Power Matters
"Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I am he,” Jesus told them... When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground." - John 18:5–6
In John 18, a group of men came looking for Jesus. Judas was with them. They carried lanterns, torches, and swords. They were looking for the right person. But they came in the power of the world. They came in the strength of darkness, not the strength of faith.
They thought weapons would help them confront the Son of God. But the moment Jesus spoke, everything shifted. He said, “I am he.” But in the original Greek, the word “he” is not there. Jesus simply said, “I am.” The same name God used when He spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The name that carries absolute power and authority. And when Jesus said it, the entire group stumbled back and hit the ground.
That’s the clash we often miss. You can be after the right goal, the right answer, the right person, but if you approach it with the wrong power, you will miss what God is doing. Judas and those with him came in physical strength, using human tools, but they had no idea who they were dealing with. When Jesus spoke, His authority reminded them that no weapon and no army could stand against the power of God.
Now bring that into your own life. You might be pursuing something good. Healing. Direction. Change. But are you trying to reach it with the strength of the world? Are you relying on your own effort, your own intelligence, your own influence? Or are you depending on the power that comes from the “I Am”?
It is not just about what you are seeking. It is also about how you are seeking. Earthly tools will not carry you into spiritual victory. You need something greater. You need to walk in the power of the One who simply speaks and kingdoms shake.
Do not just seek the right Person. Seek Him with the right power. Lay down your weapons, your plans, and your pride. Stand still, listen for His voice, and trust in the power of the Great I Am.
In John 18, a group of men came looking for Jesus. Judas was with them. They carried lanterns, torches, and swords. They were looking for the right person. But they came in the power of the world. They came in the strength of darkness, not the strength of faith.
They thought weapons would help them confront the Son of God. But the moment Jesus spoke, everything shifted. He said, “I am he.” But in the original Greek, the word “he” is not there. Jesus simply said, “I am.” The same name God used when He spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The name that carries absolute power and authority. And when Jesus said it, the entire group stumbled back and hit the ground.
That’s the clash we often miss. You can be after the right goal, the right answer, the right person, but if you approach it with the wrong power, you will miss what God is doing. Judas and those with him came in physical strength, using human tools, but they had no idea who they were dealing with. When Jesus spoke, His authority reminded them that no weapon and no army could stand against the power of God.
Now bring that into your own life. You might be pursuing something good. Healing. Direction. Change. But are you trying to reach it with the strength of the world? Are you relying on your own effort, your own intelligence, your own influence? Or are you depending on the power that comes from the “I Am”?
It is not just about what you are seeking. It is also about how you are seeking. Earthly tools will not carry you into spiritual victory. You need something greater. You need to walk in the power of the One who simply speaks and kingdoms shake.
Do not just seek the right Person. Seek Him with the right power. Lay down your weapons, your plans, and your pride. Stand still, listen for His voice, and trust in the power of the Great I Am.
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