If you have been following the tragic story of flooding in Texas, you know that over 100 people have died due to that terrible storm and flash flooding. Many of those lost were young girls at a summer camp. A camp official had this to say about the flooding, "No amount of planning could have anticipated this disaster," DeHart added. "This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature, and now the strength of the camp community will rally in compassion and unity when it matters most.” This devastating tragedy is a stark reminder of how powerful God’s creation, nature, can be at times. We often feel lost and wondering how we should respond to these powerful natural disasters. Our first and most powerful response, prayer, is sometimes dismissed as ineffective or trivial. Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul wraps up a prayer, he started in the first chapter of Ephesians, as we turn to Ephesians chapter three.
As we return to the letter Paul penned to the church in Ephesus in chapter three, we are
reminded of a couple of themes. First, Jesus is at the center of everything that happens anywhere. Second, we find the Apostle praying for the church he loves so. Finally, we are reminded of one of the main reasons we can believe what Paul is preaching to the saints in Ephesus, the one true God, is power! There are at least four Greek words used to describe God’s power in the New Testament and Paul uses all of them in the first chapter of Ephesians. But as he closes out the first half of this letter, he prays a powerful prayer and uses the word dynamis, for power, twice. All together Paul talks about the dynamis power of God five times in Ephesians. It is impossible to write about Jesus without writing about His power. This fact stands out when you consider dynamis is used 119 times in the New Testament. Dynamis is used often in the Gospels in relationship to Jesus’ miracles, sometimes even being translated as “miracle.” This same word is used in the LXX (the Greek translation of the Old Testament used in Jesus’ time) to describe the parting of the Red Sea as Moses led God’s people out of Egypt. In Paul’s prayer in Ephesians chapter three God’s dynamis isn’t just in Him, but it is imparted to the saints. This power that made a way for God’s people to escape slavery in Egypt is the power that Jesus displayed in His ministry as He ushered in the Kingdom of God and today this dynamis power strengthens our inner being, enabling us to grow to maturity in Jesus.
Access this dynamis power through prayer today! Please be praying for the victims in Texas, Wallula’s short term mission trip to Honduras, WCC’s upcoming Small Group Leader Training, and whatever else is on your heart and minds. God is big! His power is great! And He is at work in and through you!
I love you guys and can’t wait to see you Sunday!
Lance
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
- Ephesians 3:20-21