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Here's a study about God's power looking especially at the greek word "dunamis" and how it's used in the New Testament.
A word used often for “power” in the New Testament(1:17, 18, 24) is dunamis. Strong’s definition of this word: "dunamis force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work."
Dunamis is used nearly 120 times in the New Testament. Actually it’s used slightly more that the word for God’s love, though they are used almost exactly the same number of times (a few times dunamis is used of the power of the enemy. I think the word for God’s love is used about 116 times so if you excluded the two or three times that dunamis is used as the enemy’s power or man's powet, it’s nearly the same, when you limit it to the usage of God’s power).
Dunamis is used:
*In the Lord’s prayer—the kingdom, the power, the glory (Matt. 6:13).
*“Many wonderful works” (Matt. 7:22). The amazing thing here is that these works of God are done by those who don’t belong to Him. So dunamis isn’t a 100% guarantee of the person that’s doing the works. I think sometimes God uses people because no one else is available and the work needs to be done badly. Need to think about that one.
*These “mighty works” have man’s repentance for a goal. (Matt. 11:20, 21)
*Unbelief blocks dunamis, “mighty works.” (Matt. 13:58)
*The powers of heaven will be shaken before the Day of the Lord. Could the power here just be supernatural power, spiritual power? In that case, we’re faced with spiritual power, we need to be clothed in spiritual power ourselves. These powers in heavenly places aren’t all on our side. (Matt. 24:49) Paul said to the Ephesians, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:12
He proceeds to tell us how to armor ourselves with dunamis in order to combat these forces. (Eph. 6:10-18). You want dunamis in your life? Then get busy doing Eph. 6! Be baptized in the Spirit, then daily put on Christ, put on the armor of Christ, pray and be being filled!
*On the Day of the Lord, Jesus is coming back with dunamis and great glory.(Matt. 24: 30)
*In the parable of the talents every man received according to his ability. Here it was natural abilities is question. I think the word “ability” is the key. The Spirit gives us spiritual abilities—dunamis. (Matt. 25:15)
*(Mark 5:30) When the woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, “virture” (NIV-power), dunamis flowed out.
*(Mark 9:39) it’s translated as “miracle.”
*The right hand of power dunamis, is the right hand of God, indicating that the power is from Him. (Mark 14:63) It is used for supernatural power, and natural abilities—good, neutral, and evil—but the most common usage seems to be spiritual power proceeding from God because this dunamis is at his right hand.
*It’s a power to heal relationships, to give knowledge of God, to make hearts ready to receive the Lord. (Luke 1:17) Luke 1:17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
* The dunamis of God was active in the miraculous conception of Jesus. (Luke 1:35)
* This dunamis of God trumps the power of demons and heals sickness.(Luke 9:1; 10:19)
*(Luke 24:29) We’re clothed with dunamis. It comes from “on high.” This power doesn’t come from pumping iron down at the gym. It doesn’t come from dropping a few million into the right congressman’s bank account. This comes from God and you’ve got to look to Him for it. That’s so easy to say, so easy to preach, but are you incessantly before God, asking for the spiritual power from on high? How badly we need it, how badly the Church needs it. Oh, Lord, fill me anew, more than I’ve ever been filled before.
*(Acts 1:8). This spiritual enablement, power, ability comes to those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit and it seems from this verse that the primary reason that God baptizes us in the Holy Spirit is so that we can be His witnesses everywhere. The book of Acts tells us what this verse means. Look at how they were—crazy, but crazy for the Lord Jesus. And look at the result.
(Acts 2:22) These miracles (dunamis), wonders and signs showed God’s approval on Jesus’ life. Though miracles aren’t the only proof to look for, because even false prophets may exhibit them, they are a good sign that the Lord is present.
(Acts 3:12) Peter admitted that the power didn’t come from him. It wasn’t because he was such a splendid fellow. It comes from God and is his power. We need to learn to flow in His power.
Dunamis is used 10 times in the first 19 chapters of Acts. We want to be the Church that God desires us to be. This dunamis must work in us if we’re to do the work that God wants done. It’s also used eight times (at least) in Romans!You know what’s strange? The first three Gospels use the world copiously as does Paul in the epistles (Paul uses it 15 times in 1 Corinthians). I think I counted 118 times that the word appears in the New Testament. The Gospel of John doesn’t use it one single time, nor does John use it in his letters!
