In the year 1931, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began constructing the most massive concrete structure in the world – the Hoover Dam. Los Angeles and other cities in California, Arizona, and Nevada were growing rapidly, and their need for water and electrical power would soon exceed their existing supplies. To construct the dam, it required breaking through massive granite formations on both sides of the canyon wall to divert the river during dam construction, for which they used dynamite.
There is a parallel in the spiritual world. Shortly before He ascended to the Father in Heaven, Jesus met with His disciples and said to them:
“You shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8
The Greek word for POWER in this passage is DUNAMIS, which is where the word DYNAMITE comes from. When Alfred Nobel developed a substance that was more explosive than anything else in the world, he inquired of a friend who knew Greek for a word that would describe such explosive power. His friend recommended DUNAMIS, so Nobel named his invention “DYNAMITE.”
Jesus was telling them: “You shall receive explosive, dynamite power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” While dynamite has changed the construction of physical structures, Holy Spirit DUNAMIS power has transformed the lives of millions of people.
When Saul of Tarsus encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, God led Ananias to pray for him. He was then filled with the Holy Spirit and dunamis power, and went forth to proclaim Christ in the synagogues and to Gentiles across the Mediterranean world, in spite of tremendous persecution and bodily harm.
When the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years touched the very garment of Jesus, she became instantly healed. Jesus noticed this and said: “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived POWER (dunamis) going out from Me.” (Luke 8:46)
We need to realize that this dunamis power is power with a purpose – to build His church by equipping and empowering us to be witnesses to our Lord, and to tell people about what Jesus has done for us and can do for them.
It is important to note that “in the last days perilous times will come: for men [AND SOME CHURCHES] will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its POWER (dunamis). II Timothy 3:1-2,4-5
Our task is clear. The broad path is crowded with many who don’t know the Lord and are headed in the wrong direction. They are on the road that leads to perdition and the Lake of Fire. So let us go forth with the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit and witness to all who come across our path, for time is short, eternity is forever, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
To God be the glory
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