Recently I attended a ministry conference where they talked about “DUNAMIS”.  For those of you who don’t know, DUNAMIS is a Greek term which means the following:
dunamis
doo’-nam-is  Strong’s number 1411
From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): – ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

    We are told in the New Testament that Jesus gave His disciples dunamis , which is a description of the power and ability that has been granted them to overcome the works of the devil.  It’s the word from which we get the words Dyno, or Dynamite.  It denotes power, and not just power, but mighty power.  We would usually associate this kind of power with God, but actually the devil is capable of dunamis as well, as shown by virtue of Luke 10:19-20, where Jesus said,
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
The first word “POWER” is not “dunamis”, but “exousia”, and here’s what “exousia” means:
exousia
ex-oo-see’-ah  Strong’s number 1849
From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: – authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
Another meaning attributed to “exousia” is “prohibits the presence of a hindrance”.  What does that mean to you?  Let’s read on.
    Jesus said He gives unto you “exousia”, privilege, force, freedom, superhuman control, authority, jurisdiction, which prohibits the presence of a hinderance, over all the “dunamis”, signs, wonders, miracles, terrible and fearful works that the devil is capable of doing.  In other words, ESOUSIA trumps DUNAMIS.  Can the devil do miracles and the like?  Sure.  Let’s look at Exodus 7:10-13.  Take careful note of what transpired here:
Exo 7:10  And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Exo 7:11  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Exo 7:12  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
    The Lord explained that this is a prime example of “EXOUSIA” versus “DUNAMIS”.  Aaron demonstrated exousia when he cast down his rod and it became a serpent.  Of course, the sorcerers, the devil’s crew, said NO PROBLEM, we can do this, and they demonstrated “dunamis”!  Only, what happened next?  Aaron’s serpent ate all their serpents.  Like I said, EXOUSIA trumps DUNAMIS, because the sorcerers didn’t get their rods back.  Did you notice that? 
    Well, anyway, if it weren’t enough that Jesus granted His disciples “dunamis”, He also granted them “exousia”, not just in Luke 4:18, but in Mark 6:7,
Mar 6:7  AndG2532 he calledG4341 unto him theG3588 twelve,G1427 andG2532 beganG756 to send them forthG649 G846 by two and two;G1417 G1417 andG2532 gaveG1325 themG846 powerG1849 over uncleanG169 spirits;G4151
Luk 9:1  ThenG1161 he called his twelve disciples together,G4779 G848 G1427 G3101 and gaveG1325 themG846 powerG1411 andG2532 authorityG1849 overG1909 allG3956 devils,G1140 andG2532 to cureG2323 diseases.G3554

    In Luke 9:1 Jesus granted His disciples both “dunamis” and “exousia”.  Now, are we not Jesus’ present day disciples?  Sure we are, if we believe, for Jesus said in Mark 16:15-18,
Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

    How can we possibly go forth with signs and wonders following the Word preached, unless we have the same “dunamis” and “exousia” the early church possessed?  We can’t.  And the Lord Jesus doesn’t expect us to be any less effective as witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ than the ones He appointed while He walked upon the earth.  When people came to Jesus, He healed their sick.  After the Lord Jesus went to be with His Father in heaven, the people brought their sick to the disciples and expected the same miracles from them that Jesus did.  What did they get?  They got their sick healed, alright, for “dunamis” and “exousia” were just as much in operation after Jesus left, as when He was here. 
    But something has changed through the years.  For the most part, we go to church or conferences and hear about the “dunamis”, but we don’t see any demonstration of it.  Oh, we hear stirring sermons that whip up lots of excitement among the people.  We hear how powerful and mighty we are as children of God.  But here’s what I tend to see happen:  the lame see, the blind walk.  Something is missing, and it is “dunamis” and “exousia” being demonstrated openly in the church.  You’ll see it once in a while, but it is an exception, rather than the rule. 
   Hey, people, let me tell you something, if the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not bringing forth the working of “dunamis” and “exousia”, then it isn’t the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What is it then?  I don’t know, but it isn’t what Jesus and His disciples demonstrated.  And if it isn’t what Jesus and His disciples demonstrated, then I don’t want any part of it.  I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of “playing church”, where people come in honestly seeking change in their lives, or healing, and leave the same way they came in.  That isn’t the Gospel that Jesus and His disciples preached!
   What happened to “the lame walk, the blind see”?  It takes real power from on high to make this stuff happen, and it’s available, because Jesus said so.  If Christ Jesus is who He says He is, and He did what He said He did, then His followers should be demonstrating the power of the Gospel, else it’s all just nice sounding words.  Nice sounding, but worthless.
   At this conference I referred to, we heard about dunamis.  But there was a man in the back in a wheel chair, and guess what happened?  He came in a wheel chair, and left in a wheel chair.  If there WAS the power of the Holy Spirit present to heal, then nobody there used it to heal him.  Personally, it bothered me a lot, but I wasn’t in charge of the service and had no authority to step in and do anything.  But you know what?  I’m going to go preach the Gospel to that man and demonstrate “dunamis” and “exousia” so God gets the glory as He should. 
   If you’re a disciple of Jesus Christ, all the power and authority you will ever need is at your disposal.  Stop asking God for “more power”.  You don’t need it.  You can’t possibly exhaust the power and authority you’ve already been granted.  Just use it for His glory.  When the world starts seeing Jesus’ followers demonstrating dunamis and exousia, you won’t have to ask God to bring people to church anymore.  They will come running, just like they did in Jesus’ day, and your biggest problem will be, Where will you put them all?
   Where’s the power?  Same place it’s always been, in Christ Jesus, in His Word, and in His disciples.  You’re not Christ Jesus, but you’re His disciple, right?  It is written, Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.  Do you believe that Christ Jesus is in you?  THEN ACT LIKE IT !!  You are more than equal to any problem the devil might present you.  Is someone sick among you?  No problem.  Are they lame? No problem.  Bring it on, for we are more than able, for Christ Jesus himself has made us so.  What did Jesus say? Fear not, believe only.    Notice that? Believe only, not almost believe, or mostly believe.  There’s no room for anything less than ONLY believe.  We, as disciples of Christ Jesus, have what the world needs.  Don’t you think it’s time we start giving them what Christ Jesus gave US?