Not in word but in power

Happy Sunday, family, the bible verse of the week – 11/21/2021 is in 1 Corinthians 4:20. The message is, The kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

This passage does not refer to Christ’s future reign when he returns for the final time. It is, however, the rule of Christ in the hearts of His people.

This scripture is necessary given the season and time we’re facing in the world. Many are lost and hopeless and in need of a Savior. There is no peace outside of Jesus Christ. As the body of Christ, we are to shine our lights into the darkness so that the world will see Christ and experience the transformation as a new creature in Christ Jesus. To be transformed from out of the world of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Not in word but in power.

The name of God is blasphemed among the unsaved when those who are saved or rather say they’re Christian dishonor God in disobedience. By this, the world missed an opportunity to see the influence of Christ in our hearts.

Thou that makest thy boast in the law, through breaking the law dishonorest God?
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Romans 2:23-24.

You might be wondering what does this has to do with the message at hand. Bear with me; we will get to that momentarily, Not in word but in power.

Let’s first take a look at the Power

We will consider:

By what did the POWER come?
What or who is the POWER?
Where and when comes the POWER?
What is the evidence of the POWER?
What does the POWER do?
How can we obtain the POWER?

Next we'll look at:

Not in word
Closing statement

By what did the Power come?

This POWER came by the promise of our Heavenly Father. Before Jesus ascended into the heavens, he told the remaining 11 Apostles to stay in Jerusalem until they received the POWER.

Though Jesus commissioned the Apostles to go out into the world and preach the gospel of Christ, they could not go just yet Why. They needed the POWER and, without it, the ministry of Christ would be ineffective, powerless, and lacking in the mysteries and knowledge of God. Not in word but in power.

They have walked with Jesus during His ministry and were witnesses of many things. They have seen signs, wonders, and miracles in the years they’ve been with Jesus. The blind see and, the deaf hear, the sick heal and, the captives set free. Jesus walked on water, feed thousands with only a few loaves and fishes, Jesus rose from the dead and, the list goes on.

With all that eye witness, they weren’t ready to preach the gospel of Christ, for the promise of the POWER was not yet come.

The POWER is necessary as the church cannot function without Him. You cannot make mention of the POWER without God and, you cannot make mention of God without the POWER.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with POWER from on high. Luke 24:49.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16-17.

What have we discovered so far

The POWER came by the promise of our Heavenly Father.
The POWER came from on high.
He is another Comforter.
He is with us forever.
He is the Spirit of truth.
The POWER, He is the person of God.
The world cannot see Him, but we the believer see Him, for He dwells with us and is in us.

What or who is the Power?

Only the body of Christ has full access to the POWER. The POWER that I speak of is none other than the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost (same language). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God in us. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19.

When you first believed and received Christ into your heart, the Holy Spirit sealed you until the day of redemption. The Spirit of God now dwells inside of you waiting, for the glorious return of Christ.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:20.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:4-5,8.

Look at what we have discovered

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit seals us – This is evidence that you belong to Christ.
We are baptized of the Holy Ghost.
We received POWER after the Holy Ghost upon us.
The Holy Ghost empowers us to be witnesses for Christ.

Where and when comes the Power?

The bible writes that we will receive POWER after the Holy Ghost has come upon us. Did the Holy Ghost come? If so, where is the POWER?

In Acts 2, we see the fulfillment of the prophecy of the POWER on the Day of Pentecost. Those that gathered together in one accord became filled with the Holy Spirit.

We see the wonderful works of God at work at the moment, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It isn’t something that we can do in and of ourselves; it is the works of God. Not in word but in power.

POWER – is the works of God

Christianity is the works of God and not man. Reference Acts 2:11.
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. John 5:17.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:1-6,11.

I encourage you in your spare time to continue reading Acts chapter 2. The Apostle Peter stood up and preached, many incredible things happening in this book.

What we discovered

Christianity is the works of God.
The POWER that the Lord promised is seen first in Jerusalem.
The fulfillment of the prophecy of the POWER was on the Day of Pentecost.
The POWER displays the wonderful; works of God. People witnessed Him and, they are, amazed. God is undeniable.

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF THE POWER

Here are a few scriptures that confirm the proof of the Holy Spirit.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16.

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5.

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Ephesians 1:18-19.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ephesians 3:20.

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:28.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:5.

Some take away lesson

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. The Lord has the POWER to save us from the penalty of sin. He is presently protecting us from the power of sin and will continue to save us from transgression. Book, Romans 1:16.

Similar words to salvation are redemption, forgiveness, mercy, justification.

The Lord protects and keeps His people safe within the confines of His kingdom. Though we may not see it now, we will soon see the salvation the Lord has prepared for us. That is good encouragement knowing the Lord fights for us and even made a way of escape. Reference, 1 Peter 1:5.

What does the Power do?

Let’s look at three significant; things that the POWER does. Not in word but in power. We will use the scriptures as our guide.

The Power convicts people of sin

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:7-8.

JOHN THE BAPTIST
He was a man filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb, Reference, Luke 1:15. He went out preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sin. The outcome is, some felt the conviction of their heart and received baptism, confessing their sins; Reference, Mark 1:4-5. The problem here is, the Pharisees were unhappy about that and felt the pulling away of the people; Reference, John 1:19-25.

OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST
Jesus went back to his hometown Nazareth; after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, book of John 4. He returned in the POWER of the Spirit, verse 14, and in verses 17-18, he read the book of the prophet Esaias. The outcome is, the people set their eyes on him. They wondered at the gracious words that came out of his mouth. The result is that they tried to kill him, verses 28-30, and that is, out of conviction. They attempted this many a time throughout Jesus’s ministry.

Here are a few verses with more evidence of the impact of the Holy Spirit. You can read this in your spare time.

Stephen – Acts 6:8-10, ACTS 7:54-55.
Cornelius and his household – Acts 10:41-46.
Paul preaching to the Gentiles – Acts 13:41-45.
Paul in Philippi – Acts 16:13-15.
The Philippian jailer – Acts 16:25, 30-34.
John (one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus) – Acts 12:1-17 and Revelation 1:9-10.

The Power change lives

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 shew you things to come. John 16:13.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-12.

The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us and gives us the POWER to understand truth. We cannot acquire the truth of ourselves. Not in word but in power. Should any boast, let it be in Christ Jesus.

The Power gives us a new life

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the POWER of God;
Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:8-10.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the POWER of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the POWER of God toward you. 2 Corinthians 13:4.

More discovery

The Lord saved us from the penalty of sin.
The Spirit of God helps us to live a life holy and righteous.
The POWER of God empowers us to understand truth, to live by it, practice it.
The POWER of God makes us strong in our weakness.
The POWER of God can heal, deliver, break the chain of bondage, cancel sin, quicken our dead bodies to life.
The works of God don’t end at when you first believed he is our continual help in and each day of our lives. He is our present help in time of need.

How can we obtain the Power?

Jesus says that without him, we can do nothing; Reference, John 15:5. What makes the church the church of God is the POWER that comes upon her. Think back at the Day of Pentecost, such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We see the works of God at hand; we cannot replicate God, and it is sinful to boast as if to say we have not received though God gave us the Comforter, by promise. Not in word but in power.

For the Power

In this message, we recognized that without the POWER, the church is ineffective, weak, empty, and we cannot reproduce the works of God.
Without the POWER of God, the church is just an empty vessel.
We must also understand that the Holy Bible is the word of God. We must read it as it is, agree with the word, and live by it.
We must realize that we are wretched, hopeless beings and is worthy of nothing more than death. But praise God that his love for us held Jesus on the cross. And because of the obedience of Christ, his righteousness was imputed to us as the righteousness of God. No amount of man’s wisdom, fame, possession, all worldly things can ever measure up. We got to care far less about these things, for what truly matters is God.
We got to realize that we need the Lord. It is us that needs him; we needed a Savior, his name Jesus Christ.
We have to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and allow God to reign in our hearts.
We must become fools (humble) so that we become wise in the power of God and not of ourselves. Read, 1 Corinthians 3:18.

Not in word

As believers, we are to align ourselves with the gospel of Jesus Christ, period and, not in the person of a man. Preachers are solely vessels through whom God communicates His Word to the church.

We should be less concerned about outward appearance, eloquent speeches, enticing words, and the wisdom of man. The focus should be on the preaching of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit revealing the testimony of God through his servant.

Preachers are not to go beyond the teachings of the scriptures. They are to rely upon the POWER of God and not on their strength. Not in word but in power.

CLOSING STATEMENT

The kingdom of God is a subject that has been pressing on my heart for a moment. With that feeling, I began to search the scriptures. I had no idea much of what I was doing or where it will take me. The scripture that we’re in talks about took time to understand and to write. I prayed, listened to the sermon, and searched the scriptures. I understood that something is lacking in the church, be it collectively or individually. There is much talk about the Holy Spirit but not in terms of POWER. The demonstration of the influence and empowering of the Holy Spirit needs to be evident in our lives. Not in word but in power.

Be bless.

If you like the message and are blessed, feel free to; leave us a comment at the end of the post. You are welcome to join our email list and receive updates on Abundant Streams.