Power Applied

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ   Romans 16:25

To Establish – There is a grammatical secret here.  When an infinitive (like “to establish”) follows the verb dynamai (is able), the sense is a continuous action, not a one-time event.  Let that sink in a minute.  Paul tells us that God is continuously operating with power to cause us to stand firm.  What a tremendous relief!  This is just what I needed to hear.

Our world loves the phrase, “it’s up to you.”  We take the Greek position of individual responsibility (when we aren’t falling victim to entitlement thinking).  We adopt the view that my life is in my hands, for better or worse.  If I fail, it’s my fault.  I should have done something differently.  If I succeed, then I get the credit.  I did the right things.  This seems so natural, until we confront sin.  Then the reality of the world crashes in on us.  Even if I want to do the right thing, I soon discover that I have no power to do it.  I end up doing the very things I know are wrong (just take a look at Romans 7).  The real truth is this:  if it’s really up to me, I am doomed to failure.  There is nothing in me that will guarantee my success because I do not have the resident power to succeed – even when it comes to holiness and sin.

Paul speaks the truth.  God establishes us.  His power is applied to our weakness in order that we might live delighting Him.  When I try to fight sin in my own strength, it’s like turning the sword on myself.  Even if I win, I die.

The Greek word sterizo comes from a root that means, “to stand.”  God’s power applied to me allows me to stand.  The result of His power application is seen in my steadfast obedience, my renewed mind, my confirmed convictions and my strength to submit.  By the way, this word has links to the idea of resurrection – to stand again.  If I want the resurrected life, I will have to let God apply His power to me.  No man can lift himself from the grave. 

Now, the grammar.  Standing is a daily activity.  God’s power is applied continuously in order that I may be a conduit for His will.  Standing is not storing.  Today’s bread is rotted tomorrow.  The only way God’s power can be applied is in continuous connection.  That means life is either standing through a power not my own, or falling because I am disconnected.  God is continuously able.  I am not.

The secret of standing is to let Him apply the power.