Chapter 7: Abundant Power
Bible Reading:
Psalms 33:9, 103:19
1 Corinthians 1:18
Philippians 3:10
1 Peter 1:5
Romans 1:16
2 Timothy 1:12
God is infinitely rich and without measure. We have already spoken about His: 1) Abundant forgiveness 2) Abundant grace 3) Abundant love 4) Abundant mercy 5) Abundant life 6) Abundant word. Next, we will look at the seventh aspect of His riches: His abundant power.
God possesses infinite riches and exceedingly great authority and power. Yet why do so many Christians continue to live in weakness and defeat, languishing in the misery and hardship of spiritual poverty and desolation? The reason is that they have not received revelation; they have not truly seen what is theirs. It is much like the early settlers in America. Because they had not yet discovered the abundant resources of the land, they spent their days farming the soil and cutting timber, living lives of toil and hardship. But when they eventually discovered the vast deposits of coal, iron, oil, and other valuable minerals beneath the ground, resources that could sustain and enrich life, America gradually entered the industrial age. The standard of living steadily improved, and in time the nation became one of the strongest and wealthiest in the world. Vast in territory and rich in resources, powerful in both prosperity and defense, its people enjoyed peace, stability, and flourishing lives, making it a land admired throughout the world.
Likewise, when a Christian discovers the riches of Christ's power, He speaks and it comes to be, commands and it stands firm, calls into existence the things that do not exist, and raises the dead, everything changes. On the negative side, there is no longer any need to struggle merely by human determination to do good, living a life of constant effort, frustration, and pain. On the positive side, one can live daily in victory, transcendence, and joy. Therefore, it is exceedingly important to recognize that God possesses unlimited and inexhaustible power.
The Bible's Explanation of God's Abundant Power
The God whom we believe in and have received is infinitely rich and inexhaustible. We could spend a lifetime experiencing Him and still never exhaust His riches, nor could we ever fully declare all that He is. Concerning just one aspect of His riches, namely His abundant power, the Scriptures provide many explanations and descriptions. This power includes both authority and might. Let us first consider His might. First Chronicles 29:12 says, “In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all..” Here we see that God possesses great power and mighty strength. Psalm 147:5 says, “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power.” Though there are many mighty angels in heaven, this verse declares that our God is the One who is greatest in power. Romans 1:20 states, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.” The very work of creation bears witness to God’s eternal power. Hebrews 7:16 says, “Who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” Revelation 1:8 records: “Says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” The Lord God Himself declares that He is the Almighty One who can do all things. “For with God all things are possible” (Mathew 19:26). Since He is such an all-powerful God, nothing is too difficult for Him. These verses reveal that God's power is not only eternal, but also boundless and almighty. Oh, how rich and inexhaustible His power is!
Concerning God's authority, Matthew 28:18 records: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” This reveals that the authority God possesses encompasses both heaven and earth. It is a universal authority that governs the entire cosmos. There is no realm beyond its reach and no domain outside its jurisdiction. Therefore, God can cause those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth to bow at the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10). This means that throughout the world of mankind, and indeed throughout the entire universe, His authority is exercised without exception. Consider for a moment the vastness of the universe. Then you may begin to imagine how immeasurably rich and far-reaching His authority is!
God's Abundant Power
God's power is rich, boundless, and inexhaustible. We shall seek to apprehend it from six distinct aspects, that we may gain a clearer vision of its greatness. And that we may increasingly experience the riches of His power throughout our lifetime. Such an experience will undoubtedly contribute to the carrying out of God's purpose and the fulfillment of His will.
God's Powerful Word
God possesses abundant power, and one of the primary ways this power is manifested is through His powerful word. To understand the power of God's word, we may first consider the matter of creation. Psalm 33:9 says, “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” As soon as God's word went forth, the matter was accomplished, revealing that His word is full of power. At the beginning of Genesis, the record of creation clearly shows that God created the universe through His powerful word. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear,” and it was so (Genesis 1:9). Whatever God spoke came to pass exactly as He had spoken. This shows that God's word is exceedingly powerful.
