Behold, I Give Unto You Power

In today’s world, power is frequently pursued, displayed, or idolized. But in the kingdom of God, power is not taken; it is entrusted. And it is only entrusted to those who live as stewards, not as owners. Ego, pride, and self-centered ambition are enemies of this kind of trust.

Ego thrives when we believe we own things: our success, our gifts, our platforms, even our ministries. It wants control, recognition, and superiority. But the truth is: we own nothing. Not the breath in our lungs, the skills in our hands, or the time we’ve been given.

In Matthew 25:14–30, Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents. A master gives varying amounts of resources to his servants—five, two, and one talent—each according to their ability. They were expected to invest and multiply what was given. But it was never theirs. They were stewards, not owners. The one who buried his talent out of fear was rebuked—not for losing it, but for doing nothing with what was entrusted to him.

This parable reminds us that what we have has been given to us for a purpose, and it must be handled with faithfulness, not ego.

David’s rise to kingship began not in a palace but in a field. He was tending his father’s sheep faithfully and sacrificially. When a lion or a bear attacked, David risked his life to defend what wasn’t even his own (1 Samuel 17:34–36). He didn’t do it for recognition. He did it because he was a steward.

When the prophet Samuel came to anoint the next king, David wasn’t even considered by his family. But God saw the heart of a man who had proven faithful in secret. Eventually, David was entrusted with the throne of Israel, not as a prize, but as a divine stewardship (Psalm 78:70–72).

Jesus said in Luke 10:19:

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy...”

This power was given to His disciples after they had walked in obedience, submission, and alignment with Him. Power in the kingdom of God is never for display or self-gain. It is always for God’s work, i.e., to manifest His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10), and to bring healing, freedom, and the message of salvation to others.

The purpose of power is to reveal God’s love and authority to the world.

• Jesus healed the sick out of compassion (Matthew 14:14).
  
  
• The apostles performed miracles to confirm the message of Christ (Acts 3:6–8).
  
  
• The gifts of the Spirit are given for the edification of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7).
  
  

Power is always missional. It’s never about the vessel; it’s about the assignment.

One of the biggest obstacles to walking in God’s power is our own emotions and mental reasoning. We often desire to see miracles or minister in power, but we are unwilling to pray, to seek God, or to carry His heart for the people we serve. We want authority without intimacy. But it doesn’t work that way.

In Acts 19:13–16, the sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons “in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” They had no relationship with Christ—only a secondhand formula. The result? They were overpowered and shamed. Why? Power without submission is dangerous.

There is no substitute for relationship with God. You cannot walk in His authority if you are not aligned with His heart. Prayer is not optional—it is the pathway to power, because it is where ego dies, and dependence on God is formed.

The condition for receiving spiritual power is not ambition, gifting, or knowledge, but submission.
It is the recognition that we are nothing without God, and everything we have is a trust, not a right.

James 4:7 says: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Power flows after submission.
God gives authority to those who will use it for His glory, not their platform.
He empowers stewards, not owners.
He trusts the surrendered, not the self-important.

In Deuteronomy 10:9, the tribe of Levi was given no land inheritance. “The Lord is their inheritance,” Scripture says.

The Levites were set apart to minister before God. Their reward was not material—it was relational. Likewise, in Christ, our greatest inheritance is not influence, gifting, or power—it is God Himself. Everything else is a tool. He is the treasure.

When we hold loosely to everything else, God can trust us with what truly matters.

The common saying is, “Think before you act.” While it sounds wise, it’s incomplete in the context of kingdom living.

As followers of Christ, our process should look more like this:
Think, talk to God about what you’ve thought, let Him weigh it, and only act on what He approves.

Even our best intentions can lead us astray when not submitted to God. True maturity in stewardship is not just about doing good things—it’s about doing God’s will. That means slowing down to let God guide our thoughts before we turn them into action.

David consistently modeled this heart. He didn’t rush into decisions, even when they seemed obvious. In 1 Samuel 30:8, David didn't immediately chase after the enemy after his city was raided and his family taken. First, he “inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’” And the Lord answered him, giving clear direction.

This is the posture God honors: a heart that pauses to seek Him, even when the next step seems logical.

• Not every opportunity is from God.
  
  
• Not every battle is yours to fight.
  
  
• Not every idea needs immediate execution.
  
  

Stewardship requires patience. It requires processing your thoughts with God before acting. When we include God in our decision-making, we walk in alignment, not assumption.

When you let go of ego and embrace your role as a steward, you position yourself to receive what only God can give. Power is entrusted to the faithful, not for pride, but for purpose.

Let us not seek God’s power to impress others.
Let us not ask for influence while resisting the place of prayer.
Let us not bury our gifts out of fear or pride.

Instead, let us live surrendered.
Let us steward what we’ve been given with humility and diligence.
Let us be faithful—whether tending sheep like David in the field or preaching Christ like the apostles before kings.

Because in the end, the goal is not to be powerful—
It is to be faithful with the power God entrusts.

And to hear the words that matter most:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)