WHAT
IS “EXOUSIA”?
“Exousia”,
as
used in the Bible,
is
a Greek word most often translated as “authority”.”
It is especially
used in terms of moral influence.
“Exousia”
can
also be thought of in terms of jurisdiction or dominion over a
certain realm, right, privilege, or ability.
Matthew
28:18 (NIV) says
“Then
Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.’”
Luke
10:19 (NIV) says
“I
have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to
overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
John
1:12 (NIV) says
“Yet
to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God”
Romans
13:1 (NIV) says
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is
no authority except that which God has established. The authorities
that exist have been established by God.”
Colossians
2:15 (NIV) says
“And
having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Revelation
1:18 (NIV) says
“I
am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and
ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
WHAT
IS “DUNAMIS”?
“Dunamis”,
as
used in the Bible,
is
a Greek word used 120 times in the New Testament. Loosely, “Dunamis”
refers to “strength, power, or ability.” It is the root word of
our English words dynamite,
dynamo
and
dynamic.
Luke
5:17 (NIV) says
“One
day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were
sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from
Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal
the sick.”
Acts
1:8 (NIV) says “But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth.”
John
19:10 (NIV) says
“Do
you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. ‘Don’t you realize I
have power either to free you or to crucify you?’”
1
Corinthians 15:24 (NIV) says
“Then
the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father
after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.”
2
Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) says
“For
to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s
power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will
live with him in our dealing with you.”
Ephesians
3:20-21 (NIV) says
“Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.”
THINK
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:
*
Am I allowing the Lord to work His power in me?
* Am I obstructing His working through me to others?
* What am I doing to clog up the works?
* Am I obstructing His working through me to others?
* What am I doing to clog up the works?
If
we have this dynamite power in us, is it efficiently working? If our
pipes, so to speak, are clogged with sin of whatever kind, it acts as
sludge to contaminate His presence, and His power will not flow. We
must be cleansed and filled with God’s holiness for His
miracle-working power to be operative in us.
ASK
YOURSELF THIS
QUESTION:
IS
HIS DYNAMITE POWER WORKING EFFICIENTLY IN ME?
*
What works go undone?
* What wounds of others go unattended?
* What heartaches of others go uncomforted?
* What needs of others go unmet because I do not listen to the Lord’s leading or I harbor some sin, thereby, not allowing Him to work efficiently through me?
* What wounds of others go unattended?
* What heartaches of others go uncomforted?
* What needs of others go unmet because I do not listen to the Lord’s leading or I harbor some sin, thereby, not allowing Him to work efficiently through me?
Luke 9:1 (NIV) says
“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and
authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.”
When
Jesus sent out the disciples, He gave them “power and authority”
over demons, to preach the kingdom, and to heal the sick. The Greek
word used here for power
is,
again,
dunamis.
Exousia
is
the word used for authority
and
also means privilege, force, mastery, token of control, delegated
influence, jurisdiction, and so on.
That
same power and delegated influence has been given to us, if Christ
lives in us. Isn’t that an awesome thought? If we are “a dwelling
place of God in the Spirit,” then His living power and energy
resides within us, working as we agree with Him to accomplish His
works.
Ephesians 2:22 (NIV) says
“And
in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which
God lives by his Spirit.”
Oh,
if only we could begin to grasp the magnitude of His dynamite
power
and allowed Him full reign in our hearts, how much immeasurably
more
could we do for the Lord?
“Lord,
I am Yours to command. Cleanse me of all that would hinder the flow
of Your love, Your Spirit, and Your dynamite-power. Work Your will in
me that I may bring glory to Your Name and be a reflection of Your
mighty power, love, and grace to others. Amen!”
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