If we lift up our eyes at night and behold this vast universe, we cannot help but marvel at the greatness of God. And when we realize that all things in the universe were created through His word, we are filled with even greater wonder. Oh, how great is the authority and power of His word! What incomparable might it possesses!
God’s word not only possesses the power to create heaven and earth, but also the power to uphold all things. Hebrews 1:3 says, “He upholds the universe by the word of His power.” God sustains the entire universe through His powerful word.
He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. In this way, all things were created and fully brought into existence. But after creating all things, by what does He sustain them? He established the principles and laws of the universe, causing all things to operate according to their appointed order and regulations, moving in perfect harmony without the slightest confusion or disorder, each remaining in its proper place. In this way, God upholds all things by His powerful command. His word, once spoken, becomes principle, law, and ordinance. This is what is meant by the word of His power. Oh, how powerful God's word truly is!
God’s powerful word also shakes man’s natural being. Psalm 29:4-5 says: “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;” The voice of the Lord is the word spoken by God. His word carries a shaking power. It breaks the cedar, the king of trees, signifying the breaking of man's outward glory, pride, and self-exaltation.
Dear brothers and sisters, in the special conferences we have often attended in the past. We have experienced that whenever the Lord spoke in those meetings, all who heard His voice fell down before Him. Those who once condemned others instead became convicted concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, reproaching themselves. This is because God's word possesses a shaking power that brings down human pride, self-confidence, self-righteousness, self-exaltation, and arrogance. Truly, the word of God is vested with mighty and all-sufficient power.
God’s powerful word is also able to pierce and divide the spirit and the soul of man. Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." God’s word is exceedingly sharp, penetrating, and precise. It is able to divide what is otherwise difficult to distinguish, namely the spirit and the soul, and to pierce what is hard to separate, namely the joints and the marrow. Moreover, it is able to discern and expose the hidden thoughts, motives, and intentions deep within our hearts.
Generally speaking, people do not find it easy to know their own true condition. When others point out our weaknesses and shortcomings, our natural reaction is often one of resistance and unwillingness to accept. But when God's word comes to us and shines upon us, we do not become offended, angry, or rebellious. Rather, we fall down before Him and, like Job, repent in dust and ashes. This demonstrates the mighty power of God's word.
God's Sovereign Authority
A second aspect of God’s abundant power is displayed through His sovereign authority. Psalm 103:19 says: “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.” God sits upon the throne, possessing the highest authority to govern all things in the universe. We call this His sovereign authority. Since He is able to rule over all creation and govern everything in the universe, His authority must be immeasurably great and infinite in extent.
The apostle Paul, through divine revelation, wrote in Ephesians concerning God: “Who works all things according to the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11). This expresses that God carries out everything in the universe according to His own purpose and will. Whatever He intends, He accomplishes. He possesses absolute authority. No creature, whether angels, rulers, powers, things above, or things below, can hinder Him, for He holds supreme and unrivaled authority over all.
Matthew 10:29 records that Jesus said without the Father's permission, not one of the sparrow will fall to the ground. This speaks of the administration of God's sovereign authority. His governing care is so thorough and detailed that He watches even over the sparrows, creatures of little value in man's eyes. Moreover, He has even numbered the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30). This means that God's sovereign authority oversees every person, every matter, and every thing in the entire universe. Whether great or small, all are under His government and care. How rich and abundant, then, is God's power! Recognizing this, the psalmist could say: “I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is You who have done it” (Psalm 39:9). This also indicates that everything that comes upon us has passed through the permission of God's sovereign authority. Paul also says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28). Every person, every matter, and every thing in the universe is under God's sovereign hand. Through all things working together, God is carrying out His purpose of building up the believers and causing those who love Him to receive benefit. This truth repeatedly reminds us that God's sovereign authority truly rules and reigns over all.
God’s sovereign authority, rich in power, is further demonstrated through His mighty hand governing the land, the sea, and the heavens. Exodus 32:11 says: “your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand.” This verse tells us that God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt by His mighty hand, performing many signs and wonders. For example, He sent the ten great plagues upon the land of Egypt, showing that His mighty hand rules over the earth. He also divided the waters of the Red Sea and led Israel safely through the midst of the sea, demonstrating that His mighty hand governs the waters. Furthermore, when Israel fought against the Amorites after entering Canaan, He caused the sun to stand still in the heavens, revealing that His mighty hand also rules over the skies. Oh, God's mighty hand governs the land, the sea, and the heavens! He is truly the supreme Commander of the entire universe, ruling over earth, sea, and sky. How rich is His power! How vast is His might!
Not only so, the Lord Jesus’ casting out of demons and healing of diseases also reveal to us how limitless the power of God's sovereign authority is. It extends beyond the physical realm into the spiritual and unseen realms. The Bible records that the Lord Jesus commanded demons with authority and power, and the unclean spirits came out (Luke 4:36). He also healed all who were sick (Luke 4:40). Peter’s mother-in-law was suffering from a severe fever. Jesus rebuked the fever, and it left her (Luke 4:39). He commanded a paralytic to rise, and immediately the man stood up and walked (Luke 5:24-25). He rebuked the raging wind and waves, and the storm ceased, and there was a great calm (Luke 8:24). He also commanded the unclean spirits to come out of a demon-possessed man. The demons obeyed His word, departed from the man, entered a herd of swine, and rushed into the lake (Luke 8:33). In His dealings with Satan's kingdom and the powers of darkness, God's sovereign authority was manifested in a most striking way. It is sharp, irresistible, and invincible, overcoming every power of darkness and destroying all the works of the devil.
Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord not only has the power to cast out demons and heal diseases, but He has also given this authority to us, so that we may overcome all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm us (Luke 10:19). Hallelujah!
The Power of the Cross
The third aspect of God's abundant power is manifested even more through the power of the cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” This verse tells us that God's abundant power in the salvation of mankind is manifested through the message of the cross. We may call this the power of the cross. For fallen humanity, God has made the power of the cross the only way of salvation. Because the cross of Christ is the center of God's salvation, and its significance is all-inclusive and inexhaustible, we can only touch upon it briefly.
The Cross Deals with the World
Galatians 6:14 says: “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” After mankind fell, the whole world likewise came under the power of the devil (1 John 5:19), and all creation was subjected to futility and brought into bondage to corruption. How, then, did God deal with the world? He did so through the cross of Christ. By means of Christ's cross, God has dealt with this corrupted and defiled world.
When the Lord Jesus was crucified and cried out, “It is finished,” the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This veil typifies the body of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:20). Embroidered on the veil were cherubim (Exodus 26:31). When the veil was torn from top to bottom, the cherubim were torn as well. The cherubim typify the created beings. This signifies that, through the cross of Christ, the entire defiled creation was dealt with. In God's eyes, when the Lord Jesus died on the cross, the whole world, which had become the old creation through corruption and defilement, was brought to an end. No wonder Paul could say: “By which the world has been crucified to me.”
The Cross Deals with the Old Self and the Flesh
Romans 6:6 says: “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” The cross not only dealt with the world and the old creation, but it also dealt with our old self. This is an accomplished fact, which we come to know through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. From the standpoint of spiritual experience, since our old self has already been crucified with Christ, there is no need for us to struggle, cultivate ourselves, or strive by our own efforts. Therefore, Jesus said, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The truth is the accomplished fact of Jesus Christ's redemption. When we see this reality, we are released and set free.
If we are people who love the world, once we realize that the world has been crucified on the cross, we can be set free from the bondage of money and worldly things. Or, if we are believers who continually fail because of the flesh, when we see that our old self has been crucified with Christ, we will be released from striving in our own strength and will instead learn to trust in the Lord. However, this does not mean that a person who has realized that the world was crucified with Christ will never again be touched by the world. Neither does it mean that a person who has realized that the old self was crucified with Christ will never fail again or never act according to the flesh. Until the day we see the Lord face to face, we will still be tempted to love the world, still be prone to walk according to the flesh, and still experience failures. Therefore, we must remain watchful every day until we meet the Lord.
