Lessons from #TwitterDown

How a power outage on social media empowered me | Random Thoughts | Jesus Christ | Christianity

Featured image credit: www.DownDetector/status/twitter

Whose Got the Power?

I woke up yesterday morning and picked up my phone to read posts on what I call “Christian Twitter” (I still refuse to call the platform “X”). Years ago, I created a List of believers who post things I enjoy reading. Some are well-known authors, preachers, and organizations while others are individuals like you and me who love Jesus and share their faith daily on the Twitter/X platform.

When I opened the app around 6 AM my time, still lying in bed, I immediately saw there was a problem. Posts weren’t loading. Quick research on the web site downdetector.com revealed that the platform was indeed experiencing an outage and was “down”.

I couldn’t read the posts on “Christian Twitter”.

Oh, no! What was I going to do?

“How about you put your phone down and read your Bible.”
~Holy Spirit

I crawled out of my warm, comfy bed. I made my coffee and cereal, and I sat down at the kitchen table with my devotional book. I read:

Ephesians 3:16-17a (BSB)
16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Twitter/X was out of power (so to speak), but not God’s beloved Jesus followers. He gave us His Holy Spirit who empowers us, and transforms us. God’s forever power never experiences an outage nor “down time”.

I continued to read and dove into deeper study.

vs. 16: He may strengthen you with power
The request for strength and power indicates the need for divine enablement in the believer's life. This power is not of human origin but is a supernatural empowerment that comes from God. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises the disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, signifying the transformative and empowering work of the Spirit. The strength mentioned here is necessary for living a life that reflects Christ and for enduring trials and challenges.
~BibleHub.com Study Bible (bottom of page)

Ephesians 3:7 (BSB)
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.

There’s that word, again, “power”.

vs. 7: given me through the working of His power
The phrase highlights the divine empowerment behind Paul's ministry. The "working of His power" (Koinē Greek: ἐνέργεια | energeia) suggests active, dynamic force, reminiscent of the power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). This power enables believers to fulfill their God-given callings, as seen in Philippians 4:13. Paul's ministry, marked by miracles and endurance through suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), demonstrates the reality of this divine power at work.
~BibleHub.com Study Bible (bottom of page)

Read more about ἐνέργεια | energeia: and also read Here

Ephesians 3:10-11 (BSB)
10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The apostle Paul acknowledges that we, the church, have not only an earthly mission by sharing His gospel with other humans, we also have a cosmic, spiritual impact in the heavenly realms through God’s power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus made a mockery of the rebellious, evil unseen ones (see Colossians 2:15) by disarming their powers over us humans and triumphing over them in God’s saving, redemption power. Our existence as the church manifests God’s wisdom and the fulfillment of His covenant promises. The unseen, rebellious ones can’t escape this revelation, and I imagine it irritates them to no end. (Just look at the horrible, evil havoc they stir up on Earth. Our fellow humans are not our true enemies, the rebellious ones are. But, I digress.)

And as for the loyal and faithful unseen ones (angels, the heavenly host, God’s armies), because of Jesus’ victory they get to rejoice and party each time a human image bearer repents and confesses believing loyalty to the Son of God.

Can you imagine their joy?

Ephesians 3:16-19 (BSB)
16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

vs. 18: will have power
This phrase emphasizes the divine enablement given to believers. The Greek word for "power" here is "exousia," [ἐξουσία] which often refers to authority or capability granted by God. This power is not of human origin but is a gift from the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to grasp spiritual truths. In the context of Ephesians, Paul frequently speaks of the power of God working in believers (Ephesians 1:19-20), highlighting the transformative nature of this power in understanding and living out the Christian faith.
~BibleHub.com Study Bible (bottom of page)

Read more about ἐξουσία \ exousia: and also read Here

Wow. This is a lot to consider. As you ponder all of this, keep in mind that the apostle Paul is talking about “power” in the context of knowing the riches of God’s glory and Jesus’ amazing love, so that you and I…so that we…

…may be filled with all the fullness of God!

Yes, we’ve read these verses many times in the past, but are we living them out daily in our lives? I need to grow in this area of my walk with Jesus. And, you and I have help.

God’s power helps us (enables us) to understand all of this “amazing-ness” about God and His love, his spiritual riches and blessings for us.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (BSB)
20 Now 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, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

vs. 20: according to His power
The power referenced here is the same power that raised Christ from the dead, as mentioned earlier in Ephesians 1:19-20. This power is not only a demonstration of God's might but also a transformative force in the lives of believers. It is the Holy Spirit's work within us, enabling us to live out our faith and fulfill God's purposes, as seen in Acts 1:8, where believers receive power to be witnesses.
~BibleHub.com Study Bible (bottom of page)

I’m glad I put my phone down (thanks, Holy Spirit) while the world experienced #TwitterDown.

I’m grateful I reconnected with God’s power in Ephesians chapter 3, and I hope you’ll be glad as well.

Your Turn

Do you ever feel like you’re suffering from a “power outage”? Here’s some points to ponder from my Bible study lessons during #TwitterDown:

• You have God’s supernatural power working in you to transform you, to strengthen you, to enable you to endure and be faithful. This is Jesus’ promise to you.

• God can, and will, demonstrate His miraculous power through you as you reach out and serve others to fulfill the Great Commission.

• As a Jesus follower, you are a member of the body of Christ, His bride, the church. Your existence and what you do for Him have a cosmic, spiritual impact in the heavenly realms, as well as on Earth among human image bearers.

• You can know and experience the fullness of God in you, and His love for you, through Jesus dwelling in your heart by the Holy Spirit. He’s ready to help, so ask Him to guide you in growing in His fullness. (He’ll want you to spend more time with Him.)

• Whenever you feel weak, dear readers, and I often feel weak, remember Ephesians chapter 3. Read through the chapter and bookmark this post so you can come back for the Bible Hub study content on God’s power in you.

2 Timothy 1:7 (BSB)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Whose got the power?

God.

You are not alone. His Holy Spirit lives in you and strengthens you with His amazing power. Yahweh’s “data center” never experiences a power outage.

Live each day in the truth of God’s power, and in Jesus’ victory over all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

With God, you’ve got this, dear readers. You can “do life”, and life more abundantly in Jesus.

To Him be all the glory and the praise. Amen.

Maranatha, (again) come Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!

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