Unlimited Energy

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus”  (2Tim 2:1).

What’s the most powerful source of energy you can think of? We’ve got a few candidates. Nuclear reactor. Coal-fired power plant. The sun. My seven-year-old grandson Marcus (that little dude has a non-stop motor!). Worthy nominees, for sure. But according to Paul, there’s one energy source that generates limitless power and is totally renewable. Grace. 

In a letter from a Roman prison cell, the apostle writes to his protege Timothy to stoke the fires of this young pastor. With a death sentence hanging over his own head, Paul knows Tim needs to personally plug into the ultimate source of power without his mentor’s help. “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v1). 

Paul is passing the baton of the Gospel to Timothy. He knows his time is short (2Tim 4:6-7). He knows there’s no one better to fill his sandals than the young man from Lystra. The apostle has already handed him the reigns as lead pastor of the church he planted in Ephesus a couple of years ago (1Tim 1:3). But replacing the legendary Paul?!? The APOSTLE Paul?!? I mean, God has used this guy to devote his life to traveling the Mediterranean Rim telling people about the grace of Jesus and starting churches faster than Starbucks can open coffeehouses. Sure sounds like mission impossible to me. 

Just like Timothy, God calls each of us to an impossible task. A job so big we could never do it in our own strength. What’s yours? That’s between you and our Savior. But there’s one thing I do know. There’s only one fuel that will provide the power we so desperately need. Grace. And there’s only one place to go to get it. Jesus. 

Let’s pick up in chapter two of 2 Timothy. First of all, Paul didn’t have all these chapter and verse numbers in his original version. Religious types added them a few centuries later to help us find our way around God’s Word. Think of these digits like addresses. Imagine trying to find a place you’ve never been if you didn’t have the city, street, and house number. So when the apostle first sent it to Timothy, it was a just a letter. God-inspired to be sure. But a letter. From a real person. To another real person. 

Here at the beginning of what we now know as chapter two, things get personal. “You then, my child” (v1). One close friend writes to another. A mentor writes to a student. A father writes to his spiritual son. You’re literally reading someone’s mail. It’s okay. God gives you permission. But it gets incredibly personal. And that’s what makes it so incredibly powerful. 

Paul begins by using a term of endearment for Tim. “My son” (v1). He drops a Greek word (Gr. teknon) that means descendant, posterity, or one’s immediate offspring. While this certainly can describe a blood relative, writers of the Bible use it when talking about a spiritual descendant, a particularly close disciple, or favorite student. 

The apostle doesn’t exactly toss it around willy nilly. He saves it for just three very special individuals. Two of them are Titus (Titus 1:4) and Onesimus (Phm 10). But he doesn’t hold back when talking about Tim (1Cor 4:17; Phil 2:22; 1Tim 1:2, 18; 2Tim 1:2). Imagine how many people Paul has lead to the Lord during his life. God handpicked the former Pharisee to be his number one spokesperson to non-Jews around the world. For Pete’s sake, the guy wrote a huge chunk of the Bible. Yet he calls Tim his son.

Who’s your spiritual dad? Who’s the person Jesus dropped into your life as a firehose of His grace? Who has God used to walk with you to grow your faith? Who is your Paul? Ever thanked them? No better time than the present. Drop them a note. Give them a call. Better yet, give them a hug. 

Now turn it around. Who has God brought into your life as a spiritual son or daughter? Maybe you’ve had the honor of telling them about the Good News of who Jesus is and what He’s done for them. Perhaps it’s somebody who already has a relationship with the Lord but you’re encouraging them to trust more deeply and serve others more sacrificially. Be intentional. Be transparent. Who’s your Timothy?

It’s a great idea for every follower of Jesus to have Paul/Timothy relationships in our lives. Be a Timothy. Hook up with a spiritual mentor. Look around for someone who’s walked with Jesus longer than you. Be intentional. And why limit it to one? There are hundreds of people out there who’ve written books, preached sermons, and post podcasts. Read. Listen. Apply. Why not follow them on social media? You get the idea.

Don’t forget to be a Paul to somebody’s Tim either. This is where it gets a little uncomfortable for a lot of us. I mean, who am I to tell anyone about following Jesus? But I must remember that it’s NOT about me. It’s about Christ. He’s the one who’s really doing the heavy lifting. I’m just the one He’s using. How do I find someone to help? Keep your eyes out for a person in your life who is a new believer or just started going to church. Start by just being their friend. Grab some coffee. Ask questions. Talk about life. Trust me. You can be a Paul.