Just like the emancipation of the slaves in the United States by President Abraham Lincoln. Through the American Civil War, the battle for the liberation of slaves had already been won. Lincoln officially proclaimed that the slaves were free. Those who knew and believed this fact rejoiced and entered into the enjoyment of their freedom. Yet some slaves, unaware of this proclamation, continued to labor as servants and slaves. This was not because Lincoln’s proclamation had lost its effectiveness, nor because the government was unwilling to set them free. Rather, it was because they did not know or understand what had already been accomplished for them. In the same way, when we see the power of the cross and realize that it has already set us free from the flesh, that very revelation brings us out from under its bondage. Nevertheless, we must remain watchful and vigilant in order to continue walking in and preserving that freedom.
The Cross Abolishes Death
2 Timothy 1:10 says, "...Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death." Through His death on the cross, Christ overthrew the authority of Satan and the power of Hades. Then, after rising from the dead, He took possession of "the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:18). This means that Christ has rendered death powerless and has set all believers free from its bondage. Therefore, the Bible refers to a Christian's death as merely "falling asleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
The Death of the Cross Defeated the Devil
Hebrews 2:14 says: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." This verse tells us that Christ became flesh and blood through His incarnation. By His death on the cross, He destroyed the one who held the power of death, namely, the devil.
This shows that the power of the cross has dealt with the world and the old self, abolished death, and destroyed the devil. Through these accomplishments, we gain a clear understanding of how immeasurably rich and boundless God's power is as manifested through the cross.
The Power of the Resurrection
The fourth aspect of God's infinite and abundant power is manifested through the power of Christ's resurrection. Ephesians 1:19-21 says: "And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." This passage tells us that God, by His mighty and immeasurable power, raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heaven. This power is known as the power of resurrection, and through it God's abundant and limitless power is displayed.
When the Lord Jesus died, death and Hades exerted all their power to hold Him captive. Yet through the mighty power of resurrection, the Lord Jesus rose from the dead and came forth from the tomb with complete calmness and triumph. This is evident from the fact that He left the linen wrappings lying there and folded the face cloth separately in another place (John 20:6-7). Such details portray a scene calmness and showing Christ being more than a conqueror. Although the kingdom of darkness had enveloped this world, and the powers of Hades sought to detain Christ, He rose from the dead through the power of resurrection. As a result, He is now exalted far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age but also in the age to come.
Because the resurrection power manifested in Christ is so exceedingly great and immeasurable, the Apostle Paul said, "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection" (Philippians 3:10). This means that throughout his entire life he sought to know Christ and to know the power of His resurrection. This resurrection power is also experienced in a very real way in every Christian.
1 Corinthians 6:14 says, "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power." This tells us that God not only raised Christ from the dead, but will likewise raise up those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus. In this way, we are able to experience how exceedingly great and abundantly rich is the power manifested through God's resurrection power.
When a person believes in the Lord Jesus and is born again unto salvation, he experiences the resurrection of spirit, soul, and body. For originally we were dead in trespasses and sins, separated from God, and our spirit was in a state of death. But once we believe in Jesus, our spirit is made alive. Our spirit awakens and is restored to its proper function, crying out to God as "Abba, Father," and begins to pray and fellowship with Him. At the same time, the feelings of the spirit are also restored. Previously, when we sinned and indulged the flesh, we were without feeling. When we quarreled with others, we would contend to the very end and even seek revenge, while our spirit remained numb. But after believing in Jesus and our spirit being made alive, whenever we sin and indulge the flesh, we become inwardly grieved. When we quarrel with others or harbor thoughts of revenge, we feel pain in our spirit. The sensitivity of our spirit has become keen once again.
