Sticks of Dynamite

II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The Greek word for “power” here is dunamis. If the “dunamis-power” is missing the result is merely a form of godliness. It is quite possible for a person to deny the power and not even realize what he or she is doing. In fact, that is exactly what much of Christianity is doing. The first chapter of the Book of Acts tells us what this dunamis-power is, what its purpose is, and how we are to receive it.

Acts 1:6-7 When they (the disciples) therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.

The Greek word for “power” here is exousia. It is more correctly translated “authority.” There is a difference in power and authority. Satan has power, but he doesn’t have any authority. Authority is greater than power. Jesus said, “All authority is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” Do you remember the demon-possessed man that dwelt among the tombs (Mark 5:1-8)? Because of the demon spirits that possessed him, he had the power to easily break the fetters and chains. The power he had, though, could not withstand the authority of Jesus. Jesus overcame the power of the demoniac with a spoken word. It is authority that counts in the spirit realm, and your authority is directly proportional to your submission to the Lordship of Christ.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The Greek word for “power” in this verse is dunamis, the “dunamis-power” of II Timothy 3:5. Dunamis is the word from which our English word “dynamite” is derived. Therefore, you shall receive dynamite power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Many assume they have this power when they speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is not an indication that you have this dunamis-power.

Before we go any further let’s look at the word “witness.” The Greek word translated “witness” is martus, and from this word we get our English word “martyr.” Now we have, “You shall receive dunamis-power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be martyrs unto Me.” What is Jesus really saying in all of this? You are going to lay down your soul-life. You have some aspects of your flesh nature that are like old tree stumps, and if you don’t put a stick of dynamite under it you’re not going to get rid of them. That is what the dunamis-power is for! It is so that you can put a stick of dunamis-dynamite under the idols of your flesh nature and blow them to bits! It is in this way that you prepare the way of the Lord to come forth in your life.

So what is that dunamis-power for? To blow up that adamic soul-flesh nature that is hindering the presence of the Lord from coming forth in you. It is not power to speak in tongues. It is not power to glorify you or make you look superspiritual. It is power for the work of the cross to be effective in you. If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. Matthew 16:24-25. The first step is to deny self, and that requires more dedication than what many Christians have. After denying self the next step is to take up your cross. There is only one reason to take up a cross and that is to die on it. Self-centeredness has to die; it cannot walk with the Lord. Anyone that would seek to save his self-life will suffer loss. Anyone that would lose his life for Jesus’ sake will find the life of the Lord coming forth in him.

How do we lose that self-life that is opposed to Christ? We put a stick of dynamite under it! The purpose for receiving the Holy Spirit is that He might bring you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to bring forth His nature in you. Listen to what Jesus says to His disciples. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16:12-15. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to bring you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He does that by supplying those sticks of dunamis-dynamite to blow up those old tree stumps in your flesh nature.

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Take the term “last days” out of the realm of time, and see your last days as those higher realms of relationship with the Lord. Why does Paul say that perilous times will come in the last days? He is talking about spiritual warfare. Christians in their immaturity (babes in Christ) do not experience “last days” warfare. Paul told the Ephesians: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12. Immature Christians do not experience that kind of warfare. Satan is not interested in warring them for they are not a threat to him. It is those who are becoming sons of God that he is concerned about, because they will have the authority to crush Satan under their feet (Romans 16:20). It is in the “last days” of your maturity that the powers and principalities will rise up against you. You might ask, “Why does the Lord allow Satan to rise up against His mature ones like that?” It is because it is their honor to execute the judgments of God upon them (Psalm 149:6-9).

II Timothy 3:2-4 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

All of this is in your flesh nature, and these are the things you will need to put a stick of dynamite under.

II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The word “power” here is dunamis. It is the dynamite power supplied by the Holy Spirit. Those who deny the power are those who refuse to take the “sticks of dynamite” provided for them. They, in effect, protect the things of their flesh nature that is opposed to Christ. They are Christians who have a form of godliness. Many Christians never receive the Holy Spirit, because they have been taught that they received all that can be had when they were converted. They may be denying the power ignorantly, but nevertheless it is being denied. Others feel that the main purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit is to speak in tongues. Tongues and other gifts of the Spirit are wonderful, but you will never come into the life of Christ until you take up your cross; that is, take the sticks of dynamite supplied by the Holy Spirit and blow up your tree stumps. This is what John the Baptist was speaking of when he said, “Now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees” (Matthew 3:10).

II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6). You can continue to learn by studying the Scriptures, praying, and doing all kinds of wonderful works, but until you take those sticks of dynamite and start blowing up the works of your flesh you will not come into a knowledge of the Truth. How do you apply a stick of dynamite to a problem area of your life? You do it by exposure, by refusing to cover it up or make excuse for it. You expose it to the presence of the Lord. You say, “Here it is, Lord. Here is the Agag in my life. Take your two-edged sword and hew it to pieces. Be my sticks of dynamite!”

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