The Innerworking of His Power – Part 2

“Be”ing the Powerful Church

Just a reminder what we are touching on in these little articles is the “energeia” of God. This Greek word can be likened to the engine that powers a might ship. The force is powerful but unseen to the naked eye. In the first article we pointed out that the word was connected to the incredible resurrection power of Jesus. We also learned that this energeia was tied to our faith.

Now, we will see how this innerworking power of God grows the body of Christ and enables us to “be” witnesses. In Ephesians 4:16 Paul said

“from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Here Paul talks about how the body of Christ grows. First, he said the body is “joined and knit together.” God wants us closely connected with one another. But strong unity is not enough. Paul gives us the key ingredient when he said “according to the effective working by which every part does its share.” You can guess that the word “working” there is our energeia word. So there is incredible power released when each part does its share. Each one of us needs to find our place in the body. For some it will be pastor, prophet, teacher. For others it will be encourager, prayer warrior, giver. You get the point. Simply ask God where you fit. It usually a pretty simple matter – go with what you are gifted at and what you are passionate about.

At the end of Colossians 1 Paul talks a bit about his calling to preach the gospel. In the last verse of the chapter he says something rather interesting.

“To this end I also labor, striving according to His working (energeia) which works (energeō) in me mightily (dynamis).” (Col 1:29)

Paul had a profound understanding of the innerworking power of God inside of him. Yes, he strived (as we should) but in order for him to be effective it must be “according to His working.” To us who minister having this understanding and walking in it is of utmost importance. As discussed in the last article the resurrection power of Jesus flows from within us. But we, like Paul, must strive according to HIS working and not ours. One way we can do this is to wait on the Lord.

“He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” (Isa 40:29-31)

BUT those who wait. Lord, make us waiters. This waiting doesn’t only mean sitting in silence before the Lord. It also means leaning in and listening for direction before making a decision or saying a word. As you do that the wind of the Spirit will raise you up and give strength. That strength is what shakes the nations. Remember what the disciples were instructed to do in the upper room.

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 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 1:4-8)

They were to wait and the power to be a witness would be released. You see, when we wait we become – we “be” witnesses to Him. This is because the Holy Spirit is able to do something powerful on the inside first. Wade Taylor liked to say that God is not looking for “do”ers but “be”ers.