At the same time, the soul also is resurrected. Originally, our mind, emotion, and will were all directed toward the world and toward ourselves. We were dead to the things of God and to spiritual things. But after believing in the Lord, the soul also comes to life. Our mind begins to set itself on the things above. Our affections begin to love the Lord Jesus, to desire spiritual food, and to delight in spiritual things. Our will likewise becomes determined to pursue the Lord, follow the Lord, walk in His way, and seek to please Him. ...
Not only that, the body also is resurrected. Many people experienced illnesses healed after believing in the Lord Jesus. Or previously, our eyes and ears blind and deaf to spiritual things. But after believing in the Lord Jesus, the body has come to life. We pay close attention listening to messages, we receive light when reading the Bible. Our eyes are opened, and our ears are healed. This is a marvelous thing! When the Lord comes again one day, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, He will transform our lowly body and make it like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Then our body will be exactly the same as the glorious body of the Lord Jesus. Oh, how full and how wonderful is the power of resurrection!
Paul had a profound experience of the power of resurrection. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, he says: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The “treasure” spoken of here refers to Jesus Christ, within whom is contained the power of resurrection. And"we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Therefore, “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:10). These afflictions, whether being hard pressed on every side, perplexed in heart, persecuted, or struck down, are nothing more than the outworking of the power of death. Yet the result of death is the release and manifestation of resurrection power. Therefore, we are "not crushed, not driven to despair, not forsaken, and not destroyed". Instead, as we always carry about in our body the dying of Jesus, the life of Jesus is manifested in us.
Stephen was the first witness in the New Testament to be martyred for the Lord. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and testified: “I see heaven opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this, the people cried out with a loud voice, rushed together at him, cast him out of the city, and stoned him. As he was dying, he called upon the Lord, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:55-60) He suffered persecution, humiliation, and stoning, and was brought to the point of death. Yet as he was dying, he did not condemn his enemies or seek revenge. Instead, he prayed that the Lord would forgive them. This was a manifestation of the power of resurrection. From this incident, we are once again given a glimpse of God's power. Through the power of resurrection, God's might is displayed in such an extraordinary and transcendent way. How astonishing and awe-inspiring it is!
God's Preserving Power
God's abundant power is manifested in a fifth aspect: His preserving power. First Peter 1:5 says: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” The salvation to be revealed in the last time refers to the complete salvation in which our spirit, soul, and body are all preserved until the Lord's return.
Therefore, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This means that God not only preserves our spirit from perdition, but also preserves our soul, saving it and filling it with Christ. Furthermore, He preserves our body, so that at the Lord's return it may be transformed and found entirely blameless. The passage then continues: “He Who calls you is faithful, He will surely do it.” This shows how exceedingly great God's preserving power is.
Jude 24 says: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy…” This verse likewise speaks of the Lord's ability to preserve us unto perfection. First Peter 1, 1 Thessalonians 5, and Jude all mention God's preserving power. This repeated emphasis is a reminder of how reliable and steadfast God's preserving power is. It enables us to see that God's abundant power is also manifested in His ability to preserve and keep us.
Among the Lord Jesus' disciples, Thomas was a man of doubt and little faith. Along the path of following the Lord, the outcome of doubting God and failing to believe Him is always failure and collapse. Since Thomas was such a doubting and weak-faith disciple, one would think that failure was inevitable for him. Yet the Lord had the power to preserve him, and He did preserve Thomas. When the Lord was raised from the dead and appeared to His disciples, Thomas was not present. Therefore, he did not believe the testimony of the other disciples. For this reason, the Lord Jesus specially appeared to Thomas again. Then Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” Although Thomas fell into doubt and unbelief, the Lord preserved him and appeared to him personally. From that time on, Thomas was restored. According to historical legend, he subsequently went everywhere bearing witness for the Lord and even suffered martyrdom for His sake. Behold, how great is the Lord's preserving power!
