Strength vs Power
It's Monday! New week, new mercies :)
This past week was one of settling into my new schedule with YWAM, learning how to coach CrossFit, doing crazy hard workouts unto deep heart work, and connecting with women from all over the world.
One lesson that particularly stood out was that of strength versus power. When it comes to lifting heavy weights, we have two choices. We can either use raw effort and strength to lift and complete a movement, OR we can leverage momentum plus strength in order to create real power. Strength is isolated within one muscle group. Power requires the entire body and speedy, intentional movement. Strength can only lift so much. Power can lift beyond our physical limits.
When I learned this concept, and saw it prove true in our workouts, I felt the Lord confirm what He's already taught us in scripture. When we operate in the strength of our flesh alone, we find we are limited, isolated, and weak. However, when we choose to receive and live in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered, whole, and strong.
Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
2 Timothy 1:7-9 also says, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life— not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace."
In Luke 4, at the end of Jesus's 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus answers the devil, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside" (v 12-14).
As we look at scripture and see these references to the power of God's Spirit, we also see a pairing of enduring,
suffering, witnessing, and pure living. Power is not a stand alone thing like strength. Strength is equal input and output. Power, on the other hand, results in greater output than the provided input. How? Because it is the Spirit that supplies and multiplies.
When we live within the bounds of our strength alone, the source is ourselves and the supply eventually runs dry. However, when we live within the power of the Spirit, God not only provides our every need, but He empowers us to live, give, and carry more than we thought possible. The funny thing is that weakness tends to be the pre-requisite for God's power to be displayed. We like to puff up and show off our strength. But it's in the moments we're in need that the Lord lifts us in ways our own might could never achieve. This is why Paul boasts in his weaknesses. It's why he encourages us to suffer for the sake of the gospel. It's not that we strive to be weak or try to inflict pain on ourselves. In fact, life brings these things up anyways. Instead, Paul is encouraging us to recognize our feeble state and choose to struggle for a worthy cause. It's choosing to yield to the power of the Spirit rather than trudge through in our own might.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
Friends, something beautiful happens when we submit to the Holy Spirit. God's power is not for the proud, but instead for the humble in heart. His power is not to puff up, but to build up. His might is to supply and multiply. His power prolongs. The fruits of the Spirit will be the outcome of His presence. My question is... is the fruit of your life and the outcome of this season evidence of these qualities? Has there been endurance, love, fullness, witness, and holiness flowing from your life? Or has it felt pretty dry, dark, lonely, and stagnant?
Wherever you might be, yield to the Lord. The momentum of the Spirit will move, supply, and enable you to live beyond your given means. Plug into community. We might go fast alone, but we can go much farther with the family of Christ. Love the Lord your God with all your strength, but remember it was Him who loved you first & saved & still sustains you.
I'll end with 2 Peter 1:2-4 that says,"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us tohis own glory and excellence."
To live unto Christ is to live by the power of Christ. His divine power and Spirit has given us all that we need. Let's start this week submitting our will to the willingness of the Spirit.
His power is His promise to us who believe.
Happy Monday, friend.
✍🏼 Emily Ordonez | Author, Speaker, Writing Coach
