“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21 KJV) [italic emphasis mine]
“And you will know that God’s power is ·very [exceedingly; overwhelmingly] great for us who believe. That power ·is the same as [or was demonstrated in] the great strength God ·used [exerted] to raise Christ from the dead and ·put [seat] him at his right ·side [hand; Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:34] in the heavenly ·world [realm; places]. God has put Christ ·over [far above] all rulers, authorities, powers, and ·kings [lords; dominion], and every other ·title given [name that is named] not only in this ·world [age] but also in the ·next [coming one].” (Ephesians 1:19-21 EXB)
Looking at Ephesians 1:19-21, I want you to notice how the word “power” is mentioned three different times. The interesting thing is that in all three cases, they each are a different word in the original Greek. Thus, I want to show you three aspects of power. I want to first talk about the definition of power, then I want to show you the perception of power, and third, the purpose of power.
The Definition Of Power:
The first word for “power” mentioned here in the nineteenth verse is the word dunamis, which, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, means “(miraculous) power, might, or strength.” Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds that it means, “strength, ability, power; inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; the power of performing miracles; power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts.”
The second word for “power” mentioned in verse nineteen is the word kratos, which, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, means “strength or might,” and is used as either having dominion, strength, or power; or doing a mighty deed. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds that it means, “the might of his strength; mightily, with great power; a mighty deed, a work of power.”
Then, the third word for “power,” this time in the twenty-first verse, is the word exousia, which, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, means “the power to act; authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power” and is used as (a) power, authority, weight, especially: moral authority, influence, (b) in a quasi-personal sense, derived from later Judaism, of a spiritual power, and hence of an earthly power. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds that it means, "physical and mental power; the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises; the power of authority (influence) and of right; the power of rule or government.”
When we combine all three of the original Greek words, here in Ephesians 1:19-21, we get a very specific picture of what the “power” of the Holy Spirit is accomplishing:
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His (miraculous) power, might, or strength; that inherent power that resides in His nature; the power resting upon the armies of heaven, to us-ward who believe, according to the working of the might of His strength through mighty deeds, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and authority (moral or spiritual), jurisdiction, influence, the power of rule or government, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21 KJV)
In other words, the power of the Holy Spirit is VERY important to the life of the spiritual warfighter. So much so that the Word of God mentions the word ”power” 290 times. It was also important enough for Jesus to tell His disciples to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they received power from on high. “I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 KJV). The English Standard Version says, “stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” The Complete Jewish Bible says, “stay here in the city until you have been equipped with power from above.”
The one-hundred twenty believers did just that. They prayed and waited for ten days in that upper room waiting for the promise, and just like Jesus had promised, He came! “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)
As it pertains to spiritual warfare, we in the church world are constantly talking about how we need power. We say we need the power of God, but yet many people are more interested in things than they are receiving the true power of God. Although programs, in and of themself, are not wrong, when we are more interested in programs in our churches, more than we are the power of God, something is wrong. Sadly, a lot of churches tend to be more organized structurally than spiritually. We are depending on things that do not produce for the Kingdom of God. There must be a dependence on God's power again if we are to be victorious in our warfare.
The time has come where we must not depend on ceremony, but sincerity. We must not depend upon plan, but upon prayer. We must not depend upon ritual, but reality. We must not depend upon form, but upon fire. There is a need for the Church to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit, for it is the Spirit that gives life to us. It is the Spirit who gives victory to us. It is the Spirit who causes us to be more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. God wants us to know of His power. God wants us to experience His power. God wants us to live in His power. God wants us to know the agent of His power, the Holy Spirit.
Some people act like the Holy Ghost is the unknown, invisible part of the Godhead. They can understand that there is a God, the Father. They can understand that there is a God, the Son. But they act like they can't comprehend the Holy Ghost. I want you to know, though, that the Holy Spirit is God, just like God the Father and God the Son is. He is God the Holy Spirit! And as such, God wants you to know His mighty power. He wants you to know what is the exceeding greatness of His power. He wants you to know the working of His power. He showed you a sample of His power when He raised Christ from the dead.
The Apostle Paul said, “If the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwell in you, then that spirit that raised him from the dead, so shall also quicken your mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). This is the power I'm talking about. This is the power that makes a church alive. This is the power that makes Christian warfighters effective in combat. A power that causes men and women to turn their lives around and pursue hard after God. A power that will make you talk a different talk. A power that will make you walk a different walk. A power that will make you not want to do the things you used to do. A power to not go to the places that you used to go to. I'm talking about a power that can do all of this and much, much more.
