What the Bible says about Power of Christ
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Jesus' awestruck disciples receive newfound understanding of the power and glory of their Lord and Master. His power definitely impresses them, but His faithfulness, peace, and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are what truly awed them. This miracle brings them in reverence, wonder, and godly fear before Him. Christ shows that the power of the earthly elements is dwarfed by the mighty word of the Lord, and it stirs them deeply.
This reveals what the full measure of God's Spirit can accomplish through a faithful human being. Jesus explains to His disciples in Mark 11:23-24:
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
We should understand that this promise stands firm for us too, if we ask according to the will of God (I John 5:14-15).
Martin G. Collins
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Stilling a Storm
We will focus on the word translated as "right." The King James Version reads "power." This is exousia (Strong's #1849), which has a variety of usages: "power," "authority," "capability," "ability," "strength," "entrusted," "commissioned." It implies the liberty or power to do something. This Greek word has its roots in exesti. The two of them, exesti and exousia, combine two different ideas, "right" and "might." A person can be given the right to do something and then given the might or power to do it. What does God do here through Jesus Christ? As many as receive Him, to them He gives the right and the power to become children of God.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Faith (Part Five)Related Topics: Ability | Authority | Exousia | Power | Power of Christ | Power of God | Right | Strength | Strength, Spiritual
He speaks directly to us, stating a principle we must learn to live with. The power to do spiritual works, to overcome, to produce the fruit of God's Spirit, to be used by God in any righteous manner comes from above. Israel's journey through the wilderness illustrates this. Every step of the way was physically empowered by the manna and water God provided.
Understanding God's hand in our preparation for the Kingdom of God is also advanced by remembering that we are the clay sculpture our Creator is molding and shaping (Isaiah 64:8). Does any work of art—any painting, carving, drawing, tapestry, work of literature, or fine meal for that matter—have inherent power to shape itself?
The natural man, even apart from God's purpose, is a magnificent work of art. David writes in Psalm 139:14, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Yet, when we have put on incorruption and immortality, and have inherited the Kingdom of God, we will be the most magnificent masterpieces there are, far superior to what we are now. To mold and shape us into God's image requires love, wisdom, and multiple other powers far beyond anything any person—even Jesus as a human being—has.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Power Belongs to God (Part Two)Related Topics: Christ in Us | Fruit of Righteousness | Fruit, Bearing | Fruits of God's Holy Spirit | Fruits of Repentance | Fruits of Righteousness | Fruits of the Spirit | Fruits, Appraisal of | Fruits, Judging by | Fruits, Knowing by | God's Workmanship | Image and Likeness of God | Image of Christ | Image of God | Living by Faith | Overcoming | Potter and Clay Analogy | Power of Christ | Power of God | Power of God's Holy Spirit | Will and Power to do
"You shall receive power" - This occurred, as recorded in Acts 2. That power arrived like the sound of wind, a mighty, rushing wind, a great gust of air. Connect this with Genesis 2:7, where God breathed air into Adam. In that act, God was giving the man a spirit. When God gave His Holy Spirit to men, He duplicated it on a majestic scale, and the Spirit came to mankind like the sound of wind or air moving. Mankind, then, is given power, the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 62:11 says, "Power belongs to God." The context deals with a person going through trials. We have a natural tendency to turn in every direction for help, to reach out to other people, to think up solutions, to grasp for the power to solve our problem, but the psalmist informs us that God is the source of salvation. In Him resides the power to save in a right and good way.
Jeremiah 32:17 reads that "God creates by His power," and John 4:24 says that "God is a spirit." Putting these together, God is a creating spirit of the greatest power. When He creates, things of positive function and awesome beauty emerge. What a difference between man and God! By comparison, man in God's image creates destruction; almost everything man makes seems to produce negative results. But when God creates, God creates functional beauty.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Right Use of Power
God has given us revelation, and He has enlightened us that we may know the hope of His calling and the glory that lies ahead. Then, Paul immediately draws our attention to Christ's power to accomplish those ends.
John W. Ritenbaugh
What Is the Work of God Now? (Part Five)Related Topics: Calling | Calling, Hope of God's | Christ's Power | God's Calling | God's Power | God's Revelation of Himself | Power of Christ | Power of God
Jesus is not against greatness or having power, but He wants it to be given by God. God will give it to those who are in harmony with His law, His government, and His way of life. Unity with Him begins with the right attitude toward Him, toward others, and toward the self.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Grace Upon GraceRelated Topics: Attitude | Grace | Greatness of Christ | Harmony | Harmony With God | Harmony with God's Purpose | Harmony with God's Will | Power | Power of Christ | Power of God | Power of God's Holy Spirit | Unity | Unity in Christ | Unity in the Spirit | Unity with God | Unity, Godly
This verse is not a picture of Christ holding the world on His shoulders like Atlas, but one far more dynamic! Instead, it depicts Christ carrying everything by His power! Not just the earth but all of His awesome creation is subject to His power!
It shows Him dynamically at work, governing, reigning, and ruling over it He upholds all things by the word of His power!
Related Topics: Authority of Christ | Christ's Authority | Christ's Positional Authority | Christ's Power | Power of Christ