A Kingdom of Power

This morning I have been reflecting on the subject of power as it pertains to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I was doing some context research and ran across two related sets of verses in Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth. They are as follows -

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 NIV:
[3] "I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. [4] My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, [5] so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."

1 Corinthians 4:19-20 NIV:
[19] "But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. [20] For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

In these two verses Paul gives his reasoning for the need for the Power of God to be present in our ministry. Paul was a schooled Pharisee and could have expounded for months on the scriptures and the laws, and the related teachings that had been derived from the Law. Instead he chose to come to the people in Corinth in "weakness with great fear and trembling". Rather than using his persuasive words and fine sounding speech, he instead leaned into the Holy Spirit and allowed the Spirit to work through him. He didn't want people to rely on or put their faith in what he said, but rather in the demonstrated power of God.

In fact, Paul goes so far to say that it is the power of the Holy Spirit evident in one's ministry that is proof of their participation in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is one of power, not mere talk! Imagine if we went to church today and rather than a fine sounding sermon the pastor just demonstrated the power of God being present to heal, by ministering healing to all who needed it. Would anyone walk away from that service unaware of the reality of the Kingdom of God? They might have internal arguments about whether what they saw was real, but they would be confronted by a new or different reality than what they were used to seeing. Anyone can talk, but it is God who proves what He is saying with power!

That is why it is so important that we press into the Lord and ask Him to pour forth His Holy Spirit upon us that we might be faithful witnesses to His power and majesty. As He said to the disciples in Acts 1:4-5, 8 NIV:

[4]...“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. [5] For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit....[8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It was only after the power of the Holy Spirit was released to the church that Jesus released them to ministry to the rest to the world. It was this indwelling power from God that enabled them to accomplish that which was impossible for them to do otherwise. They could have used persuasive words and told stories about Jesus, but it was the reality of the power of God that convinced them of Jesus' divinity and resurrection. Paul never lost sight of this critical foundation of the church and the Kingdom of God, and it would behoove us to maintain the same perspective.

Let us pray that the Lord would pour forth once again the Holy Spirit in such a way that His power is manifest in our lives and we become His witnesses unto the ends of the earth.

Amen!