Good God Power!
"For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
1 John 3: 8
In 1985, Christian theologian Richard Foster
published a book titled Money, Sex and Power:
The Challenge of a Disciplined
Life. The subtitle
reveals the theme of the book: using money,
sex, and power wisely is a challenge.
The godly use of power was a focus in Jesus’
life and ministry. He used His power to glorify
God and do good in the world, especially when
it came to undoing the effects of Satan’s power
and influence in the world.
Acts 10:38 says that God “anointed” Jesus with
power to deliver those who were oppressed by
the devil. And 1 John 3:8 says Jesus was
sent
“that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
“Destroy” in this verse doesn’t mean to annihilate
but to neutralize, undo, or render ineffective “the
works of the devil”—deconstruct before rebuilding.
Jesus exercised power over nature,
sickness,
and demonic forces. Perhaps most importantly,
His power can undo the effects of sin so that
our lives can be rebuilt in His image.
"Christianity is the power
of God in the soul
of man."
Robert B. Munger