Category Archives: Might

Bible, Might, Power, Scripture, Strength

SPIRITUAL MUSCLES

PHILIPPIANS 4:13

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Read that verse again. I really prefer the literal Greek. It reads, “(For) all things I have strength in the (One) strengthening me.” That shows that we have no power in ourselves. No amount of muscle building will enable us. No amount of fasting and praying on our own will do it. There is nothing we can do on our own. But…(don’t you just love that word) we can do all things in Him.

Paul uses two different Greek words in this short verse to talk about power and strength. The first one is translated here as “I can do.” That’s the word ischuówhich means embodied strength that engages the resistance. In other words, this is the fighting strength the Lord gives us to do His work even in the face of opposition. The other word Paul uses is endunamoó which is translated “strengthen.” It implies the empowerment we receive from the Lord. Let’s look at those two words a bit.

APPLICATION

Let’s take the last one first, endunamoó. Picture a body builder. You can see the muscles rippling and his chiseled body. You can just imagine the power he has to lift weights. But all you see right now is the result of the empowering from hours and hours of weightlifting. You know the power is there. Paul uses this same word in Ephesians 6:10 where he says, “be strong in the Lord.” Trust the power that is within you.

The other word, ischuóis the picture of that same body builder lifting those weights. You see him bend down and pick up that enormous weight. You see him straining but keeping on. That is us in our fight against the forces of evil. We use the power within from the Lord and bust that devil right in the mouth, lol. Paul uses this word in Ephesians 6:10 also when he says, “of His might.” It’s God doing the fighting, not us.

So, with that thought in mind, why do we fear? Why do we worry? Why do we run and hide at the face of a trial? We have God’s power in us and have ability to yield it. Check out 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, if you don’t believe me. It’s one of my favorite passages and gives me the confidence each day to trust Him in every battle. You can also.

Father, You have strengthened me beyond my imagination. The same power You used to create the universe is within me. Hallelujah.

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Battles, Bible, Might, Power, Scripture, Strength

HIS POWER

EPHESIANS 1:19

“and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”

People with real physical strength are impressive. As a young child, I used to love to watch the Olympic weightlifters. They could lift amazing amounts of weight. From 1960 through 1980 the Soviet Union dominated the heavyweight gold medals. They were big, strong and intimidating. Was their strength natural or chemically induced? We may never know.

Paul isn’t talking about weightlifting in today’s verse, though. He is talking about God’s power, His strength. In this verse, Paul uses three different Greek words to describe this. I want us to take a look at each of these and look at the difference. We know God is all-powerful or omnipotent. It’s one of His attributes, and one we should never doubt.

APPLICATION

The first word Paul uses is dunamis, translated as “power.” It means the “ability to perform”; for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord’s inherent abilities. ‘Power through God’s ability’” (HELPS Word-studies). The key here is ability. We should always know we have His power to achieve whatever He asks us to do. It’s not our power. It’s His.

The second word Paul uses is kratos, translated as strength or might. It refers to exerted power. That’s what I saw as a boy when I saw those weightlifters lift those tremendous weights. I saw the strength being exercised. It was visible. How have you seen God’s strength exercised? How about in the winds of a hurricane or in the shaking of an earthquake? How about in the creation of the world itself? His strength is visible all around. It can be visible in us as we use His power to show His strength in and through us.

Finally, Paul uses ischus, translated as “might.” This word shows the force against resistance. Boy, we need that, don’t we? We are in a battle every day. God’s inherent might is visible in and through us as we resist temptations every day. We exert that might through the Holy Spirit. We use the Word of God to combat the impulses of our flesh.

So, how strong are you today? Are you trusting in your own power, strength and might or in the Lord’s. I think Zechariah 4:6 sums it up well. “Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of armies.’”

Thank You, Lord, for Your power, strength and might in my life.

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