Why?
And then John uses it 12 times in Revelations. Here is a mystery. Why doesn’t he use it at all in his Gospel and his letters then he uses it 12 times in Revelations?
(Acts 8:11)—The Samaritains thought that Simon was the great power of God. They hadn’t seen anything!
(Acts 10:38)- Jesus used dunamis to go about and do good.
(Rom. 1:4)—this dunamis of God was the agent that raised Jesus from the dead.
(Rom. 1:16) The gospel of Jesus-Christ is the dunamis of God unto eternal life. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead acts in us to raise us from the spiritually dead.
(Rom. 1:20) His eternal dunamis and Godhead are clearly seen. Dunamis power comes from God and has existed eternally. I think we see bits of it in healing but it’s God’s power, which is limitless.
(Rom. 15:13) We can abound in hope by the power (dunamis) of the Holy Spirit. He’s the spirit of a sound mind and His power flowing in our lives injects hope into us. Maybe a lot of people, instead of searching for another pill, need to search to be filled with the power of the Spirit. Hope restores balance and gives meaning to life. Hope. God’s dunamis.
(1 Cor. 1:18) The dunamis of God is in the preaching of the Cross. Yes, we need to teach our people to live out their lives practically but DON’T FORGET THE CROSS!!! God’s power is there.
(1 Cor. 2:5) For Paul it was indispensable that God manifest Himself, that the dunamis affirm that it was God working, that He is real, that He saves. They weren’t just saved by a persuasive sermon but by preaching in which the dunamis of God manifested itself. The supernatural added a powerful affirmation to what was preached. That’s missing, for the most part, with us. We’re a lot like Nazareth (not completely). I don’t want to be too negative because there are a lot of things that God is doing and when God works that’s dunamis. I saw God’s dunamis in saving people and delivering them from their sins.
(1 Cor. 4:19) Paul contrasts those who can only speak well with those who also have a demonstration of God’s dunamis. He tells these slick talkers in Corinth, “Put up or shut up.” Or more concretely, “Let’s see some spiritual proof of your big words.” And like Elijah on Mt. Carmel, Paul doesn’t fear a confrontation of power because he knows that God’s power works in and with him. “1Co 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
(1 Cor. 5:4) We need the dunamis of God in church discipline.
(1 Cor. 12:10) One of the gifts of the Spirit is the working of miracles (dunamis). Are all workers of miracles? (12:29) Does that mean that not everyone will have miracles manifested through their ministry but that everyone will have a manifestation of dunamis some way in their lives if they are filled with the Spirit and walk with faith and obedience?
(1 Cor. 15:43) Our bodies will be resurrected by the dunamis of the God.
(1 Cor. 15:58) Here he says that the “strength (dunamis) of sin is the Law.” Dunamis itself has a neutral connotation in the sense that it can be used for God’s power or the power of His enemies. But, it seems to me that it always talks about supernatural power, or at least, nearly always.
(2 Cor. 1:8) – Here the dunamis seems to be human strength. Paul says they were tried beyond their own strength but God helped and delivered them. So we’ve seen the word used normally of God’s miracle-working power, a few times of the power of the enemy or the Law, and here as just normal human strength.
(2 Cor. 4:7) – This “treasure” is in ordinary vessels so that the God gets credit for the power and not us. That’s what so hard about believing that God can use us. We’re too normal. It seems to me that at times we’ve maybe “added” a little bit to make the supernatural more believable—Kathryn Kuhlman’s dramatic style, evidently Aime Semple McPherson was similar. I think Paul didn’t have any personal “flair.” He would have passed better with some people if he had developed this “Hollywood” side. I don’t dispute that God used Kathryn K. mightily, we’ve just got to be careful because if we get too dramatic people will make us a case apart and think that we can do that but not "normal" humans. We need this power of God in the Church. And normal people—earthen vessels—are God’s means of sending it.