Okay, back to 2 Timothy. Now that he has his spiritual son’s full attention, Paul tells Tim to “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v1). He doesn’t tell him to hit the gym. He doesn’t suggest hiring a personal trainer and getting in better shape. This isn’t an encouragement to increase his bench press or dead lift. The apostle uses the verb endunamo’o, which is all about being made stronger by an outside force. In other words, you CAN’T do this by yourself. This is all about power you DON’T have. But I know Someone who has it and is more than willing to hook you up.

Check out a few other uses of this word in the NT. Back in his prequel to Timothy, Paul writes, “I thank Him who has given me strength (Gr. endunamo’o), Christ Jesus our Lord” (1Tim 1:12). Later in this same letter, the apostle recalls the last time he was in prison and “the Lord stood by me and strengthened (Gr. endunamo’o) me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed” (2Tim 4:17). The writer of Hebrews describes how God used a long list of goofballs, weirdos, and cowards in big ways, that they “were made strong (Gr. endunamo’o) out of weakness” (Heb 11:34). God gives us the strength we don’t have apart from Him. Unlimited power that’s totally renewable.

That incredible fuel is none other than “the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v1). Grace. I’m not sure there’s a more powerful idea in the entire Bible. It’s certainly seems to be Paul’s favorite word. And why not? Everything he writes absolutely drips with grace! First of all, what is it? Justice is getting the punishment from God we rightfully deserve for our sin. Mercy is NOT getting that punishment. Grace is getting the radical goodness of God we by no means deserve. 

We’ve done nothing to earn it. We’ve done nothing to deserve it. Some describe it as God’s descending one-way love. It’s His promiscuous and scandalous goodness to rebels, terrorists, and enemies of His kingdom. You DO realize that’s your status apart from Jesus, don’t you? “Amazing” doesn’t even come close to describing this unlimited power source, but it is certainly a great place to start. 

We can’t save ourselves. We don’t have the strength. We’re 98-pound spiritual weaklings. There’s absolutely no way we can muscle up the power to obey all of God’s commands. And that’s what it would take 100% obedience. Anything less than perfection is trouble. Jesus’ kid brother James says if we break one of God’s laws we break all of them (James 2:10). Grace radically changes all that. Once Jesus comes to our rescue, we go from absolutely powerless without Him to supernaturally powerful with Him. All because of the unlimited energy of His grace.

What does our man Paul have to say about grace. Gracious plenty! God saves us by grace through faith in Jesus. “It is THE gift of God” (Eph 2:8-9, emphasis added). God declares us totally innocent and absolutely perfect by His “grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). Because it’s impossible to save ourselves by perfect obedience to God’s rules, we need His goodness. Or as the apostle tells his friends in Rome, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Rom 11:6).

But just as this letter is incredibly personal to Paul, so is the impact of God’s undeserved goodness on his life. He tells the Corinthians that he wouldn’t be the man of God is today without it. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:10). Later, he remembers that time he pleaded with Jesus to remove a painful thorn in his life. Christ’s response? “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor 12:9).

There’s only only place to get this limitless power. And when I say “place,” I’m talking about the one and only Christ Jesus. Let’s just say He has exclusive rights on God’s descending one-way love. A total and eternal monopoly. But here’s the cool thing. As followers of Jesus, we’re local distributors of His amazing grace. This is one multilevel marketing system with no gimmicks. Grace isn’t grace if you don’t give it away. We’re blessed to be a blessing. We give it away freely because He gave it so freely to us!

Now grace may be free but it certainly isn’t cheap. Our Savior paid for it with His own blood. He gives it to me freely out of His incredible love but it cost Him His very life (Jn 3:16). We’re on the receiving end by simply trusting in Who He is and what He’s done for us. Once I truly realize the unbelievable cost of what He did for me, I can never take grace for granted. Never. Ever. 

So just like Timothy, let’s be “strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v1). God’s grace gives you the energy and ability to tackle whatever task He’s placed before you. We’re talking limitless power that’s totally renewable.

