Waar kry jy jou krag vandaan?

Sessie 3 van Heilige Gees seminaar: Jesus is ‘n permanente ewige volhoubare kragbron wat nooit load-shed en ‘depleted’ raak nie!

What makes you bold, strong, gives you strength? Where do you draw power from? Some people draw power from their personality, status, possessions, knowledge, influence, abilities or success. One can also draw strength from food, chemical stimulants, alcohol and psychedelic drugs. It is a known fact that survivors can also draw strength from positive sources like, family and loved ones, higher purpose, and meaning. Religious people draw strength from their traditions and methods. Ultimately Jesus is inviting us to come to Him and learn to draw power, boldness and strength from the Spirit and the Word!

Jesus promoted another more natural source of power.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 pDo not labor for the food which perishes, but qfor the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, rbecause God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6:26–27) Jesus is a permanent source of power, and strength. The power that man seeks, is for self-preservation. The power that Jesus gives, is a power to heal. His power is to be given away, to free people, heal people and save people. When we live our creational purpose, His power will flow naturally. We are tired, disillusioned, broken, sick, disconnected, powerless because we seek our own rule, apart from God. The iron man superhero found an internal self-sustainable power source! When the power goes down, we need to charge all our devices. Load-shedding is happening because of an unreliable source! All these things mentioned has some power, to empower you for a while, but then you need to come back and reload, while the core is really diminishing and with every charge becomes weaker until depleted.

Jesus contained an inner supernatural, spiritual power:

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit (Luk 4:14) Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Matt. 22:29; Mark 12:24) And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (Luk 5:17)Power that left Him (Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19; 8:46)And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. (Luk 6:19) He was a power source Himself! People could connect, touch Him and receive power.

