Enabling
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:
Enabling, in a biblical context, refers to the empowerment or provision of strength and ability by God to individuals to fulfill His purposes. This concept is deeply rooted in the understanding that human strength is insufficient for accomplishing divine tasks, and thus, reliance on God's power is essential.

Biblical Foundation:
The Bible frequently emphasizes that God is the source of strength and ability for His people. In Philippians 4:13, the Apostle Paul declares, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" . This verse underscores the belief that Christ enables believers to accomplish what they could not do on their own.

Old Testament Examples:
In the Old Testament, enabling is evident in the lives of various figures whom God empowered to lead, prophesy, or perform miraculous deeds. For instance, Moses, who initially doubted his ability to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, was enabled by God through signs and wonders (Exodus 4:10-12). Similarly, David, a young shepherd, was enabled by God to defeat Goliath, a feat that seemed impossible by human standards (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

New Testament Examples:
The New Testament continues this theme of divine enabling. The apostles, after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, were empowered to preach the Gospel boldly and perform miracles (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit is often described as the enabler of believers, providing gifts and strength for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling believers. Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to empower them for the work of the Kingdom (Acts 1:8). The Spirit equips believers with spiritual gifts, wisdom, and courage to carry out God's will.

Human Weakness and Divine Strength:
The concept of enabling is closely tied to the acknowledgment of human weakness. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.'" This passage highlights that God's enabling power is most evident when human strength is lacking, allowing His glory to be displayed.

Practical Implications for Believers:
Believers are encouraged to seek God's enabling power in their daily lives. This involves prayer, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to step out in faith. James 1:5 advises believers to ask God for wisdom, which He gives generously, enabling them to navigate life's challenges.

Conclusion:
Enabling, as presented in the Bible, is a divine provision that empowers believers to accomplish God's purposes. It is a testament to God's grace and power working through human frailty, ensuring that His will is fulfilled on earth.
Topical Bible Verses
John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Topicalbible.org

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Enable.
Greek
3525. nepho -- to be sober, to abstain from wine
... etc.). 3525 ("be sober, unintoxicated") refers to having (clear judgment),
enabling someone to be (self-controlled). 3525 ("uninfluenced ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3525.htm - 7k

4307. pronoia -- foresight, forethought
... providence. Cognate: 4307 -- properly, advance-knowledge ("forethought"),
enabling (allowing for) something to happen. See 4306 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4307.htm - 6k

Library

Note D. --Chap. X Canon Battersby
... Divine presence in their daily life, and a fuller manifestation of the Holy Spirit's
power, whether in subduing the lusts of the flesh, or in enabling them to ...
/.../murray/the two covenants/note d chap x canon battersby.htm

Pentecost
... Unquestionably, Christ accomplished all"took away our sins and overcame every obstacle,
enabling us to become, through him, lords over all things. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/pentecost.htm

Prayer and Obedience
... The Atonement is God's Enabling Act. That which God works in us, in
regeneration and through the agency of the Holy Spirit, bestows ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/ix prayer and obedience.htm

Fourth Sunday after Easter Second Sermon.
... conscience which left me no rest? or to have instruction enabling me rightly
to interpret a single psalm? I would, for such enlightenment ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fourth sunday after easter second.htm

New Uses for Old Trophies
... you never did an enterprising deed which really told well for the success of the
kingdom, but God was in it all"virtually, nay, actually enabling you; and he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/new uses for old trophies.htm

The End of Christ's Coming
... a little before his death, one of them immediately asked, "Lord, how is it that
thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not unto the world?" By enabling us to ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 62 the end of.htm

On the Discoveries of Faith
... The Holy Spirit prepares us for his inward kingdom, by removing the veil from our
heart, and enabling us to know ourselves as we are known of him; by ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 110 on the discoveries.htm

The Religious Revolution
... His eloquence and his imagination, his retentive memory enabling him to illustrate
his texts by parallel passages drawn from the books of the Old Testament ...
/.../chapter ii the religious revolution.htm

Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity Prayer and Spiritual Knowledge.
... unendurable wrath and condemnation might be turned from us; to grant us forgiveness
of sins and to send the Holy Spirit into our hearts, thus enabling us to ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty fourth sunday after trinity.htm

Definition of Actual Grace
... as an unmerited, supernatural, internal divine help, based on the merits of Jesus
Christ, which renders man pleasing in the sight of God, enabling him to ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 1 definition of actual.htm

Thesaurus
Enabling (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Enable. Multi-Version
Concordance Enabling (1 Occurrence). Acts 14:3 Therefore they ...
/e/enabling.htm - 6k

Enact (1 Occurrence)

/e/enact.htm - 7k

Enables (5 Occurrences)

/e/enables.htm - 7k

Mattathias (2 Occurrences)
... of Absalom, one of the two "captains of the forces" who in the campaign against
Demetrius in the plain of Hazor gallantly supported Judas, enabling the latter ...
/m/mattathias.htm - 8k

Medad (2 Occurrences)
... MEDAD. me'-dad (medhadh, "affectionate"): One of the 70 elders on whom the spirit
of the Lord came in the days of Moses enabling them to prophesy. ...
/m/medad.htm - 8k

Power (862 Occurrences)
... 16. (n.) An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either
in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment. 17. ...
/p/power.htm - 66k

Pygarg (1 Occurrence)
... A white rump is a very common feature of deer and antelopes, and is commonly explained
as enabling the fleeing herd easily to keep in sight of its leaders. ...
/p/pygarg.htm - 9k

Cool (8 Occurrences)
... katapsucho, "to cool down"): "Cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8, margin "wind"), when
the evening breeze has tempered the heat of the day, enabling Orientals to ...
/c/cool.htm - 10k

Call
... and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit (John 16:14; Acts 26:18; John 6:44),
effectually drawing men to Christ, and disposing and enabling them to receive ...
/c/call.htm - 11k

Aid (20 Occurrences)
... American) by the literal rendering, "who strengthened his hands." The men of Shechem
supported Abimelech in his fratricidal crime, with money, enabling him to ...
/a/aid.htm - 13k

Resources
How can I avoid enabling someone else's sin? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about rescuing people from the consequences of their sins? | GotQuestions.org

What is prevenient grace? | GotQuestions.org

Enabling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Enabling (1 Occurrence)

Acts 14:3
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Enabling

Related Terms

Vote (3 Occurrences)

Lawgiver (7 Occurrences)

Enabling (1 Occurrence)

Enacted (3 Occurrences)

Establish (133 Occurrences)

Pass (1172 Occurrences)

Constitute (4 Occurrences)

Enables
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