POWER WITHIN
(Part III)
The Power to Love
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Def. Power - (dynamis). n. fem. power, demonstration of power; display of divine, supernatural ability. The core idea of this term is the ability to do something.
I. WE ARE NOT POWERLESS
A. We have been Empowered
2 Peter 1:3
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.
B. We must know the Power available to us
Ephesians 1:17-19
17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), 19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength AMP
C. We are complete in the headquarters of Power
Colossians 2:9-10
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
D. We are to be Strong in Power
Ephesians 6:10-11
10 Finally, my brethen, be strong [ (endynamo)- ability] in the Lord and in the power of His might.
E. It’s one of the ways we prove our ministry
2 Corinthians 6:3-7
3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God…by the power of God…”
II. THE PATH
A. Recognize the Power
The problem is we don’t recognize what we already have
Exodus 14:10-16
10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord…13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” 15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.
2 Kings 13:14-19
14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
Ephesians 3:5-12
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
B. Release the Power
III. POWER TO LOVE
AGAPE
Agape is present through the divine nature received when a person is born again. Agape is beyond all understanding, as it is the very character of God.
Agape love comes from God alone. The only way we can have it is for it to be planted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. A foundational definition of Agape is the unconditionally giving of oneself. Although giving of oneself is the basic definition, Agape goes deeper than this.
Agape does not depend on attraction, desire, or value. Agape doesn’t even require any reciprocal love. Agape is constant - it does not fluctuate according to emotional highs or lows.
Phileo only loves when loved. Agape can love while being hated.
Agape is a love which does not wait to be acted upon because it is active. Agape acts first and draws the object to action. Agape is the love by which God loves us, but it is also the love He wishes to impart to us that we might love Him and others “Agape Style”. John 17:26 says it best...
“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
A. We already have Agape
Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
B. Love is Power
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
C. Love is a Debt
Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
D. Love is Evidence
John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
E. Love is a Pinnacle
1 Peter 1:22
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
IV. HOW TO ACTIVATE AGAPE
Your mind must line up with our reality:
A. Work no ill
Romans 13:10
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
(kakos) evil, bad, harm, reproach, sin, injury
B. Walk in Love
Romans 12:9-10
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
C. Examine Yourself
James 2:8
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
D. Be a Contrarian
(A person who opposes or rejects popular opinion)
Luke 6:27-36
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
1. Love our enemies (ecthros – hated, hostile opposition)
2. Do good to those who hate us – good (kalos - 1 beautifully, finely, excellently, well. Rightly, so that there shall be no room for blame, well, truly. Excellently, nobly, commendably. Honorably, in honor
3. Bless those who curse us (curse – kataraomai – to doom or imprecate evil upon)
4. Pray for those who despitefully use and mistreat you
5. Not retaliate
6. Give freely
7. Treat others as you would want to be treated
Matthew 22:35-40
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, ”Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like, unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
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