The Working of God's Power

"...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places..." Eph. 1:17-20.

My mental picture of working somehow includes manual labor! But this isn't the case when Paul writes about the working of [God's] mighty power which He worked in Christ.

The Greek word is transliterated energeia - that's right: energy. His work is not a labor, it's the expression of His power! The word is defined "efficiency, operation, strong, effectual working."

The next form of this word (which He worked in Christ) comes from the same root, and is transliterated energeo. It appears to be the active form of this energy -- to do, to be. It's defined, "to show forth self, to be mighty in."

Both words come from energes, which is used in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick and powerful..." The definition is simple: active, operative, effectual.

The same power, working and energy that God used to raise Christ from the dead is what He wants to make active in my heart! It's for His glory, for He wants this energy to be showing forth Himself through me -- to be mighty in me.