I hope Elle had a great time! The word for this week is "virtue". We find it only in these New Testament in these verses:
Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? KJV
Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. KJV
Luke 8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. KJV
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. KJV
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: KJV
In the first three verses we have the Greek word "dunamis". Strong's Concordance says: force, specially, miraculous power, a miracle. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: strength, ability, power, inherent power, power residing in a thing or which a person exerts and puts forth. The power of performing miracles. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: inherent ability, works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means. In the last two verses we have the Greek word "arete". Strong's Concordance says: manliness, valor, excellence. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: an excellence of person, or of a thing, an eminent endowment, poperty or quality. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: intrinsic eminence, moral goodness.
So the 'virtue' that we have IN us is meant, in the first example, to minister to the needs of others. We ARE the Body of Christ in the earth and we represent Him, or should be, in all that we do! People should and will be drawn to us as they see JESUS IN us, and operating through us. The second 'virtue' is a godly character that shines through all that we do, and this, too, points them to JESUS! It is ALL Jesus! His ability, His Wisdom, His Anointing, His power flowing through OUR HANDS as we dare to believe that WE are carriers of this 'virtue'. This POWER! These miracles! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Worship with "No One But You":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys
