Spirit Led Living

The word “power” appears in the New Testament 121 times in the NIV. I learned in Bible College that if a word is used that many times it is because it was important enough to use over and over again and we should pay attention to it. There are two root words in the Greek that are translated “power” in English. The first is exousia which means ability, force or delegated authority. This is the word that is used when the Bible talks of Satan’s power. It is a limited power. It is a power that God allows. It is the power of the kingdom of this earth. The second word is dunamis which means miraculous, supernatural power. This is the power that Jesus used while He was walking the earth to establish the beachhead of His heavenly kingdom. It is also that power which flows through the Holy Spirit and is available to the saints for the furthering of His kingdom. Acts 4:33 “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,” All of t

Last Sunday in church a passage came up known as Paul’s doxology.  It reads like this: Eph 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. While this passage is not one that would be commonly used to explain the Trinity, nevertheless it alludes to the roles of all three persons of the Trinity. The Father is ever at the ready to do, not only what we ask, but far and beyond that because it gives Him pleasure and also because it brings Him glory. He is not a stingy God giving to His children through a dropper but as it is translated in the King James Version,  “exceeding abundantly”. The Son is the instrument through whom He made all of this possible for all the generations to come. It is His atoning grace that allows us sinners to be called sons and daughters of the Most High God

I can remember studying ethics in college and discovering the difference between ethical principles and cultural norms. Ethical principles are timeless. They apply to all humanity regardless of time and place. They are not situational. They reflect “veritas”. The Word of God is full of such principles. Cultural norms, however, are specific to time and place. They fall in and out of favor. They are situational in that their application depends on what popular perception. When principals clash with cultural norms they are attacked as outdated and hypocritical. Throughout history, the more in decline a civilization becomes, the more “liberal” their norms become. Our current cultural situation is one of “anything goes” between consenting adults. Wrong is right and right is a moving target. The media and special interest groups are the ones that are the arbiters of what is “politically correct”. The Word of God is timeless and it’s principles immutable. Those of us that beli