Power and Authority

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Authority, Ability, Strength and Might

The most wonderful thing we do in our lives is walk in the developing ability of Christ in us.
Dunamis is the ABILITY.  Think “muscles.”  Translated chiefly as “power“, and in its verb form, as “be able.”
Ischuo is the DEVELOPED, and DEVELOPING ABILITY.  Think “pumping iron to get stronger muscles.”  Translated chiefly as “strength,” and in its adjective form, as “strong.”   All ischus is also dunamis, but the emphasis is on the fact that it has been developed over time.
Kratos is the APPLICATION OF THE DEVELOPED ABILITY.  Think “moving bigger and bigger things by means of bigger and bigger muscles.”  Translated chiefly as “power” or “dominion,” and in its verb form, “hold” or “take.”
Exousia is literally the “right of law” we have to walk in, develop and then apply that ability.  Think “gym membership.”
Our “right of law” (authority) is greater than any other right of law.

Dunamis is an inherent ability, which must be developed in order to be maximized.         Ischus emphasizes an inherent ability which is in the process of being developed.              Kratos is the successful application of a developed ability.                                                  Exousia is the sphere within which all of the above may be energized and exercised.

Before Christ we were without spiritual sight or muscles.  We’d lay there on our beds, spiritually, and helplessly watch things leave our lives, not even being able to see the robber come and steal anything we had of value.  We’d think that’s the way life was.  We’d see our things just go away.  We did not have the ability (dunamis) to even recognize, much less do anything about, stopping the process of being impoverished.

Through Jesus Christ, God gave us spiritual sight and spiritual muscles; and the right of law to use, develop, and apply those muscles.  We can now recognize the thief and his ways.  And even if we seem incapable (not strong enough) to do anything about what he’s doing….at the moment…..we know that it’s just a matter of time before our muscles develop to the point that we will be able to totally recognize and stop the thief from impoverishing us, that nothing will get in the way of our super abundant life.

All of creation is waiting for us to develop and apply these rights and abilities…..waiting to give up its riches to those who walk in the abounding ability of Christ.
Waiting for you.

Following are some of my favorite uses of the power and authority words.

Matthew 3:9  (John the Baptist speaking)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I say unto you, that God is able (dunamis) of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

This is the first use of any form of dunamis.  Whenever I realize that I’m not thinking that God is very capable, I think of this verse, and my thinking is corrected.  God can make children out of stones.  Certainly, then, He can do something with me!

Matthew 3:11 (John the Baptist speaking)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that comes after me is mightier (ischus) than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;

This is the first use of any form of ischus.  The developed spiritual ability of Jesus was greater than John’s.

Matthew 5:13  You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savour, it is thenceforth good (ischus) for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men

Instead of developing its ability, this salt UNdeveloped its ability.

Matthew 12:30  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength (ischus); this is the first commandment.

The key to pleasing God and growing spiritually into the obtaining of your spiritual inheritance is to love God with your strength, however much, or little, it’s been developed.    With increased ability comes increased response-ability.

Matthew 9:25  But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by (kratos) the hand, and the maid arose (from the dead).

This is the first use of any form of kratos.  Jesus applied his spiritually developed ability, causing a dead girl to be raised from the dead.

This is the reason I fell in love with the word of God in the first place.  Miraculous, majestic, Godly, glorious.  These are words which don’t adequately describe the perfection and power of the most perfectly created work in the world today.  The Bible.  It has the power to transform lives, create a race of super beings, endue with power, cause to grow in strength, provide the authority and the opportunity to take and hold the dominion of God in this world.

Matthew 7:28, 29  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine; For he taught them as one having authority (exousia), and not as the scribes.

This is the first use of exousia.  Jesus is the example of authority.  Christ is the sphere of influence within which all spiritual ability and strength is dominantly applied.

Romans 8:7, 8   For the mind (thoughts) of the flesh is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (dunamis).  So then they that are in the flesh cannot (have no dunamis to) please God.

Galatians 3:21  Is the law (of Moses) then against the promises of God?  God forbid; for if there had been a law given which could have (dunamis) given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Colossians 1:11, 13  Strengthened (dunamis) with all might (dunamis), (literally, “enabled with all ability“) according to His glorious power (kratos), unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Who has delivered us from the power (exousia – authority) of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dear son;

Ephesians 1:19-21  And what is the exceeding greatness (megathos)  of His power (dunamis) toward us who believe, according to the energizing of the might (kratos) of His strength (ischus).  Which He energized in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenlies, Far above all principality, and power (exousia), and might (dunamis), and dominion (lordship), and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;

Ephesians 3:20  Now unto Him who is able (dunamis) to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that is being energized in us;

Ephesians 6:10, 12  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (ischus).  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers (exousia), against the rulers (those who wield kratos) of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in the heavenlies.

Galatians 5:6  For in Christ Jesus  neither circumcision avails (ischus) anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which is energized by love.

Faith energized by love is the only thing that is strong enough to accomplish anything in Christ, in the spiritual kingdom of God.  This love-energized faith can only dwell in the new man.

Galatians 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

The Holy Spirit which is born within us at the moment of the new birth is the God-given ability of God to do anything in the spiritual realm.  As we grow in this ability, we become spiritually stronger and stronger, able to accomplish greater and greater things.  This process all occurs within the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, which authority is greater than any other in all of creation.
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See studies:
What is the POWER of God?
Discerning Devil Spirits
The Priorities of a Godly Life
The Manifestation of the SpiritLearning to Recognize the Voice of God