When I was a kid, Saturday morning cartoons could get you to hop out of bed waaay easier than on school mornings. Before the days of streaming, and on-demand TV, you had one shot to watch a program, and we dared not miss one second. One particular cartoon had a main character who turned from a pretty average guy into the “most powerful man in the universe”. He did this by holding a sword and yelling (with a fantastic echo), “I have the POW-ER!” This turned him and his wimpy kitty into an undefeatable superhero and his tiger “battle cat”.

I am currently studying for some certifications which require me to execute proper lifting techniques. This week’s lesson included “a power grip” and “the power lift”. These give a person more mechanical power from their body. As I practiced these moves, I found myself saying, “I have the POWER!”  I was reminded that as a believer in Jesus, boy do I ever!!

I actually KNOW the most powerful One in the universe! King Jesus! I have access to His power, and He says He gives me that same power. As anyone who has seen the movies The Incredibles or Sky High knows, when you have superpowers, they have to be developed. You can’t just expect to know how to use them without proper training. We mortals in the real world have to tap into the Bible to get the scoop. Call it the textbook for learning our superpowers. I have heard it said that BIBLE stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

God’s Word lets you know what power God has, that God gifts believers with these powers, how to develop them, and what the powers are to be used for.

Here is a tiny glimmer of what God’s power encompasses:

• Power over every created thing: “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17) Without His power here, we would fall apart – that comes second only to the fact that nothing would even exist!
• Power over nature: “Suddenly a furious storm came up…The disciples went and woke [Jesus], saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” …He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” Matthew 8:24-27
• Power over earthly, and eternal, life and death: “[His] power 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 1:19-20

God imparts His supernatural power to those who believe in and call on His name:

• “But you will receive power when The Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be witnesses [of Jesus’s].” (Acts 1:8)
• “Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these [things I have done], because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)
• The Apostle Paul prays, “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know…His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1: 18)

How do we develop our God-given power?

• Dive into His Word! Know His voice. Follow His leading. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

WHY does God demonstrate His power, on His own and through believers?

• So we can be witnesses to the power God possesses. We share what we know and have!
• SO THAT HE RECEIVES THE GLORY! “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory…forever”! (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Our power grip on Jesus and the things of Him, allow us to power lift things much too heavy for us. Proper spiritual mechanics shine a light on the source of our power!