The Perception Of His Power:
What is your perception of power? Matthew 22:29 says, “You do ere not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” So many people today don't understand the power of God. They don't really even know what the power of God is. The New Testament Church didn't have any problem with this after the day of Pentecost. You see, the New Testament Church had a movement of God's power that kept it alive.
If we of the present Church ever plan on staying alive, we had better get a new perception of God's power. We need a new demonstration of God's power in our midst. As far as our corporate churches go, the world knows that there are churches on practically every street corner. They don’t want to see our buildings. They want to see the power of God manifested in our lives. They want us to show them that there is more to life than what they are living. That someone has the truth. That someone has the answers. We need to once again realize that this power is not our power, but it's God's power. Our perception needs to change and give God the glory. We must realize that it's His power and His alone. Psalm 62:11 says, “Power belongeth to God.”
We cannot manipulate the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is sovereign, and only as He works through us can anything happen. There are a lot of people, though, who are trying to use the Holy Spirit. We can never use the Spirit–the Spirit must use us. We are nothing but channels of the Holy Ghost. If you don't believe that, go ask the seven sons of Sceva who tried to cast out demons in the name of the Jesus that Paul preaches. When the demon answered them and said, “Jesus, I know and Paul I've heard of, but who are you?” they should have known immediately that they were in trouble. And, sure enough, just a few minutes later they came running out naked as the demoniac had ripped their clothes off of them.
We are nothing but channels of the Holy Ghost. If people would understand that, then they wouldn't try to give people the Holy Ghost. He's not yours to give. The Holy Spirit comes through the power of the Godhead. When we go into spiritual warfare with the enemy, it is not a matter of how much you can speak in tongues, it is a matter of whose power are you going up against the forces of darkness in. We must get a new perception of God's power. We, as spiritual war fighters for the Kingdom of heaven, must not take credit for the power of God that operates within our lives. It's not ours to take credit for. Let's once again give praise to the One whom all praise and all glory is due, the Lord God Almighty.
The Purpose Of His Power:
Our mission as spiritual warfighters is not to combat human flesh and blood, but, rather, the powers of darkness that come against us. Our mission is to evangelize a lost and dying world. There are people who are hurting that need our help. There are new evils coming each and every day against our society. The nations of the earth are in turmoil. Satan is having a heyday with the world, and we need power to go outside of our four walls and show a hurting, sin-sick world that there is hope and His name is Jesus.
This is what the New Testament Church had. They had power evangelism. They went out in the power of the Holy Ghost and told the message of the risen Savior. They went out and through the power of the Holy Ghost did mighty signs and wonders. Mark 16:20 says, “And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming the Word with signs following.” The power that the New Testament Church had after they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is the same power that we need operating within us today.
The same power that came upon the Apostle Peter to stand up on the Day of Pentecost and preach a message of salvation and see 3,000 souls added to the Kingdom of God, is the same power that we need today. We need the same power today that Peter and John had when they walked down the street and a beggar called out to them, “Please, can you spare some change?” Peter looked at him and said,”Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give unto thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, stand up and walk.” We need the same power that was upon Peter to walk down the streets and the very shadow of Peter passing by would heal the sick people on the sides of the road. We need that very same power that today.
The beautiful thing about it is, that we do have the same power available to us in our day! His power is the same today as it has always been. We, as spiritual warfighters for the Kingdom of God, can be anointed in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can be anointed to do great and mighty things. Did not Jesus tell us that the works that He did, that we would do even greater works than Him? How could He have even said that? He said that because He knew that the Comforter was coming. That the Holy Spirit was coming. The power of the Holy Spirit was coming!
Sadly, many today do not see the need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many do not see the need to seek His power to make it through to the other side. Friend, if you think you can make it on your own, then go ahead and try. You will find out very quickly that you cannot make it without Him.
I realize that the only thing that it takes to make heaven my home is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. But the reality of it is this, we are not there yet! And as long as we live in this sin sick world, there are valleys ahead of us, there are rivers to cross, there are mountains to climb, and I don't want to do it by myself. I need His power. For in His power we can defeat every foe, conquer every enemy, and win every battle. His power can bring us out of the deepest valleys, the darkest temptations and the hardest trials. His power is all we need. We need the power of the Holy Spirit.