“Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” – Colossians 1:11 & 12
Paul believed when a person followed Jesus Christ, they instantaneously had an unlimited power supply at their disposal. We have that same power supply available to us today. He prayed believers in Christ would be “strengthened with all power.” The small word that excites me the most in this 4-word phrase is the word “all”. The possibility of being strengthened with all the power that heaven holds is infinitely more than a measurable boatload of power!
Paul was convinced that the power of creation, the power of holding back the Red Sea, the power that closed the mouths of the lions should be ours today. Paul stood firmly in his faith that the power for healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising people from the dead should be the power that we, as God’s children, experience in the 21st Century.
Paul’s roar echoes through the centuries as he prays that we, the church of Jesus Christ, would be strengthened with all the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Paul cried out to the Lord and asked that the church at Colossae, and therefore the church of the 21st Century, be “strengthened with all power”, he used a very specific Greek word for “power”. The word Paul selected was the word “dynamis” from which we extract the English word, “dynamite”. Paul believed the power given from heaven’s unlimited resources should enable believers in every epoch to blow up earthly systems and decimate a compromised culture. Paul deeply yearned that God’s children would tap into the power source that destroys depression, anxiety, and ravaging emotional pain. Christians should blast onto the scene of our society with uncommon strength and potency simply because we belong to Jesus.
“Dynamis” has several exciting meanings. I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to absorb these meanings, so we understand the difference this eternal power will make in our lives today. In its simplest form, “dynamis” means “strength, power, ability”. You have abilities that others do not have and are able to plug into a power source only available to the redeemed.
The second rich definition of “dynamis” is “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth.” Solely because you are a Christian, you have power and influence in your very nature. It’s inherent and it’s yours.
Are you ready for the next definition of “dynamis”? This definition is so exciting and exhilarating that you might want to shout! “Dynamis” also means “the power for performing miracles.” You, as a child of God, have been bequeathed with the power for performing miracles. When you pray, power rushes forth from your prayers, and miracles are unleashed. You have been given the extraordinary power to pray for, have faith for and believe for the miraculous. What an amazing power!
“Dynamis” also means “moral power and excellence of soul”. God’s power is just one whisper away when you are in a moral dilemma or when you are tempted by sin. Life on earth is not easy and even when our heart longs to obey, our flesh often screams out in defiance. “Dynamis” power offers the ability to live a morally immaculate life and to maintain an excellence in one’s soul that is simply uncommon. I want that kind of power, do you?
We often view wealthy people as being more powerful than they actually are. We desire to be in close proximity with these well-to-do humans, just hoping their wealth might be contagious. My friend, “dynamis” power assures that type of influence. “Dynamis” is also described in this way, “the power and influence that belongs to riches and wealth”. Because of the power that is now yours in Jesus Christ, you are the beneficiary of the power and influence reserved for the extremely affluent. This marvelous abundance is yours only because of Jesus.
“Dynamis” also ensures you will never again fight a battle alone; when you choose to fight on your knees, you are joined by the armies of the living God. “Dynamis” contains in its meaning “the power and resources resulting from numbers.” As you walk into difficult situations and when your voice is needed in challenging conversations, all of heaven itself is on your side because of the “dynamis” power that resides inside your mortal being.
And finally, not only are you joined by the militia of the Lord, you are the militia of the King of the Ages. “Dynamis” power assigns you the very power given to those who fight on behalf of our awesome God. “Dynamis” also means “the power resting upon armies, forces and hosts.” (Strong’s G1411.)
My friend, don’t ever again say you are weak or that you are unable to accomplish something that seems difficult. You have been given every smidgeon of the miraculous power of God. Pray for the “dynamis” power of God to inhabit your very being and then walk in it.
Paul informed the weakened, confused church at Colossae they have been “strengthened with all power”. In the Greek, he actually states that believers in Christ have been “strengthened with every kind of strength.” (The Communicator’s Commentary, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossian, Philemon, 1982, Word, Inc., page 339.)
Whatever you need strength for today is yours in Jesus Christ and in the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit.
Single moms … you have strength for science projects, paying the bills, and staying up all night with a sick child.
Widows … you have strength to get through the holidays alone, to sleep peacefully at night, and to encourage others in times of grief.
Single women … you have strength to go to a friend’s wedding, to rejoice with a friend who is having a baby, and to sit in church alone.
Moms of toddlers … you have the strength to make another grilled cheese sandwich, to potty train a strong-willed two-year -old, and to rock a baby to sleep.
Moms of teens … you have the strength to stay patient when your teen rolls his or her eyes at you, brings home an abysmal grade on a report card, or leaves a mess in the family bathroom.
Empty nesters … you have the strength to plan a hopeful future, to invest in new assignments and activities, and to disciple young mothers.
Divorced women … you have the strength to believe in yourself, to open up your heart to God’s plan and to forgive those who have rejected you.
The power on earth is measured in watts, hertz, or amps. It is also expressed in joules per second or even in horsepower. God’s power, however, is measured much differently. God’s power is measured “according to His glorious might”.
Perhaps the prayer that we should be praying is this, “Father God, could I have every kind of strength you have to offer according to your glorious might?”
Are you brave enough to pray that prayer? That prayer is what I like to call a “Wow” prayer! If you and I were brave enough to pray that particular prayer every morning of life, we would go around blowing things up!
We might blow up cancer and diabetes when we lay our hands on people and pray for them. We might obliterate depression, discouragement, and generational curses. We might decimate divorce, abortion, and bankruptcy as the power of His glorious might flows through our human constitution. We were made to overflow with the power of God.
Paul specifically guaranteed what happens in the life of a child of God when they have been “strengthened with all power according to His glorious might.”
Let’s read on in the words of Paul: “Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;” – Colossians 1:11
As you are empowered with His dynamic ability, a miracle will happen in your life – you will attain the character traits of steadfastness and patience. What used to cause frustration in your life will no longer be an emotional trigger. Your unstable emotions will come into alignment with God’s power and now you will become a woman filled with patience and Godly emotional responses.
As hard things and difficult people enter your life – and they surely will – you will be strong enough to stay steadfast and to remain patient. Theologians have defined these two words, steadfastness and patience, in two very different, yet interesting ways.
Steadfastness is the refusal to be daunted by hard times while patience is the refusal to be upset by perverse people. (The Communicator’s Commentary, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossian, Philemon, 1982, Word, Inc., page 340.) I need them both, don’t you? I need to be steadfast when my circumstances are cruel and unrelenting, and I need patience when fractious people enter my life. His amazing power makes it all possible: I am powerful, steadfast, and patient – all because of Jesus.
Order your copy of Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture here.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Carol McLeod Ministries
Featured Image by Gabriel Meinert on Unsplash
Comments are closed.