bless.
P.S. Oh my gosh - I didn't realize this was so long . . .