I Give Unto You Power
Above are the Words the of Lord to the seventy after they returned to Him, having sent them to the cities and towns where He would later go. They were to preach the coming of the kingdom and heal the sick. As they returned to the Lord, they were excited because “even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” Christ informed them Satan’s “power” had been diminished, but not yet conquered. Jesus then gave them “power”. But what did this mean? Had they not just returned from healing and preaching among the people? Luke 10:17 affirms they had.
Notice that the word “power” is used twice in Luke 10:19. Christ said: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Each time, the word means something different. The first ‘power’ in this verse comes from the Greek Word {ex-oo-see’-ah}, meaning privilege, capacity, and authority. The second ‘power’ utilizes a different Greek word, {doo’-nam-is}, meaning force, ability, or strength.
Because there are multiple words translated ‘power’ in the N. T., it is of great importance to examine the context each time the word is used to determine the intent of each passage. In many cases, having the ability or the force necessary to accomplish something is sometimes far different from being authorized to do it. An example from my own life is, at fifteen years of age, I had the power (ability) to drive a car. However, the state of North Carolina refused to give me power (authorization) to do so legally until I turned sixteen and also met all other state requirements.
When Christ sent the seventy out in Luke 10:1-9 , He obviously gave them the ability to heal, as well as to preach the message of the coming kingdom. It would also be the message He would deliver as He entered into these same cities. It is obvious from reading Luke 10:19, that Christ also had given them the “authority” when He sent them out.
We know Christ told the eleven He was given “All power {authority) in heaven and earth ” after He came forth from the grave in Matt: 28:18. But we also know from Matt. 9:6, that Christ had authority and power, even before He died on the cross, was buried and resurrected. After He had healed a paralytic, and pronounced his sins forgiven, the scribes “thought” this to be blasphemy. Jesus said to them: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power {authority} on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Additionally, in Acts10:38, as the Spirit had Peter speak to the kinsmen and near friends of Cornelius - (Gentiles), he told them: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: {ability} who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.The Spirit had Peter tell them of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. At the conclusion of Peter’s sermon, the Holy Ghost came upon the Gentiles, after which they spoke in tongues as a sign from God to Peter and the Jews that the Gentiles were also to be granted entrance to the kingdom through obedience. At the end of the chapter, they were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
In the first chapter of John, we are introduced to the Christ as the Word, the creator, the source of life and light. The world did not recognize Him, and His own did not receive Him. But, as John 1:12 reveals, “as many as received him, to them gave he power {ability} to become the sons of God,”. Many look to the end of the verse, and read “even to them that believe on his name:” and suppose that “believing” is “receiving”. It is convenient for one to think this when the ‘man-made’ doctrine they are taught is that all one has to do to be saved is believe.
However, these folks seem to fail to realize that there is a colon at the end of verse 12, indicating there is more to receiving than believing. In verse 13, we are told what that is. It reads: “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Being born of blood, the will of the flesh, and the will of man, is indicative of our earthly birth into our physical body. “But of God” is a phrase meaning the “spiritual birth” of which Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-7. Jesus told him he could not be part of the kingdom (the church), unless he was born again. Of course, Nicodemus was incredulous. The only birth of which he knew was the physical birth which ushered one into this world. Jesus then told him of the spiritual birth “of water and of the Spirit”. This birth of which Christ spoke was “baptism into Christ”.
Christ’s final Words on earth to His apostles are found in Acts 1:7-8. He had told them to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then He told them they would “receive power” {ability} to inerrantly proclaim the gospel message to instruct folks to this new birth. They began to do this at Pentecost (Acts 2), which caused those hearers to ask “what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). The answer (Acts 2:38) - Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.The gift of the Holy Ghost is the promise of eternal life. (1John 2:25).
Will you not avail yourself of God’s “power” unto Salvation, the gospel, (Rom. 1:16) and be obedient to it? Eternal life is too important to miss.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