Peter was no exception. Although he failed greatly by denying the Lord three times, this was permitted by the Lord so that Peter might come to realize how unreliable he was. But then the Lord manifested His preserving power. He repeatedly appeared to Peter and spoke to him, strengthening and establishing his faith. After Pentecost, Peter was greatly used by the Lord and remained faithful to the very end. According to historical records, Peter eventually suffered martyrdom for the Lord, having fought the good fight. This too was a demonstration of God's preserving power, revealing that God possesses immeasurable and inexhaustible power.
The Power of the Gospel
God's infinite power is manifested in yet another aspect, and the final one we will consider: the power of the gospel. Romans 1:16 says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” This means that God's power is made known through a particular channel, namely, the gospel. We call this the power of the gospel. Wherever the gospel goes, whether to Jews or Greeks, civilized people or barbarians, the wise or the unlearned, regardless of race or social standing, all who believe are saved. This clearly shows how rich, vast, and unlimited God's power is.
From the perspective of the world's advancement, many uncivilized and barbaric peoples, whose regions were once dreadful places where cannibalism was practiced, underwent great transformation through the preaching and acceptance of the gospel of Christ. As a result, their societies changed dramatically. Not only did they cease such practices, but they also learned to live together in peace. Their culture and standard of living was elevated as well. This demonstrates how the power of the gospel reveals the greatness and immeasurable extent of God's power.
From the standpoint of personal experience, when the power of the gospel comes upon a person, it can completely transform someone who is naturally hot-tempered, sinful, wicked, and morally corrupt into a gentle person of noble character. Take the famous Augustine of Hippo as an example. He came to be known as “Saint Augustine” because, during the era of the Roman Catholic Church, he was recognized for his noble character and for the positive influence he exerted upon society and the people around him. But in his youth, Augustine lived a reckless and unrestrained life. He refused correction, and his mother was deeply grieved. She asked a bishop to preach the gospel to him, yet Augustine successfully refuted everything the bishop said. Eventually, the bishop told his mother, “Your son is too knowledgeable; I can do nothing with him.” His mother had no choice but to weep before God and pray for him day after day. Indeed, God heard his mother's prayers and moved Augustine to read the Bible. When he came to Romans 13:13, where it says: "Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." The Holy Spirit enlightened him, and he immediately repented, turned to the Lord, and accepted the gospel. From that moment on, his life underwent a complete transformation. In the end, he came to be honored as “Saint Augustine.” This stands as a testimony to how great and immeasurable God's power is, as manifested through the gospel and the results it produces.
Our Attitude
Since God possesses infinite power, how then can we experience it and become strong, victorious believers who bear a living testimony?
Believe in God's Preserving Power
Paul, after following and serving the Lord into his old age, said: “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12) He knew that God possesses infinite and abundant power. Having experienced God's preserving power, which keeps us to the very end, he was fully persuaded that the Lord would continue to preserve him until His return. Since this is so, we too should believe that God will preserve us to the end. We should commit our entire lives into His hands.
Be Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might
Ephesians 6:10 says: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Since God possesses abundant and infinite power, we who belong to Him should not remain weak and powerless. Rather, we must abide in the Lord, be united with Him, and be strong in the power of His might. Then, whether we are preaching the gospel, visiting and caring for the saints, or carrying out various aspects of service, we will be able to handle them effectively and with confidence. At the same time, we will be able to overcome temptations and enticements, becoming believers who are victorious and who bear a living testimony.
Submit to the Mighty Hand of God
We are weak and utterly corrupt people. Yet God possesses infinite power. He will surely arrange all kinds of people, circumstances, and events to come upon us in order to humble and subdue us, making us humble people. Through all things working together, He is also conforming us to the image of His Son. Therefore, we must learn to submit ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6). We should accept the work of God's mighty hand and allow His work to be accomplished in us.
Exercise Authority Against Satan
As far as dealing with the enemy is concerned, we must exercise the spiritual authority that the Lord has given us. We should rebuke sickness and the attacks of Satan, overcome the enemy, the devil, and thereby manifest God's incomparable glory and His surpassingly great power. With fervent hearts and diligent attitude, we should serve the Lord, so that God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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