Faith and Action

Steven Furtick post:  Bonus Tracks -- God's Power, Your Strength

We kicked off a new series this past weekend called Grapes and Giants where we’re looking at four different promises that God has made to every believer in Jesus Christ in the book of Ephesians. For our first week, we focused on the promise of power from Ephesians 1:17-23.

At one point in my sermon I briefly mentioned the difference between power and strength and why so many Christians live powerless lives. I didn’t get to fully flesh it out, so I thought I’d elaborate on it here for everyone.

The tragic truth of our time is that countless Christians are living without strength when their God is full of power. And I firmly believe that one of the main reasons this happens is that we don’t understand the difference between power and strength.

It seems like semantics, but this is actually what separates the ordinary believer from the great men and women of faith in the Bible and throughout history.

Every Christian believes God is powerful. But not every Christian understands that God’s power is not just an abstract proposition. It’s a tangible, practical reality that you have to seize and appropriate to your life.



In other words, God’s power isn’t an automatic trump card.

It’s possible for God to have all the power but for you to live in total weakness.

Think of it like this:
God is still all-powerful when you’re continuing to live in slavery to sin.
God is still all-powerful when you’re letting yourself be a victim of your circumstances.
God is still all-powerful when you’re living a life of mediocrity.
God is still all-powerful when you’re living as if He isn’t.

God already has all the power He’ll ever need to do everything He’ll ever want to do. In the world and in your life. But God’s power is only potential until you convert it into strength by faith and action.

Strength is where you seize God’s power and walk it out.
To leave the slavery of your sin.
To rise above your circumstances.
To break out of the monotony of mediocrity.
To live a life that can only be explained by an infinitely powerful God.

Don’t waste another second praying that God would be powerful. He’s already powerful. And don’t waste another second praying that you would have more power. The power of the resurrection is inside of you. That’s more than enough power for anything you’ll ever face in your life.

You already have what you’re praying for. Take God’s power. Appropriate it. And let it become strength in every area your life.