Sharing God's Power in the Bible with Others Effectively

The power of God is an attribute of God, described in scripture as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, irresistible, and incomparable ^[5]. This divine power is manifested through various means, including God's voice, finger, hand, and arm ^[5]. Believers are called to share in and demonstrate this power, not as an inherent ability of their own, but as an outflow of God's work in and through them.

One significant way God's power is shared is through the proclamation of the Gospel. The book of Acts describes the apostles "preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance" ^[4]. This boldness in sharing the message of Christ is a manifestation of divine power. The "everlasting Gospel" itself is seen as a vehicle through which God's wisdom and power are made known ^[13]. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God's power for believers is the "power of his Spirit at work in and through his people, because they are joined to the resurrected Christ" ^[12]. This power enables believers to make God's "manifold wisdom" known to spiritual principalities and powers ^[2].

Sharing God's power also involves practical acts of love and service within the community of faith and beyond. Believers are exhorted to "share with the saints who are in need" and to "practice hospitality" ^[1]. This distribution to the necessities of saints is not merely an act of human kindness but is seen as a means by which God is glorified, as recipients give thanks for the grace and goodness they receive ^{[11, 14]}. Such acts of communion among saints, including mutual sympathy and kindness, reflect the presence of Christ and are marked with God's approval ^[9].

The concept of "communion of saints" highlights the interconnectedness of believers, both with God and with each other ^[9]. This communion is with God, with saints in heaven, and with fellow believers on earth ^[9]. It is fostered through shared worship, prayer for one another, exhortation, and mutual comfort and edification ^[9]. Christ's prayer for unity among believers underscores this communal aspect of faith, where their unity reflects God's presence ^[9].

Access to God, which is fundamental to experiencing and sharing His power, is granted through Christ and by the Holy Spirit ^[6]. This access is obtained through faith and follows reconciliation with God ^[6]. Believers are encouraged to "draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need" ^[3]. This confident access to God's presence is a privilege of saints ^[6].

God's power is also evident in how afflictions can be made beneficial. Difficult circumstances can promote God's glory, exhibit His power and faithfulness, teach His will, and turn individuals back to Him ^[7]. Afflictions can lead people to seek God in prayer, convince them of sin, and prevent them from departing from God ^[7]. This transformative aspect of suffering, where God's power is revealed in weakness, is a profound demonstration of His working in the lives of believers.

Thanksgiving is another practice through which God's power is acknowledged and shared. Believers are commanded to offer thanksgiving to God, through Christ, and in the name of Christ, in all circumstances ^[8]. This includes private and public worship, and even before meals ^[8]. The heavenly host is depicted as engaged in thanksgiving, setting an example for believers ^[8].

The distribution of spiritual gifts is central to how God's power is shared within the church. God has given "different special abilities to each individual believer for building up the church" ^[10]. These gifts of grace are for the edification of the community of believers ^[10]. The Holy Spirit empowers believers with these gifts, enabling them to serve and strengthen one another, thereby manifesting God's power collectively.

Sources

Romans “Romans 12:13 (BSB) — Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Ephesians “to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, -- Ephesians 3:10”
Hebrews “Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. -- Hebrews 4:16”
Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Thanksgiving — Christ set an example of -- Mt 11:25; 26:27; Joh 6:11; 11:41. The heavenly host engaged in -- Re 4:9; 7:11,12; 11:16,17. Commanded -- Ps 50:14; Php 4:6. Is a good thing -- Ps 92:1. Should be offered To God. -- Ps 50:14. To Christ. -- 1Ti 1:12. Through Christ. -- Ro 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15. In the name of Christ. -- Eph 5:20. In behalf of ministers. -- 2Co 1:11. In private worship. -- Da 6:10. In public worship. -- Ps 35:18. In everything. -- 1Th 5:18. Upon the completion of great undertakings. -- Ne 12:31,40. Before taking food. -- Joh 6:11; Ac 27:35.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion of Saints — According to the prayer of Christ -- Joh 17:20,21. Is with God. -- 1Jo 1:3. Saints in heaven. -- Heb 12:22-24. Each other. -- Ga 2:9; 1Jo 1:3,7. God marks, with his approval -- Mal 3:16. Christ is present in -- Mt 18:20. In public and social worship -- Ps 34:3; 55:14; Ac 1:14; Heb 10:25. In the Lord's supper -- 1Co 10:17. In holy conversation -- Mal 3:16. In prayer for each other -- 2Co 1:11; Eph 6:18. In exhortation -- Col 3:16; Heb 10:25. In mutual comfort and edification -- 1Th 4:18; 5:11. In mutual sympathy and kindness -- Ro 12:15; Eph 4:32”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:7: 4:7-16 Though believers share a common faith, God has given different special abilities to each individual believer for building up the church. 4:7 He has given each one of us a gift of his grace for building up the community of believers (see 1 Cor 12:7; cp. Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:11).”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:19: 1:19-20 God’s power for us who believe him is the power of his Spirit at work in and through his people, because they are joined to the resurrected Christ (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12). Paul longed to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in his own life (Phil 3:10). • In biblical times, the place of honor was always at a person’s right hand (Ps 110:1; Acts 7:56).”
Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 14:6: Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel - Whether this angel mean any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world; or whether it mean any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth, we know not. But the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible Society, whose object it is to print an”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 12:13: Distributing to the necessity of saints,.... Or "communicating", as many versions render the word; "distributing" more properly belongs to the officers of the church, the deacons, and communicating to the members of it in common. All men in general are to be relieved that are in want, even our very enemies, and particularly such as are our own flesh and blood, nearly related to us, aged parents, &c. and especially they that are of the household of faith, here called "saints"; and indeed, such only come under the care and notice of a church: and they are such, whom Go”

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