1411. δύναμις dúnamis; gen. dunámeōs, fem. noun from dúnamai (G1410), to be able. Power, especially achieving power. All the words derived from the stem dúna- have the meaning of being able, capable. It may even mean to will. Contrast ischús (G2479) which stresses the factuality of the ability, not necessarily the accomplishment.(I) Spoken of intrinsic power, either physical or moral, as in the verb dúnamai.(A) Of the body (1 Cor. 15:43, “in power” stands in opposition to “in weakness”; Heb. 11:11; Sept.: Job 39:19, dúnamis; Job 40:11, ischús; Ps. 29:4, ischús [G2479], strength).(B) Generally (Matt. 25:15; Acts 6:8; 1 Cor. 15:56; 2 Tim. 1:7) a spirit of strength, meaning manly vigor in opposition to a spirit of cowardice (deilías [G1167]) (Heb. 1:3, “His powerful word” [a.t.]; 7:16; 11:34; Rev. 1:16; Sept.: 2 Kgs. 18:20; 1 Chr. 13:8; 29:2; Ezra 2:69; 10:13; Job 12:13). Also in various constructions with katá (G2596), according to one’s strength, meaning as far as one can (2 Cor. 8:3). With hupér (G5228), beyond, above one’s strength (2 Cor. 1:8; 8:3). With en (G1722), in, and the dat. dunámei meaning with power or powerfully, mightily (Col. 1:29; 2 Thess. 1:11). With the dat. only (Acts 4:33). In Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:11, the dat. dunámei means with power.(C) Spoken of God, the Messiah, the great power of God, meaning His almighty energy (Matt. 22:29; Mark 12:24; Luke 1:35; 5:17; Rom. 1:20; 9:17; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:7; 13:4; Eph. 1:19; 3:7, 20; 2 Tim. 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:5; 2 Pet. 1:3). Joined with dóxa (G1391), glory, it implies the greatness, omnipotence, and majesty of God (Rev. 15:8. See Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69, “on the right hand of the power of God”; Heb. 1:3, “on the right hand of the Majesty”). By metonymy spoken of a person or thing in whom the power of God is manifested, i.e., the manifestation of the power of God (Acts 8:10; see Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18, 24). With the gen. phrase “of God” it expresses the source, i.e., power imparted from God (1 Cor. 2:5; 2 Cor. 6:7). Spoken of Jesus as exercising the power to heal (Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19; 8:46; 2 Cor. 12:9). In Rom. 1:4, “in power [en dunámei]” (a.t.) stands for the gen. toú dunatoú, the Son of God, the powerful One. In the sense of power, omnipotent majesty (Matt. 24:30; Mark 9:1; 13:26; Luke 21:27, “with power and great glory”; 2 Thess. 1:7, “with angels of His power” [a.t.] means the angels who are the attendants of His majesty; 2 Pet. 1:16); as spoken of the power of the Spirit meaning the power imparted by the Spirit (Luke 4:14; Rom. 15:13, 19); of prophets and apostles as empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:17; 24:49; Acts 1:8 [cf. Acts 2:4]).(D) Spoken of miraculous power, “the mighty power of signs and wonders” (a.t.) means the power of working miracles (Rom. 15:19, explained by the power of the Spirit in the next clause; see Acts 10:38; 1 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 12:12; 2 Thess. 2:9). By metonymy of effect for cause, the pl. dunámeis, powers, is often used for mighty deeds, miracles (Matt. 7:22; 11:20, 21, 23; 13:54, 58; 14:2; Mark 6:2, 5, 14; Luke 10:13; 19:37; Acts 2:22; 8:13; 19:11; 1 Cor. 12:10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:5; Heb. 2:4; Sept.: Job 37:14; Ps. 106:2). The abstract for the concrete, meaning a worker of miracles (1 Cor. 12:28, 29).(E) Spoken of the essential power, true nature or reality of something (Phil. 3:10, “the power of his resurrection”; 2 Tim. 3:5). As opposed to lógos (G3056), speech (1 Cor. 4:19, 20; 1 Thess. 1:5). Metaphorically of language, the power of a word, i.e., meaning, significance (1 Cor. 14:11, “the power of the voice” [a.t.]).(II) Spoken of power as resulting from external sources and circumstances:(A) Power, authority, might (Luke 4:36; 9:1; Acts 3:12; 2 Pet. 2:11; Rev. 13:2; 17:13). Spoken of omnipotent sovereignty as due to God, e.g., in ascriptions (Matt. 6:13; Rev. 4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 11:17; 12:10; 19:1; Sept.: 1 Chr. 29:11). Joined with ónoma (G3686), name (Acts 4:7; 1 Cor. 5:4, meaning warrant). In Rom. 8:38 “powers” stands for persons in authority, the mighty, the powerful ones (see 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21; 1 Pet. 3:22; Sept.: Esth. 2:18).(B) With the meaning of number, quantity, abundance, wealth (in Rev. 3:8, a small number of members or perhaps true believers [cf. Rev. 18:3]). Metaphorically for enjoyment, happiness (Heb. 6:5).(C) Of warlike power, meaning force, i.e., host, army (Luke 10:19, over the whole host of Satan [see Luke 10:20]; Sept.: Ex. 14:28; 15:4; 2 Sam. 10:7; 17:25; 20:23). The powers of the heavens means the hosts of heaven, i.e., the sun, moon, and stars (Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:25; Luke 21:26 [cf. Rev. 6:13; Sept.: Is. 34:4; Dan. 8:10]).Deriv.: dunamóō (G1412), to strengthen.Syn.: ischús (G2479), strength, ability, force, somewhat stronger than dúnamis; krátos (G2904), dominion, enduring strength; exousía (G1849), authority; archḗ (G0746), rule, power; megaleiótēs (G3168), majesty; with the meaning of miracle: sēmeíon (G4592), sign, token; téras (G5059), something strange, a marvel, wonder; megaleíon (G3167), a great work; éndoxon (G1741), a glorious work; parádoxon (G3861), a strange work; thaumásion (G2297), a marvelous work; thaúma (G2295), a wonder, marvel; érgon (G2041), work when referring to Christ’s work.Ant.: asthéneia (G0769), feebleness, infirmity, disease.

Jesus want to unlock His power in us too:

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luk 24:49) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Apostolic NT Church examples of this power revealed in His church:

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Cor 2:4-5) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13) in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Rom 15:19)

What did Jesus seek?

Luk 19:10 Seek and save the Lost John 5:30 Jesus did not seek His own will, But God’s Will be done. John 8:50 Jesus did not seek His own glory

What not to seek.

do not seek a sign Mark 8:12do not seek what the gentiles seek Mat 6:32; Luk 12:29 Do not seek the fame of men Gal 1:10 Do not seek the glory of men 1 Thes 2:6

Should we seek His power?

He gave us power to trample over the enemy Luk 10:19; He is the power unto salvation Rom 1:6, the greatest power is the power unto godliness. 2 Pet 1:3 p Matt. 6:19q John 4:14; [Eph. 2:8, 9]r Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1; Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; John 5:37; Acts 2:22; 2 Pet. 1:17