Lost Power
On July 8, 2024, the Houston area lost power for 2.26 million people. Hurricane Beryl with the fury of its strong winds and rain wreaked havoc in the lives of these and millions of other people. The loss of power caused dramatic changes in every affected person’s existence.
Some even lost their earthly lives due to the terrible powerless conditions. The health of the weak and the homeless was greatly endangered. This power outage disrupted hospitals, traffic signals, internet/communication networks, and gas stations. Businesses suffered financial losses due to disrupted supply chains, and lost sales. Spoiled food due to refrigerator/freezer failure was a common costly problem.
People’s reactions were provocative to the stress and tremendous discomfort of summer heat with high humidity as the days rolled on without power. Some started using generators to provide temporary minimal relief. Some just wanted out of the chaos and left for places that had power. Many moved in with friends and relatives who had regained power. Many more remained isolated and the lack of communication exacerbated emotional distress.
Reflecting on this horrific situation has caused me to realize that losing electrical power has been very problematic, but temporary. However, never having the POWER OF GOD would be disastrous and eternal.
Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” The gospel is not just a message about the power of God, but it is "the power of God for salvation". This means that salvation is not something that sinners can attain by their own efforts or good works, but it is enabled by the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The power of God enables believing Christians to rejoice in hope, frees them from all condemnation, provides them eternal security, and prepares an eternal home in Heaven for them.
Today believing Christians have access to power, wisdom, and revelation from the Holy Spirit, just as the Apostle Paul wrote to believers in Ephesus, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power (dunamis) for us who believe. That power (dunamis) is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:17–20).
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive (dunamis) power, after that the Holy Spirit comes upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The Greek word “dunamis” is the English word “power” in these scriptures. “Dunamis” is also used for dynamite. In essence, we have the power of the dynamite of God available through the Holy Spirit, who indwells us.
We all have lights, air conditioning, and electrical appliances that we use regularly in our normal daily lives. When the electrical power source goes off for whatever reason, it disrupts our temporal lives immensely. When we are not plugged into the power source of God, His Holy Spirit, it disrupts our spiritual lives immensely. We plug into God’s power source through FAITH which is believing and trusting God to be involved in every temporal or spiritual step we take in our life journey.
As finite human beings, God’s limitless power is impossible for us to fully comprehend. But we can stand in awe of His might and rest in the knowledge that nothing falls outside His sovereign control. Recognizing God’s omnipotence should fill us with reverence and inspire us to live in obedience to His commands1. Additionally, God’s power is not merely theoretical or abstract; it actively indwells every born-again believer. It’s the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and exalted Him to the right hand of the Father.
My belief in the intimacy and power of God was brought to full reality when I became aware (many years after I had accepted Christ as my Savior) that He had indwelled me permanently with His Holy Spirit.
I had not realized that I had access to the power of God living in me until I got deeply involved in God’s Word, which grew my faith (believing and trusting God). Since coming to that exciting revelation, I am seeing the power of God working through me, a very ordinary person, to do extraordinary things when I plug into His power source through faith. God has allowed me opportunities around the world to tell some of my personal journey, especially in business. The Holy Spirit always uses these times for His multiplication purposes. In essence, He allows me to toss a tiny pebble into the water, and through His power He causes a ripple effect for His glory.
The problem with believers in Christ is not losing power but not using this power of God that indwells them. Our Heavenly Father wants each of His children to use His permanent indwelling power in supernatural eternal ways for His glory.
