I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’" (Romans 1:16-17)

The gospel reveals the wondrous POWER of God! This word is just so dynamic! Which makes sense considering the original Greek word used here for power is the word δύναμις (dynamis). This is the word for power, capability, accomplishing force, and even miracle!

"...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

In Acts 10:38, the word δύναμις depicts the fact that the Lord Himself constantly poured out His divine and miraculous power into Jesus, Emmanuel (’Εμμανουήλ - meaning God with us). This dynamic and potent power of God was deposited into the very hands of Christ the Messiah. Those are the hands that heal and set free!

This word δύναμις is also used to refer to those in authority, that is, mighty and powerful figures. These powers can refer to heavenly bodies as well as earthly authorities. However, we must remember that it is written that all authority has been given to our Lord Jesus Christ seated at the Right Hand of God Himself.

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:12)

Our Lord is worthy to receive all praise. He is full of glory and miraculous, authoritative power! He has also given us His Holy Spirit, therefore implementing His wondrous power into our very own hearts.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

The power that we receive with the Holy Spirit is the same δύναμις power with which God has raised up the Son. He will raise us up with this rich and glorious power as well.

"By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also." (1 Corinthians 6:14)

He is resurrecting our cold, dead hearts. The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour is the very moment that He begins cultivating our soul soil. He is planting His almighty love and power into our hearts, and each day we spend time with Him, these crops begin to multiply and overcome darkness, loneliness, and sadness. Through the Lord's gardening in our hearts, we're made radiant, peaceable, and joyful. His merciful might is transforming and bright!

I want to touch on one more aspect of the word δύναμις. This is such a multilayered, prismatic word that there's simply too much to overlook. The word can also depict an abundance or plenitude.

"For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20)

God's Kingdom is filled to the brim with this abundantly dynamic power. His supernatural saving sovereignty sweeps us away.

"Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us—if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened." (Hebrews 6:4-8 MSG)

God's sheer goodness and electrifying magnificence changes hearts - for the good. One cannot experience the marvellous magnitudes of His might and leave still hardened in heart.

This is why we, God's chosen ones, can't simply stay silent. We cannot contain the dynamic δύναμις power that the Holy Spirit has planted in our hearts.

"I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:7-8)

We are not ashamed! We are not ashamed of the astounding authority of God. We are not afraid to tell the world of all His healing power. We're exuberantly declaring His glorious goodness everywhere we go. We are not ashamed! We are redeemed, set free, and forever transformed within our hearts. Let it be known wherever you go, God is full of glory and dynamic power!

-The Introverted Evangelist