Dynamite Power

GREEK WORD WITH ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION: δυναμίς (dunamis)

PRONUNCIATION:  DOON-ah-mis

STRONG’S CONCORDANCE #: 1141

MEANING: might; power; strength; mighty works

ENGLISH WORDS DERIVED FROM: dynamite; dynamic

BACKGROUND OF WORD (ETYMOLOGY): root word has the meaning of having the ability to do something;

HOW TRANSLATED IN KJV, NASB AND/OR ESV:  power; strength; mighty works;

# OF TIMES USED IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: 116

KEY VERSE IN THE BIBLE WHERE GREEK WORD USED: 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power  (δυναμίς) is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power (δυναμίς) of Christ may rest upon me."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

    

Just like Paul, we may occasionally feel exasperated and incapable in our own strength to victoriously cope with troublesome people; nonetheless, the Lord gives us His promise: “...My strength is made perfect in weakness....” The word “strength” in this verse comes from the Greek word ‎dunamis‎, the word for dynamic power. This is a strength that always releases sufficient power and possesses the ability to make needed changes. God knew that Paul needed a new surge of divine power that would change his perspective and empower him to successfully overcome his struggles with people. This word ‎dunamis  ‎presents the picture of an explosive power that is being deposited into some type of container, vessel, or other form of receptacle. The very nature of this word ‎dunamis ‎means that there necessarily must be some type of receiver into which this power can be deposited.

God not only wanted to display His grace in Paul's life, but also His power; He not only wanted the apostle to be humble, but also strong. Because "power is perfected in weakness," it was necessary for the fires of affliction to burn away the dross of pride and self-confidence. Paul had lost all ability, humanly speaking, to deal with the situation at Corinth. He had visited there, sent others there, and written the Corinthians letters. But he could not completely fix the situation. He was at the point when he had to trust totally in God's will and power.

    

In the Christian life, we get many of our blessings through transformation, not substitution. When Paul prayed three times for the removal of his pain, he was asking God for a substitution: "Give me health instead of sickness, deliverance instead of pain and weakness." Sometimes God does meet the need by substitution; but other times He meets the need by transformation. He does not remove the affliction, but He gives us His grace so that the affliction works for us and not against us.

As Paul prayed about his problem, God gave him a deeper insight into what He was doing. Paul learned that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God. What a strange gift! There was only one thing for Paul to do: accept the gift from God and allow God to accomplish His purposes. God wanted to keep Paul from being "exalted above measure," and this was His way of accomplishing it.

When Paul accepted his affliction as the gift of God, this made it possible for God's grace to go to work in his life. It was then that God spoke to Paul and gave him the assurance of His grace. Whenever you are going through suffering, spend extra time in the Word of God; and you can be sure God will speak to you. He always has a special message for His children when they are afflicted.

God did not give Paul any explanations; instead, He gave him a promise: "My grace is sufficient for thee." We do not live on explanations; we live on promises. Our feelings change, but God's promises never change. Promises generate faith, and faith strengthens hope.

Paul claimed God's promise and drew on the grace that was offered to him, this turned seeming tragedy into triumph. God did not change the situation by removing the affliction; He changed it by adding a new ingredient: grace. Our God is "the God of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10), and His throne is a "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16). The Word of God is "the word of His grace" (Acts 20:32), and the promise is that "He giveth more grace" (James 4:6). No matter how we look at it, God is adequate for every need that we have.

But God does not give us His grace simply that we might "endure" our sufferings. Even unconverted people can manifest great endurance. God's grace should enable us to rise above our circumstances and feelings and cause our afflictions to work for us in accomplishing positive good. God wants to build our character so that we are more like our Saviour. God's grace enabled Paul not only to accept his afflictions, but to glory in them. His suffering was not a tyrant that controlled him, but a servant that worked for him.

CHALLENGE FOR THE DAY:

It is when believers are out of answers, confidence, and strength, with nowhere else to turn but to God that they are in a position to be most effective. No one in the kingdom of God is too weak to experience God's power, but many are too confident in their own strength. Physical suffering, mental anguish, disappointment, unfulfillment, and failure squeeze the impurities out of believers' lives, making them pure channels through which God's power can flow.  Begin today to allow god to reveal his strength IN you and THROUGH you.  Acknowledge your weaknesses and ask God to manifest His strength through you. 

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

I thank you Father for the power and strength that You provide me to do Your service.  Help me to be more faithful in use of that dynamite power.  I also pray that I would learn as Paul did through his weakness wherein you made him strong.  May Your strength be magnified in me today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.