#wordofpower

“He(Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power..." (Hebrews 1:3)

'Word of his power' implies so many things to me. The obvious is that He says and the universe obeys.  He uses words to creatively express His power.  We don't necessarily have the same ruling power that Jesus has over the sustenance of the universe.  However we can acknowledge that "this same power that raised Christ from the dead" is in us.  Though we have the same power in us(since it’s God’s power), our authorizations and roles limit us from doing things that are not in our design.

Even though this passage is not talking about our word or our power, it tells us a lot about how God designed power.  It tells us that life-giving power is purposeful with expression.  There are two things that are convicting about the 'word of His power'.

First: It tells us as Imago Dei and those who are co-heirs with Christ, that we cannot be a people who say we are Christians but not express Christ's power or blessings.  It's simple. Christ has power to create the world, to change our hearts, to heal, to sustain the universe, etc. But there is no way we would know that or that creation would recognize the power if Christ had not expressed it. Eg: "And God said, "Let there be light" and there was light".(Gen. 1:3)

He expressed his love for us and desire to save us by demonstrating humility.  "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.".(Phil. 2:8)

He modeled his reliance on the Father and his burden for His loved ones by expressing prayer and devotion.  We could see this in multiple occasions.

1) His encounter with his Dad in the Garden of Gethsemane. 2) When he taught his disciples how to pray.(Luke 11) 3) The John 17 prayers to the Father, and for the saints and sinners.

In the same way, we as co-heirs of Christ have the power to do right, live holy, love God and our neighbors.  The question is not if we are doing acts of works to prove our power but rather, is our life a pure reflection of Christ's power in us. They are not the same. The former proves human power. The latter proves God's power.

Second: It tells me that expression comes in various forms but it's an expression nonetheless. Expressions for the Christian can be seen in the personal and corporate setting.  

Not all giftings that we possess are necessarily expressions.  Your secular job for instance can be used for God's glory but it's not an expression of His "power".  However, your character at work, your work ethic, and your integrity before God is an expression of His power.

Some who expresses too much are just showing off.  But then you also have those who genuinely express as a means for work-based salvation.  Both are actually powerless. Someone who expresses a lot doesn't mean they're automatically a Christian.  And someone who is trying to gain the approval of the Lord by doing more work is not sourced in God’s power either.   

CHARISMA.  We all worship God in our own way.  Some are more reflective and some voice it out. However, using one expression that you are comfortable with doesn't make it ok to neglect other expressions, especially in the design seen in Scriptures.  Your expressions can be more reserved and quiet than others around you.  You could be someone who takes nature in and it causes you to worship.  That's totally great.  Not everyone worships the same way.  However, when you are in corporate worship with the people of God, Scriptures are filled with the idea that you vocally lift Him up and have charismatic gestures.  This would include clapping, lifting up of the hands, dancing, using of instruments, etc.  Do you think God is charismatic?  I think so!  I don’t think being an introvert vs. extrovert has any bearing on having bible-centered expressions.  I’ve seen extroverted and introverted families/friends of mine applaud loudly at a graduation ceremony when they see their loved ones walk.  I’ve seen them yell, scream, and chant their favorite sports teams or favorite contestants on ‘The Voice’.  These evidences prove that our charismatic expressions are not respective of our social characterizations.  

We should be more expressive than we ought to be in our corporate setting.  If we are not willing to, we should do some introspection on why we do it for other things on earth - which are common graces given kindly to us by the Lord - and not for the things of the Lord.  Some say it’s not appropriate for the setting.  If that’s true, where would we find that in Scriptures?  That claim requires a greater burden of proof.  We should charismatically express ourselves in the corporate setting because Scriptures implies it.  When we are worshiping in a corporate setting, we are giving every breath we breathe and everything we have to the King of all Kings!  Remember the moment Jordan took that game-winning shot against the Jazz in the finals...and made it?  Remember the moment when the iPhone came out?  Remember when you hiked up a mountain and was humbled by the grandeur?  Remember when the minister declared you, husband and wife at your wedding?  Remember when you rode the bike for the first time and your parents applauded and cheered you on?  Remember when you were screaming at the TV hoping that your favorite athlete would complete that play?  He’s astronomically greater than all those moments!  He’s greater than all the best NFL, NBA, and NHL players put together.  His ‘awesomeness’ is beyond last year’s finalist for “The Voice”.  

John Frame in his book, ‘Worship in Spirit and Truth’ says, “Clapping expresses joy...”  It’s appropriate to clap and celebrate what He has done.  If you don’t know what He has done, read the Bible.  It’s appropriate to lift your hands in surrender with the people of God.  You’re agreeing with each other in that moment to acknowledge your nothingness and His everything-ness.  Frame goes on to say, “ lifting the hands is a way of drawing toward God as the object of our worship and the source of our blessing.”  It’s appropriate to say “Amen” when gospel truth is declared.  It’s appropriate to chant out truths in the songs sung because it displays the unity of believers agreeing to those truths. Isn’t that why we sing the national anthem together?   “ Worship that is devoid of emotion errs as well, in that it demonstrates that it has not arisen from seeing God, whom to see is to wonder at with every faculty of the soul.”(ReformationTheology.com) 

Its been an eventful afternoon for me in the world of Skyrim. First I bought a house, then, to gain funds to decorate it, took a road trip to Winterhold. On the way I cleared a dungeon and took the Word of Power (Marked for Death), made it to level 10, killed a Dragon at his alter, took another Word of Power (Disarm), made it to Winterhold and stayed the night before journeying back to Whiterun to decorate my home. Earlier on I had proposed to Ysolda, so I decided to take another road trip, this time to Solitude, to buy some wedding clothes. On the way there I got lost, killed another Alter Dragon and took his Word of Power (Ice form). Eventually I made it to Solitude after a long haul, sold some Dragon bones and bought my new wedding clothes.