The Power Within

The Power Within: Rediscovering Your Spiritual Authority

Have you ever felt powerless in the face of darkness? Have you experienced moments when the weight of the world pressed down so heavily that you wondered if you had any strength left to stand? Perhaps you've faced spiritual battles, emotional turmoil, or circumstances that seemed utterly overwhelming. If so, you're not alone—and there's something crucial you need to know.

The Power We Forget We Have-
There's a remarkable truth woven within the book of Ephesians that many believers overlook: we carry within us an extraordinary power - and Paul the Apostle is shouting about it - at the top of his lungs! Don't mistake - this is not a power to boast about or strut about arrogantly, but a power to know, a power to go, and a power to stand firm when everything around us is shaking.

Paul writes to the Ephesian church—a mature congregation that needed reminding of what they already possessed. He uses an overwhelming cascade of words to describe this power: "exceeding greatness," "mighty power," "dominion," and "authority." He layers these terms deliberately, almost excessively, because he knows we are prone to slumber and how easily we forget.

The power he describes isn't something we generate ourselves. It's not about positive thinking or personal willpower. It's the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead—the "dunamis" power, the dynamite force of the Holy Spirit living within every believer.

Three Powers - One Truth -
Throughout Ephesians, Paul emphasizes three dimensions of power:
**Dunamis** - the explosive strength and force, like dynamite
**Exousia** - the authority and right to act
**Kratos** - dominion, supreme rulership, and governing power

This isn't just theological mumbo-jumbo. These words paint a picture of the complete spiritual arsenal available to those who believe. We have strength, authority, and dominion—not our own, but His - according to His perfect plan and will, and He is working it out - actively within us.

When Darkness Feels Real-
Sometimes darkness feels very tangible. A sister in Christ shared her experience of feeling surrounded by an oppressive spiritual presence. She wondered if she was imagining things or if something demonic was truly at work. Her question reveals a common struggle: how do we respond when we sense spiritual opposition?

The answer lies in understanding that three voices compete for our attention: our own thoughts (often shaped by past wounds and lies), the enemy's accusations and deceptions, and God's truth-filled voice. God never condemns—that's our first clue for discernment. The enemy never acknowledges Jesus as King—that's our second.

When darkness presses in, we have three powerful weapons:

• **Prayer** - Even the simplest prayer, just saying "Jesus," invokes the name above all names. satan and his demons cannot stand in the presence of Jesus. They have no jurisdiction, no authority, no claim on a child of God. None.

• **Proclamation** - Speaking God's Word over ourselves and our circumstances wields the sword of the Spirit. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." "If God is for me, who can be against me?" These aren't empty affirmations—they're declarations of truth that shift our attitude and the spiritual atmosphere.

• **Praise** - Worship music changes everything. The enemy cannot stand in an atmosphere of worship. When we praise God, darkness must flee.

The Living Word-
Hebrews 4:12 describes Scripture in deliberate terms: "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Think about that. The Word of God is alive—quick, producing desired results like a chemical reaction. It's powerful, effective in action. It's sharp enough to divide between our soul (emotions, intellect, who we think we are) and our spirit (who God says we are). It discerns our thoughts and judges our intentions.

This is why staying in Scripture daily matters so much. The Bible shouldn't be just another book - collecting dust on a shelf. It is God-breathed - Holy Spirit authored truth that works on us, transforms us, and protects us. If God's Word has such power to change us, imagine what it does to the dark forces that oppose us.

Weapons That Aren't Carnal-
2nd  Corinthians 10:3-5 reminds us that "though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds."

Strongholds aren't just personal habits or addictions. They're fortresses of ideas, notions, concepts, and arguments that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. They exist in our minds, in our culture, and in the spiritual realm. These strongholds influence governments, leaders, families, and individuals.

Our call is to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Not just to recognize wrong thinking, but to actively surrender it to Christ's authority. We're not strong enough to fight these battles alone—and we don't have to be. God fights for us.

We Are Created for Good Works-
At the heart of all this - is the deep purpose of God for your life: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

God thought of you before the foundation of the world. He planted specific talents, skills, and abilities in you and also gave you gifts. He prepared good works for you to accomplish. You're not saved by works, but you're SAVED for works—to be who He created you to be and to do what He prepared for you to do.

This isn't about earning salvation. We're going-on from there ... further and further up to the summit - "taking nothing for the journey"! It's really all about living out the fullness of what salvation makes possible and trusting that what God has already seen you doing (down the annals of time) - and He will complete it! He is calling you - me, His entire church to step into His divine plan for our lives.

Stand - Stand Therefore! -
There's a lyric I like to borrow from the group REM - to make the point - of the truth I'm trying to convey: "Stand in the place that you live." Stand in the place God has given you. Stand in the person God has made you to be! It's His territory! You are His possession - "fearfully and wonderfully made"! So Stand! Stand Therefore and put on the "whole armor of God" -(Eph. 6)! You don't have to go hat in hand, apologizing for your existence. You don't have to live defeated, overwhelmed, or powerless. We don't go - "full-of-ourselves" - but filled with the Holy Spirit! the very power (authority) and presence of God!

If Christ is for you - Who can be against you?

So ... we "press - on" - this fight isn't over, and it's never hopeless— no matter what you face ... you face it in Him, He is your protection. At the end of the day, you know where you're going. At the end of every battle, you know who wins. I'm sure you've read ahead - to the end of the Good Book? - See who wins.

You have power—His power. You have authority—His authority. And you have the Holy Spirit actively working within you, making you more than a conqueror through Christ who not only strengthens you for the battles ahead- but most importantly ...  loves you. (Romans 8:37)

I pray you - walk in that truth today!

Blessings,

Pastor Bob

Sometimes random - sometimes not - some things I think - measured against scripture.

  "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  
~ 2 Timothy 2:15