Ephesians

The Source of Power

Ephesians 4:8-10 includes a fascinating and perhaps mystifying parenthetical clause: “This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)”

Why does Paul place this emphasis on Christ’s triumphal march, leading a host of captives in His train? It is because Ephesians 4:8-10 is an amplification and explanation of the phrase, “grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). He is telling us what this means. A gift is one thing; the power to operate it is quite another. Here he brings the gift and the power together.

Gifts are specialized functions, the God-endowed ability to do certain specific ministries, such as teaching, preaching, helping, administering, leading, and so forth. These gifts are like so many electrical appliances. Go to any department store, and you’ll find a myriad of electrical appliances. All these appliances have one thing in common: a cord with a plug on the end that must be inserted into an electrical outlet. Regardless of what the appliance looks like or how it performs its function, the power that drives it is the same.

The same is true of spiritual gifts. Just as there are many kinds of appliances, there are many spiritual gifts—but all operate on the same power, all draw energy and vitality from the same source. What is the source of power that energizes our spiritual gifts? It is not the power of a strong personality. There are many individuals who are quiet and unassuming, yet their hearts burn with a passion for spreading the gospel. Wherever they go on the subway, on street corners, in the supermarket checkout line they quietly strike up a conversation and gently share with others about their Friend, Jesus.

Is it the power of positive thinking? The power of keen intellect? The power of knowledge? The power of an educated, disciplined mind? No. The power that energizes our spiritual gifts is far superior to all of these other forms of personal power. Paul gives us the answer, “To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Now, perhaps, you see what a tragic waste it is to allow your gifts to lie neglected and unused in some backroom of your spirit!