Scripture Warriors is a monthly Scripture Learning Course, each month you will memorise a new scripture and learn the meaning and the context of that scripture. The word of God needs to be in your heart and there's no better way to do that then to memorise it.
Stage 3: The Cross
LEARN
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20
Introduction
Congratulations, you're embarking on a spiritual strategy for maturing as an ambassador and soldier in the Kingdom of God.
Goals
Spend the month reading, studying, and meditating on this verse. Ideally you will read the book of Corinthians at least once and chapter 4 several times. At the end of the month you should be able to quote the verse and it's Biblical reference.
Notes
In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the servants are given wealth based on their dunamis, or their 'ability' to handle money. In Mark 9:1 Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the Kingdom of God has come to power." 'Power' here is dunamis.
However, dunamis is not just any power; the word often refers to miraculous power ormarvelous works (such as Matthew 7:22, 11:21, 23; Mark 5:30; Luke 5:17; 9:1; 10:13; and Acts 8:13). Dunamis can also refer to 'moral power and excellence of soul', according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon.
Perhaps most importantly, dunamis can refer to 'inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth' (ibid). In Matthew 22:29 Jesus tells the Sadducees, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures of the power of God." Jesus also said, "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30). In other words, the Lord has inherent power residing in Himself. Dunamis is part of His nature. We do not live the Christian life in our own power, but in God's. It is God's ability that makes us able to accomplish anything of value, for apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). It is His strength that makes us overcomers.
From the Greek
Power: Power = Dunamis. Definition: Miraculous power, might, strength. Usage: A physical power, force, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning (b) plur: powerful deeds, deeds showing (physical) power, marvelous works. Properly, 'ability to perform' for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord's inherent abilities. 'Power through God's ability' is needed in every scene of life to really grow in sanctification. Dunamis is a very important term, used 120 times in the New Testament, it is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo, and dynamic.