God's Work Zone

 “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

There are few things I hate more when I’m driving than work zones. Hey man, how in the world am I supposed to make good time when I’m suddenly faced with a giant flashing arrow, a sign warning “Left Lane Closed Ahead” and a line of orange cones disappearing into the horizon? There IS one thing worse. No workers in the work zone. Few things get my undies in a bundle more than a construction zone on the highway when the crew has the day off. Hey, I’m not opposed to anybody getting a day off. But why am I merging into one lane when there’s not a single hard hat along the highway? 

There’s one work zone that’s fully staffed 24-7-365. That’s the life of every follower of Jesus. Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that God never stops, never takes a break, never takes a day off when He’s working in our lives. There are no cones. No orange barrels. No Jersey barriers. But this is God’s work zone. It’s non-stop. He’s always up to something. Nothing is wasted. As a matter of fact, He even works to gives you and me the desire to and energy to please Him. Once Jesus comes to the rescue, your life is God’s work zone. 

The apostle reassures his readers that it’s not up to each of us to save ourselves. We may have gotten just a wee bit worried that it was up to us after reading the previous verse. We’re told to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). I don’t know about you, but I would be shaking in my boots if God left it up to me to earn my way into heaven. It would not end well. Instead, Paul tells us to explore what it means to be on the receiving end of God’s grace. If salvation were a car, we wouldn’t really enjoy our new ride until we took it out on the road to see what it will do. We work out our faith by exercising our faith muscle through obedience. It’s only when we do what Jesus commands that we truly experience the abundant life He has for us. 

One verse later, the man from Tarsus reassures us “it is God who works in you” (v13). We’ve already read what God starts in us, He will finish (Phil 1:6). God’s the ultimate closer. He’ll wrap things up every single time. Just as sure as He’s always closing is that He’s always working. Paul uses the Greek verb energeo, which means to be powerfully effective, be active, produce, cause, or be in action. It focuses on the energy, power, or force involved. God doesn’t just punch the clock. He simply mail it in when He’s on the job. He works and works HARD. He gives it His full supernatural attention. The verb form of energeo is in the present tense. You can easily read this as “God who is currently working in you right here, right now.” His work isn’t a one-time event. He’s not a short-term contractor. He’s doesn’t just punch the clock 9 to 5. If you’re a follower of Jesus, our Savior has His supernatural sleeves rolled up at this very moment. “It is God who works in you” (v13). And He’s working while you read this.

All throughout the Bible, we read how our God isn’t afraid to get His hands dirty. He pulls the first full six-day work week in the history of the universe and then takes Saturday off (Gen 1:3-2:3). Paul tells the folks over in Corinth, “There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1Cor 12:6). The writer of Hebrews prays that God would “equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb 13:21). And the apostle says he wouldn’t be where he is without heaven’s descending one-way love. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:10). All awesome examples of our God at work.

There’s interesting aspect of God’s work is His impact on our desire to do what He wants. He’s plugging away “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (v13). The translators of the NLT do an awesome job of getting this idea across. It’s God who’s “giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him” (v13 NLT). He does simply just leave you and me swinging in the breeze after coming to our rescue. Who would blame Jesus for kicking back and waiting for us to get off our tails to obey Him? Hey, He did go out of His way to leave paradise, live the perfectly obedient life we failed to live, died a bloody death on the cross we should have died, and rose to a glorious new life we don’t deserve. That sure sounds like a full career to me. But He doesn’t stop there. He works overtime to give us the want-to. 

But wait, there’s more! Kinda like one of those cheesy Ginsu knife commercials where they throw in the Bamboo Steamer. God doesn’t stop there. He stokes us with the power to also do what He tells us. This is where His Holy Spirit does what He does best. The Third Person of the Trinity is the power behind Christ’s resurrection (Rom 8:11).  Jesus tells His followers not to make move until the Spirit powers them up for the mission of spreading His Gospel (Acts 1:8). God’s Spirit is a total game changer. Once the Spirit falls, the Good News washes across the Mediterranean like a supernatural tsunami. Imagine what the kind of power the Holy Spirit gives you and me.

