POWER OF GODLINESS
(week 04/09)
Olubi Johnson
In our articles on complete knowledge, we saw that God’s power given to us to be applied in a threefold manner: power of Godliness, power of protection (including healing and deliverance) and power to get wealth.
Of these three the most important is the power of Godliness:
2 Timothy 3:5 ESV having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
It takes the power of God to be Godly: to be like God or to love since God is love (1Jn.4.8).
The power of Godliness is the most important aspect of God’s power, because it is only by love that our faith works and the power of protection and to get wealth can operate maximally:
1 Corinthians 13:13 LITV (13) And now faith, hope, and love, these three things remain; but the greatest of these is love.
Galatians 5:6 LITV For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love.
In fact, the primary purpose of God giving us the power of the Holy Spirit is to make us like God, who is love, in our soul: mind, will and emotions and conduct.
Romans 5:5 ESV and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
2 Peter 1:3 ESV His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
It is vital to understand that without a sufficient measure of the power of God working in your soul and body, you will not be able to walk in the love of God or be Godly:
Galatians 5:16-17 AMP But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). (17) For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
Romans 5:20 MKJV but the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Now, it is the measure of grace upon us that determines the measure of the power of God given to us, so we must grow in grace to overcome the abounding iniquity (Mt. 24.12) of our time and we grow in grace by growing in revelation (2 Cor. 4.6) of the complete knowledge of God:
2 Peter 3:18 LITV But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 1:2 LITV Grace to you, and peace be multiplied by a full knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
It takes the power of God to be humble: to submit your will to the will of God when you don’t feel like it;
It takes the power of God to forgive and have good will to people when you have been severely hurt by them;
It takes power the power of God to be patient when you are under pressure to get something;
It takes power of God not to worry or be anxious when faced with difficult uncertainties;
It takes the power of God to love the unlovely and undeserving like God does:
Matthew 5:44-45 MKJV But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, (45) so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
In our article next week we will see how to grow in grace and so generate, release and receive sufficient measures of this power of Godliness.
