Power Dynamics

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of power! It is ruled by a God of all power and administrated by a Spirit of power who is alive in all those who believe in Jesus and his powerful work done on the cross! Therefore it is essential that we understand the power dynamics of this kingdom if we are to effectively live within it.


1) Power is acquired in the secret place

If we are to begin moving out in power we must understand that the primary place for us to receive power is in rest, prayer, fasting and meditation. We must look no further than how Jesus started and ended his ministry time on earth - Jesus began his ministry by engaging in a 40 day fast in complete solitude, and then, prior to his ascension into heaven charges his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait until they receive power from on high.

To put it another way: The battles we fight should be fought in the place of prayer and fasting.

It is in this place that we take hold of the truth God has for us. The place we receive revelation about God's plans. But more importantly, it is the place we prove our worth as a servant - because praying in secret, away from the applause of others, hour-after-hour without tests our hearts to ensure that they are pure and surrendered.

Why is that important? It is important because God will not call just anyone into acts of power.

God is looking for those he can trust. Those who's hearts will not take the glory upon themselves. Those who have proven they desire the kingdom above everything else. Those who have contended for a revelation of the living God and through that revelation have been gripped with a fear of the Lord.

It is this fear and revelation that will ultimately compell us to act upon that which God has asked us to do. It is much like the encounter of Isaiah who upon seeing the throne room falls down in repentance and then declares his willingness to go.

And so, if we are to move out in the power that Christ said would mark His Church, we must foster a life of devotion in the secret place.


2) Power is executed in public acts of faith

In the same way that battles are fought in the secret place, it is true that they are won through public acts of faith. For it is not enough for us to know the will of God, we must act upon His call, and in doing so manifest kingdom power on the earth.

But why are they done in the public arena? Can't we simply pray the victory into existence? Experience power within an intimate group of believers? No! Because God has His heart set upon revealing His glory to all of creation. His acts of power are for the purpose of drawing people to himself so that they may worship Him! So if the battle is won in secret, who is going to be drawn into worship of the God of all Power? (The few who have contended in prayer? They already worship him in fear and trembling!!)

If we try and excercise power in the secret place, away from the eye of the unbeliever, we edify (build up) only those who have already been ravaged by His glory. When we excercise faith in the public arena it tests our resolve and commitment to doing the will of the Father no matter what the cost or outcome. Setting the stage for a cosmic showdown between the "fear of the Lord" and the "fear of man" to see who reigns in our hearts. (The secret place is powerless to do this because there is little or no risk, fear of failure or potential of community ridicule.)

Through public displays of God's power the unbeliever will be called upon to worship Him because she has now had a revelation of who He is, while the believer will be called to offer thanksgiving to God for being faithful to the word spoken in the place of prayer. Both parties experiencing power for one purpose - the glory of God!


3) You will not experience great power until you have great experience

You would never ask a school boy to manage your retirement savings! In the same way, God does not entrust the wealth and power of His kingdom to those he who are not known and trusted.

If we are to become known and trusted by God we must become faithful to the quite promptings of His spirit, pursuing them as though our very life depended on it! After all, why should we expect God to call us a messager to Presidents and Kings if we don't answer the call to be a messenger to our friends and neighbors?

Matthew 25 tells us that those who are faithful with what they have been given will be given more! So, if we are to pursue a life of Kingdom power we must recognize that we will need to prove our worth in the little things prior to being given the keys to the kingdom.

I believe this should be a marker for us in determining those whose hearts are set on the will of the Father and those who are merely seeking power for themselves. Those who understand the power dynamics of the kingdom will surrender themselves to the journey required. (Again, this is why the first dynamic is so important - being driven into the secret place tests the content of our heart and character.)

But we must be careful in rating our level of experience. Experience is not based on age, education or duration of time in the ministry. Experience is not merely quantitative, it is qualitative! It is measured by how diligently we respond to the invitations put before us, and how those encounters have been allowed to shape our hearts. It is not enough that we merely obey what he asks of us, we must also receive what he gives to us in that process.

It is like a young boy who does his math homework on a calculator - he can effectively do everything asked of him with incredible results, but he has not learned how to do mathematics. He has simply learned how to achieve the right answer. In the same way, I can faithfully do everything the Teacher asks, but unless I submit myself to the truths being taught I have not achieved God's desired outcome.

God is looking for men and woman who are willing to submit themselves to His wisdom, power and authority! If we are faithful with small things I am sure that He will call us into greater things, but if we turn a deaf ear towards doing small things we can be sure that we will never manifest great power. I believe it is why Jesus said:

"The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matt 23:11-12

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So in conclusion I would like to leave you with this prayer to the Ephesians:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom is whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strenghten you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."