So what in the wide world of sports do we do with all this? First, we’re God’s work zone. He saves us and keeps on saving us. Second, remember God is always up to something in your life. It doesn’t always feel like it but He is. Third, the Lord is working away in each and every one of His followers. I have to admit there are a few believers  I find it difficult to believe. And I’m sure there are a lot of folks who look at me and scratch their heads too. Anywho, He’s doing His thing no matter what we see. Fourth, His Spirit gives each of us the desire and the ability to do what God wants. Do you have any desire to obey Jesus’ commands? Well, you can thank Him for that. He also gives you the ability to actually obey. That’s because once Jesus comes to the rescue, your life is God’s work zone. 

Lose the Force, Luke

And what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might (Eph 1:19).

I love me some "Star Wars." Especially the original trilogy. You know, the one that starts with Episode IV. Yeah, that only makes sense if you're fan. 

It's loaded with classic characters. Princess Leia. Han Solo. Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke Skywalker. 

But let's be honest, these movies are entertaining but their theology was, shall we say, more than a bit wacko. There's that famous scene where the dearly departed Ben Kenobi urged young Luke to "use the Force, Luke." 

Here in his letter to his friends in Ephesus, Paul instead tells us to understand the unlimited energy source that God works in and through our lives. 

The apostle wants us to see "what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might" (v19). 

Lose the Force, Luke. Let the power of Jesus do the work.

This is a continuation of Paul's prayer that he began in Eph 1:16. First he asked God to shine His spotlight on the incredible hope we have in Jesus as well as breathtaking inheritance our heavenly Dad has for us (Eph 1:18). 

He then prays that God would pull back the curtain and allow us to see His incredible power at work in our lives. The apostle asks that God give us a tour of the reactor of divine power. 

Sorry, Iron Man. Your arc reactor is cool. But it's a 9 volt battery compared to amazing power of God that energizes the life of Jesus' followers.

Paul calls God's power "immeasurable" (v19). This is the Greek word huperballo/'υπερβαλλω. It means to surpass all measure, exceed to an extraordinary extent, go beyond all comprehension, something extreme or beyond comparison. 

If you've placed your trust in Jesus, God's power in your life is off the scale. It pegs the meter. It's off the charts. 

Stop and think about that for just a moment. Do you really understand what kind of supernatural energy is at your disposal? 

That's why the apostle asks God to pull back the curtain and get a glimpse. The term translated as "power" here is closely related to our word "dynamo." His power in our lives is off the charts.

But not everybody has access to God's unlimited power. This isn't like "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Just because someone possesses the Ark, it doesn't mean they can access God's power like some sort of weapon of mass destruction. 

No. Instead, the power of Jesus is "to us who believe" (v19). God only plugs in those who place their trust in who Jesus is and what He's done. 

He lived a perfect life that we didn't. He died a brutal death that we should have. He rose to a new life that we don't deserve. He did it. We didn't. 

We believe in what He did FOR us. This is NOT about the strength of our faith in Christ. This is about believing He's done for us what we could never do in a million years. 

It's NOT the power of our belief. It's about the power of the One in whom we believe.

This divine dynamo is the "working of His great might" (v19). We see another power-packed term here. "Working" is the Greek noun energeia/ενεργεια.

Looks familiar, doesn't it? Yeah, this means energy, power or force. In the New Testament, biblical writers only use it when talking about a supernatural power source, whether God or Satan. 

This is the energy of God. This is the power of God. This is supernatural force of God. Lose the Force, Luke. Turn to Jesus.

Speaking of Luke, the author of Acts used this same term when he related Jesus' last words to His followers. 

"You will receive power (Gr. energeia/ενεργεια) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). 

His disciples find out just a few days later that this amazing power source is actually the Person of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4). 

His indwelling Spirit is the reactor in each one of Christ's followers. And a huge purpose of plugging us into this divine dynamo is to tell others about Jesus. 

The Apostle Paul certainly understood that. "Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His power (Gr. energeia/ενεργεια)" (Eph 3:7). 

He used God's supernatural energy to tell others about Jesus. A perfect example that with great power comes great responsibility.

We need to realize that Jesus can do absolutely crazy things in us and through us because the Holy Spirit is an unlimited source of energy.

 Later in this letter to his buddies back in Ephesus, Paul suddenly explodes in praise over the off the scale power of God in his life. 

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power (Gr. energia) at work within us" (Eph 3:20). 

Lose the Force, Luke.

©2013
Jay Jennings