DAY 31

BIOLUMINESCENCE

JOHN MACDONALD, LEAD PASTOR

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. —Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV)

A couple of years ago, Pastor Jon Nicholas and I were in Belize on a vision tour for a potential missions project. Before we left to return home, we spent a day and night on Caye Caulker, an island off the coast of Belize. As avid lovers of the ocean, when we were presented with an opportunity to do a night snorkel out on the reef, we couldn’t pass it up. Now for those of you that might not know, the second largest barrier reef in the world, next to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, is off the coast of Belize. However, there was one underwater inlet from the ocean through the barrier reef into the calmer waters closer to the island. It was called Shark Alley. That is where we were going to be snorkeling later that night. It was so exciting!

As night came we headed out to the reef by boat. Upon arrival at the reef, we were given flashlights to add to our masks and snorkels, all the equipment we needed to hop into the pitch black water. It was incredible! Jon and I had been out there earlier that day, and the reef was amazing then with all kinds of coral, sea-life, fish, nurse sharks and stingrays. But at night, creatures were out that were not out during the day. We saw spectacular colored octopi, lobsters, and other critters with shades of teals, pinks, purples, blues, reds, and emerald greens. Who knew how alive the ocean was at night.

When we were close to the end of our excursion on the reef, our guide asked us to turn off our lights. Imagine it, there we were, in complete darkness treading water in what seemed like the middle of the ocean. Then our guide told us to look underwater and clap our hands. I thought this request to be a little weird at first. I really didn’t think I would be able to see anything. But when I clapped my hands, the water lit up with tiny living organisms that produced what is called bioluminescence. This was, by far, one of the coolest things I had ever seen. For the next several minutes I would do whatever I could to stir up the water. Snap my fingers underwater, clap; I was doing anything to behold this sight. Everytime I did, brilliant flashes of blues and pinks would surround me. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

When I think back on that experience, I realize that I had heard about bioluminescence before. I knew it was there; I had just never experienced it myself. Sometimes I think Christ followers deal with God’s power the same way. We’ve read that God is powerful; we understand that we supposedly carry His great power through the Holy Spirit. But do we truly believe God’s power is with us? We have heard about it, read about it in God’s Word, maybe even heard a friend or two testify about it. But here we are treading water, not even realizing the power that we have access to.

In Ephesians 6:10 Paul admonishes us to be “strong” in the Lord and in the “power” of His “might.” Before we move on, let me remind you that this verse is talking about God’s supernatural power. God makes this power accessible to us, not only because He has called us to live with it, but because we urgently need it. We need it to face the battle we are in. The reason we are in desperate need of God’s power is to fight the war against all the demonic powers that attempt to come against God’s people. Therefore, if we are in need of it, we should know how to tap into it.

This first word “strong” is taken from the Greek word endunamao. This word describes a power that is given and infused into a believer to give him or her an inward strength. This kind of power is so strong that it can withstand any attack and successfully oppose any level of force thrown at it. According to biblical scholar Rick Renner, this word endunamao was the same word used in classical Greek writings to describe fictional heroes like Hercules who was handpicked by the gods and given superhuman strength to accomplish his goals.

The second word we want to look at is the word “power.” Power is the Greek word kratos, and it describes demonstrated power. In other words, kratos is not some power that someone just believes in or has heard about but a power that has become demonstrative, eruptive, and tangible. This is not a hypothetical power; this is a real power that we can actually see with our own eyes. This is the power that raised Jesus from the dead, the very same power that knocked the soldiers guarding the tomb to the ground, paralyzed like dead men. I bet if you asked those soldiers about kratos power, they would leave you with no doubt that it is real.

This kratos power caused the ground to shake, the rocks to split, and Jesus to be raised to new life. This was a demonstrated, outward, visible power. It is also the same word that Paul uses to describe the power that is available to each of us who is found in Christ, the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives. And this power, operating in every believer, must be released in order to demonstrate it.

The third word, “might,” comes from the Greek word ischuos. This word describes a very strong, well-built, muscular individual... basically someone you would never want to mess with. However, Paul is not referring to man’s might but to God’s might. The might of God is so powerful that no other force can ever stand against Him.

For just a moment, put this scripture in its proper context. Paul is writing to the people of the church in Ephesus. He is encouraging them to take hold of the strength, power and might that are readily available to them, to live in such a way that would honor God, tear down the strongholds of the enemy, and advance God’s kingdom in Ephesus. It is through prayer, walking in obedience, trusting in the Holy Spirit who lives within us, and understanding the truth of God’s Word that we, as God’s people, are allowed to tap into the kingdom power of God’s might! This is the power we carry. This is power that is available to us. When we pray, as we declare and command according to God’s will and truth, this power is released. The early church in Acts knew all about the power that was available to them, and they used it to advance God’s kingdom. Nothing has changed. We must tap into the resources of power that are available to us through the Holy Spirit and do the same in our day. It's not enough to just read about it or have an understanding that it is there. We must tap into it and experience it.

I don’t want to play with marbles... when God told me to move mountains! —Reinhard Bonnke

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for our failure to tap into and use the very power You have given us to defeat the enemy. I declare to You today that there is no power greater in the heavens or on earth that compares to You, Lord. I declare the truth that the enemy I face, though he may look strong, doesn’t come anywhere close to the might and power You carry. Teach me how to press into the Holy Spirit who lives within me. Teach me how to use this power You have made accessible to me to advance Your kingdom and bring You glory. Teach me to walk in Your power and authority through Your

Holy Spirit, amen!