Hungry for Power

God’s wisdom never ceases to amaze me! As I read through His Word, I see Him tackle all the difficulties we need to overcome in this life. Hunger for power is one of them. Wars are caused by struggles for power – who gets to tell others what they can and cannot do. Divorce comes from struggles with power to control each other. Fights among neighbors and in communities come from struggles to control each other. Rebellion comes from a desire to have power over those who have power over us. When Jesus was tempted, the second temptation was to have authority or power over all the kingdoms of the world by worshiping Satan. 

Satan offers a counterfeit kind of power. It is an addiction – a deadly addiction. The more you have the more you want. You can never have enough until you have power over all the kingdoms of this world! Many people die in the struggle for power or end up in prison powerless behind bars.

There is a different kind of power – a true power. It comes from the source of power – God. When Elijah operated in God’s power, he called for the cessation of rain and it quit raining for 3 years. When he called on God to burn the sacrifice, God answered with fire that burned not only the sacrifice but all the water that had been poured over it and the altar itself. God answered powerfully. But Elijah made sure they knew it was God who had the power, not himself, and that he was operating in obedience to God who had called him to confront the evil around him.

When we operate in God’s power by being obedient to Him, the power does not consume us. We understand that the source of power is God and power belongs to God. It is very freeing to be able to live without struggling for power. God has made His power available to us to be used for the advancement of His kingdom. To access that power, we need to be in relationship with God and obedient to Him.

Nothing seems to anger God more than people abusing power and thereby hurting other people – especially in religious settings. He is quick to defend those without power (the orphan, the poor, the widow) and confront those who use their power to take advantage of the helpless. He calls us to join Him in taking care of the powerless.

Oh, that we as His Church would see that call and take the mission seriously to care for those who are vulnerable. He has placed us in this time and in this place to be His hands and feet taking His love and compassion to the world around us, to operate with humbleness in His power to extend His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven! May we go in His power!