God's Power

And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. (Luk 4:31-37)

When Christ taught it was not mere words, but words with power. This is because the words that He taught with were the words of God. Notice that the man with the unclean devil cried out because of the powerful teachings of Christ. The Word of God is powerful and effective…

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

The Word of God has the power to tear down the strongholds of Satan as we see in our passage. We must always remember that it’s effective because it’s God’s Word, not because of the way we present it. There is a power inherent in it simply because it is of God. We must never be discouraged by our own weakness…because we don’t rest on our strength, but on the strength of God. And the battle that we fight is a spiritual one, wherein the Word of God is given as our sword.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2Co 10:3-5)

And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Eph 6:17)

Are you trusting in the power of God by His Word?
Are you fighting the spiritual battle before you by trusting in flesh or in God’s Spirit?

Be encouraged that though we must work to overcome, it is God’s Spirit who gives us the ability to overcome…and He will not fail.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (Rev 2:26-28)

The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you… (Deu 1:30)