Topical Bible: Power: Spiritual

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Definition and Nature

Spiritual power in the Christian context refers to the divine strength and authority granted by God to believers through the Holy Spirit. This power enables Christians to live godly lives, perform acts of service, and engage in spiritual warfare. It is distinct from worldly power, as it is rooted in the character and purposes of God.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of spiritual power is deeply embedded in Scripture. In the Old Testament, God's power is often demonstrated through miraculous acts and His sovereign control over creation. In the New Testament, spiritual power is more explicitly linked to the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers.

Holy Spirit as the Source

The Holy Spirit is the primary source of spiritual power for Christians. Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This power is not for personal gain but for the advancement of God's kingdom and the fulfillment of His will.

Manifestations of Spiritual Power

1. Transformation of Life: Spiritual power is evident in the transformation of a believer's life. The Apostle Paul speaks of this transformative power in Ephesians 3:16, where he prays that believers "may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being" . This inner strength enables Christians to overcome sin and grow in holiness.

2. Spiritual Gifts: The Holy Spirit bestows various spiritual gifts upon believers, empowering them for service within the body of Christ. These gifts, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12, include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, and prophecy, among others. Each gift is a manifestation of the Spirit's power for the common good.

3. Boldness in Witnessing: Spiritual power emboldens believers to proclaim the gospel with courage and conviction. The early church exemplified this boldness, as seen in Acts 4:31: "After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" .

4. Victory in Spiritual Warfare: Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness. Ephesians 6:10-11 exhorts believers to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes" . Spiritual power equips believers to stand firm against evil.

Dependence on God

Spiritual power is not inherent in human beings but is entirely dependent on God. Jesus emphasized this dependence in John 15:5, saying, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" . Believers are called to rely on God's strength rather than their own abilities.

Prayer and Spiritual Power

Prayer is a vital means of accessing spiritual power. Through prayer, believers align themselves with God's will and invite His power into their lives. James 5:16 underscores the effectiveness of prayer: "The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail" .

Conclusion

Spiritual power is a divine gift that enables believers to live out their faith effectively. It is characterized by a reliance on the Holy Spirit, the exercise of spiritual gifts, boldness in witness, and victory in spiritual warfare. This power is accessed through a life of prayer and dependence on God, reflecting His glory and advancing His kingdom on earth.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 32:28
And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with God and with men, and have prevailed.
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Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.
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Mark 9:29
And he said to them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
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Luke 1:17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
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Luke 4:32
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
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Luke 24:49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father on you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.
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John 7:38,39
He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
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Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.
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Acts 2:2-4
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
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Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
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Ephesians 1:19,20
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
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1 Corinthians 1:24-28
But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
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1 Corinthians 4:19,20
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
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2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
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1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
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2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
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Hebrews 6:5
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
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Greek

1849. exousia -- power to act, authority
... a) power, authority, weight, especially: moral authority, influence, (b) in a
quasi-personal sense, derived from later Judaism, of a spiritual power, and hence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1849.htm - 8k

4599. sthenoo -- to strengthen
... From sthenos (bodily vigor; probably akin to the base of histemi); to strengthen,
ie (figuratively) confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power) -- strengthen. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4599.htm - 6k

3772. ouranos -- heaven
... the atmosphere, the sky, the starry heavens, (b) the spiritual heavens. ... heaven (as
the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3772.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... faith is not natural . . .faith is spiritual, the gift of God . . . you ...
give . . . do not struggle in the power of the will . . . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Library

Spiritual Power.
... XVIII. SPIRITUAL POWER. "And behold I send the promise of My Father upon
you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/percival/sermons at rugby/xviii spiritual power.htm

Whether a Character is a Spiritual Power?
... OF THE OTHER EFFECT OF THE SACRAMENTS, WHICH IS A CHARACTER (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether a character is a spiritual power? Objection 1 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a character is a.htm

The Acquirement of Spiritual Power
... THE ACQUIREMENT OF SPIRITUAL POWER. The world is filled with ... with it. And that
state of inward harmony is spiritual power. Take also other ...
/.../allen/the way of peace/the acquirement of spiritual power.htm

The Power of this Twofold Patience, the Spiritual and the Bodily ...
... Chapter XIV."The Power of This Twofold Patience, the Spiritual and the Bodily
Exemplified in the Saints of Old. With this strength ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/of patience/chapter xiv the power of this.htm

Two-Fold Bearing of the Kingdom of God --An Inward, Spiritual ...
... MINISTRY IN GENERAL. Section 52. Two-fold bearing of the Kingdom of
God"an inward, spiritual Power, and a world-renewing Power. ...
/.../section 52 two-fold bearing of.htm

The Power of Meditation
... in which I am now using it, is the secret of all growth in spiritual life and knowledge.
Every prophet, sage, and savior became such by the power of meditation ...
//christianbookshelf.org/allen/the way of peace/the power of meditation.htm

The Prayer of Faith is the Only Power in the Universe to which the ...
... The Church, intent on the acquisition of temporal power, had well nigh abandoned
its spiritual duties, and its empire, which rested on spiritual foundations ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter v the prayer of.htm

Carnal or Spiritual?
... first four verses, he says, four times to them, "You are carnal, and not spiritual."
And just so a believer can allow the flesh to have so much power over him ...
/.../murray/the deeper christian life/iii carnal or spiritual.htm

Our Spiritual Ancestry
... Phillips Brooks, exercising a spiritual power of extraordinary purity and intensity,
and so unspeculative that he felt no difficulty in the formulae of the ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/i our spiritual ancestry.htm

Hymns and Spiritual Songs
... Hymn 2:80. God's awful power and goodness. Hymn 2:81. Our sin the cause of Christ's
death. Hymn 2:82. Redemption and protection from spiritual enemies. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/hymns and spiritual songs/