Exercising Superhuman Power
“And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it]. “ 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Amplified Bible
In the context of these verses, Paul is teaching us how to minister the full love of Jesus. The expectation is that each of us will be ministering the love to Jesus to others and we are supposed to be investing our lives into the lives of other believers. It is easy for us to get caught up in our lives and troubles to the extent that we forget Jesus wants to use us to strengthen one another. This is the role and responsibility of every follower of Jesus.
How do we minister the love of Jesus to others? Partly it is that we share the Word and speak the Word into the lives of others. As Paul is encouraging us in this regard through this chapter of 1 Thessalonians, we come to this thirteenth verse where Paul shares this powerful observation that we often overlook. As we minister to others by speaking the Word into them, their lives and their situations, we need to understand that the Word is not the words of men, but rather the Word of God. Because it is not merely the words of men but the Word of God Himself, as we administer the Word to others, it works effectually in them as they believe it and receive it. You may not feel any power when you speak the Word into someone’s life, but the Word itself has power that inherently has an effective result for their good and the Lord’s glory.
That is greatly encouraging in itself but listen to what Paul says next. The Word of God working through you, or spoken through you “exercising its superhuman to others power” in those who are on the receiving end of it, if they will receive it and believe it.
You may go through your daily routine feeling like you are powerless in this life, but Paul reminds us to take our focus off of self. He tells us to look for the opportunities He gives us to minister to the strength and encouragement of others by speaking His Word into them. The Word then goes to work with superhuman power through you!
Speak the Word into the lives of others and know that you are exercising “superhuman power” that works with great effect in their lives.
J Todd Hostetler