The prevailing language at the time of Christ was Greek, the language of the New Testament. Many times, dynamics are lost in the translation to English. An example of this is the word “power.” Dunamis is the Greek word for power used 120 times in the New Testament. This word can be translated “dynamic” but by far, the majority of the time, it is accurately translated “dynamite.” My objective in this blog is to stimulate us. Because of the cares of the world, the earthly crap our minds focus on every day, the devious and selfish nature of our world and the speed of today’s life, we have diluted the power or the “dynamite” of God. I want to share some verses with you that will hopefully explode within us to wake us up to his magnificent power to change us and transform our minds and lives.
2 Timothy 1:7 is an electric verse, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid (or fearful), but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” “Power” is the translation of dunamis or dynamite. Rather than thinking about power in an abstract way, let’s start thinking of His power in the active, energetic, explosive reality of dynamite. In this verse, Paul says for us to dynamite the fears that can dominate our lives and paralyze our minds. For all of the neural networks in our minds that neutralize our effectiveness, start meditating on His word which creates new, healthy, powerful pathways in our minds. Visualize negative, sinful thought patterns being blown up by His dunamis.
Amazingly, God’s power is available to Christ-followers. Jesus promises His disciples:
- “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Read the book of Acts and observe Christians living out this dunamis in their lives.
- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). You may be thinking that you are just too weak to experience His power. Yet, God states dunamis ismade perfect in your weakness. An analogy is the conductivity abilities in steel vs. copper. Electricity experiences resistance in the strength of steel; however, electricity is “perfected” in the weakness of copper. The weaker the metal is, the more powerful the electricity when conducted. Paul the Apostle later in this verse made an unbelievable proclamation, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Why does Paul say this? Because he knows that in our weaknesses, we need help and more willing to submit our lives totally to Him allowing the Holy Spirt to perfect Jesus in our lives.
- Paul affirms the above in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” God calls us simple, inexpensive “jars of clay” and makes something beautiful out of us through His dumanis.
It is essential that we comprehend dumanis, God’s dynamite power. Then, we must recognize that it is not our strength but our weakness that allows God to show and perfect His active, energetic power in us and expresses it through us to others.
Barnabas Man 