(2 Cor. 6:4) – Paul says that one of the proofs he has of being a minister of God is the power (dunamis) of God working in him. But look at the companions of that power: “2Co 6:4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (NKJV)
(2 Cor. 8:3) – The Macedonians gave to their dunamis and beyond their dunamis. There was a spiritual, faith-filled, supernatural element to their giving.
(2 Cor. 12:9) – God’s dunamis is made perfect in our weakness. When we’re weak (but trusting) His power rests upon us.
(Gal. 3:5) – It’s possible to produce dunamis miracles, but have wrong doctrine and the wrong spirit. In this case it was even a spirit that tried to seduce them away from the simplicity of their faith in Christ.
(Eph. 1: 19 ) The dunamis of God working towards us is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
(Eph. 3:7) God’s dunamis works in us to make us a minister of the Gospel. I think that along with the calling (which comes by His grace) we need God’s power to work in us to make us what He’s called us to be and God’s power working through us to do what He’s called us to do.
(Eph. 3:16, 17, 18) The dunamis of God strengthens our inner man. I think it helps us to understand God’s love, to receive this earth-changing revelation. V. 20-by this dunamis working in us He’s able to do more than we can even ask or think! Ah, how we need God’s power working in us. Eph 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Eph 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” \
Phil 3:10-Paul cries out that he wants to know the Lord Jesus even more, know the dunamis of his resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. There is still resurrection power available. Let it flow through what God has called you to do.
Col. 1:11—The dunamis of God gives us power to persevere when we’re tried. 2 Tim. 1:8 contains the same idea.
(Col 1:20) –Paul didn’t work in his own power but with God’s power which worked in him mightily. I think He’ll work in each of us as much as we’ll believe Him to work.
(2 Tim. 1:7)- Even God’s angels are empowered by His dunamis. If angels need this power and the Lord Jesus Himself used this power, who am I to think that my strength, ability and power is suffisant?
2 Thessa. 1:11 (NIV) – It’s God’s dunamis that enables us to live holy lives and that causes what we do for God to bear fruit. "We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(2 Thessa. 2:9) The anti-Christ will come with dunamis but the nature is different. It’s been denatured by his character and his motives. It’s still supernatural. Be careful, all supernatural manifestations aren’t sponsored by God.
(2 Tim. 1:7) The opposite of a spirit of fear is a spirit of dunamis, love, and self-control. The power of God without the direction of these last two elements can be dangerous. We can misuse his power so we need to make sure we’re motivated by love and that we can control ourselves. (This is one of the reasons we fast, to practice physically, a spiritual discipline, if that expression sounds logical).
(2 Tim. 3:5) – The “godliness”, spiritual life that God looks for is animated by his dunamis.
(Heb. 6:5) –This dunamis is the power of the world to come.
(1 Pet. 1:5) – God’s power (dunamis) keeps us until the day of the fulfillment of our salvation.
He saves us by His power, keeps us by his power, changes us by his power into his image, enables us by His power to do His will, reveals things to us by His power. Oh, Father! We need your dunamis working in our lives.
(1 Pet. 3:22) Angels, authorities and dunamis are subject to the Lord Jesus. There are all kinds of powers in the universe. We don’t know or understand them all but they are all subject to the Lord Jesus. If you’re doing His will, nothing can oppose you if you walk in faith.
(2 Pet. 1:3) “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him…” (He’s also given us great and precious promises so that we can participate in the divine nature and escape sin’s corruption. So we’ve got his dunamis and his promesses to live a victorious life)
We get into the usage of the word in Revelations now. It funny to me that John didn’t use the word one single time in his Gospel or the Epistles yet here he uses it 12 times! A good question is: “Why?”
(Rev. 1:16) The angel’s face was like the sun in its strength (dunamis). Here it’s not used as spiritual power but as a simile comparing it with the sun at its brightest.
(Rev. 3:8) This Church had a little dunamis and God was pleased with it. It helped them to keep God’s Word and not deny His name. A little dunamis is powerful much like a grain of mustard seed, I suppose. Doesn’t take much but you’ve got to make sure you have it and use it.
(Rev. 4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 11:17; 12:10; 15:8; 19:1 ) John talks especially about God’s power/dunamis. But also about the dunamis of Satan. (Rev. 13:2). Even human power and authority is engaged here against God as these kings lend their dunamis to the Beast (17:13).