Would you turn with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 4? I'm so happy to be here, and
I esteem your pastor so very highly, and just am thankful
for this opportunity. I've entitled this message, Not
in Word, but in power. Not in word, but in power. Ironically enough, I'm going
to attempt to preach, say something about the power of God A scripture that was very comforting
to me in thinking about trying to bring this message was where
the Lord looked at his sleeping disciples and said, the spirit
truly is willing, but the flesh is weak. And this is weak flesh,
just like yours. You know how weak you are? That's
how weak I am. Attempting to speak on the most
glorious of all subjects, the power of God, Another scripture
that comforted me in thinking about this subject was where
Paul said, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, jars of clay,
that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. And let's read verses 18 through
20 together of First Corinthians, chapter four. Now, some are puffed up as though
I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly,
if the Lord will, and will know not the speech of them that are
puffed up, but the power For the kingdom of God is not
in word, but in power. Now what do you and I know of
that? The kingdom of God not being
in word, not just in what we say, but in power. This is one of several times
that Paul says to the church at Corinth, you're puffed up. You're swollen. You have an inflated
view of yourself. You know, that's a common problem
that Adam's sons have. Puffed up. But he says, but I will come
to you shortly, if the Lord will, you're saying I'm not going to
come to you. The church at Corinth was, at
least had many people there that were Paul's critics. And they
said all kinds of bad things about Paul. They said his bodily
presence was weak and his speech contemptible. He just doesn't
have that much to him. And they probably were thinking
after we had criticized him that much, he won't have the guts
to come here. But Paul says, yeah, I will. Yeah, I will. I'll
be there. And I'll know not the speech
of them which are puffed up, But the power, you know talk
can be so meaningless or meaningful depending upon the actions behind
it. For instance, I love you can
mean so much or so little depending upon the actions behind it. God's reign, His dominion in
the heart, does not consist in talk, in profession, in speech,
but in reality. The kingdom of God does not consist
in what is outward, but what is inward and real. We read earlier, Brother Harding
read this passage of scripture. 1 Thessalonians 1, but he says
to the Thessalonians, I know your election of God. How do
you know, Paul? For our gospel came not to you
in word only, but in what? Power. And in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance. Then he says in verse 20, for
the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. Now, what is meant by the kingdom
of God? You know, we read of the kingdom
of God and the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of heaven. That's mentioned over 150 times
in the New Testament. What is meant by the kingdom
of God when he says the kingdom of God is not in word, it's not
just in speech, but it's in power? Well, the word kingdom of God
or the word kingdom has basically two meanings. There's a there's
a kind of an abstract meaning and there's a meaning we can get hold of, concrete,
solid meaning that has an act. Sometimes when the kingdom of
God is referred to, it means God's sovereignty, his dominion,
his power. It's more of an abstract, it's
not like the concordant meaning when we talk about a kingdom.
There's a kingdom that has a specific king and specific subjects and
there's a specific realm of his kingdom. And when we use the
term, or when the Bible uses the term, the kingdom of God,
it means both of those things. It's talking about God's sovereignty,
His power, His rule, His reign. And it means specifically the
sphere of His reign. There's the King. He's called
the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Wherever there's a
kingdom, there's a King. Jesus Christ is the King of this
kingdom. He's called the King of Kings
and the Lord of Lords, and wherever there's a kingdom, there are
subjects. I love this passage of Scripture
in Revelation 17, 14. It says, He is the King of Kings
and the Lord of Lords, and they that are with Him, here's His
subjects, are called, chosen, and faithful, every single one
of Listen to this scripture, I'm
going to quote from Daniel chapter 4 verses 34 and 35, speaking
of his kingdom, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and
his kingdom is from generation to generation, and all the inhabitants
of the earth are as reputed as nothing. And he doeth according
to his will. Now this is what goes on in his
kingdom. He doeth. according to his will in the
armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and
none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? He
sets up his kingdom in the hearts of his subjects. Truly he is
the king of the kingdom, and his people are the subjects of
his kingdom, and he rules and reigns in their hearts. The Lord Jesus Christ is my King. He rules and He reigns in my
heart. The Kingdom of God is not in
word, not simply in speech, like an idle threat that has no action
behind it, but it's in power. Now what's meant by power? The
Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. Power means the ability to produce
results. His kingdom is the place where
he exerts his omnipotence and his power. With God, nothing shall be impossible. That's a good definition of God's
power. With God, nothing shall be impossible. His power knows
no limitations, no boundaries. He is infinite in power. He is under no law. When He wills
it, the impossible takes place. You know, it's impossible for
an axe head to float in the water, isn't it? It's impossible. But
it floated in the water, didn't it? No laws of physics restrain him.
What manner of man is this that even the winds of the sea obey
him? Now, God is all-powerful. It's essential to His being.
If He's not all-powerful, He's not God. What would any of his
attributes mean without his power? What would his wrath mean if
he didn't have the power to execute his wrath? What would his sovereignty
mean if he didn't have the power to make sure his will comes to
pass? His omnipotence surrounds all
of his most excellent attributes. His power is essential to his
being. And his power or his ability to produce results. That's what
the power of God is. It's his ability to produce results. It's seen in these three areas.
First it's seen in creation. And you want to talk about the
ability to produce results. He spanked the universe into
existence. He created something from nothing. We read in Romans 1.20, the invisible
things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. He created
something from nothing, and only omnipotence can do that. His power is seen in his providence. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3 says,
He upholds all things by the word of his power. I love this
proverb. The lot is cast into the light.
That seems like pure luck, doesn't it? The lot cast into the light,
but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Everything that takes place is
His will being done. Now providence, we use this word
providence, that's nothing less than His eternal purpose coming
to pass in time. Everything. And you know what?
Every one of us has said this. That's providential. How many
times have you said that? That's really providential. You
know, we really deny the meaning of the word when we say that.
It's all providential. Every bit of it. Providence. And His power, yes, it's seen
in creation. Yes, it's seen in His providence,
His ability to control everything. His will is always done. But His power is most especially
seen in salvation. And how God displays his ability
to produce results in the salvation of the sinner. Now, I want to
try to talk about that for a few moments. When you think of salvation,
God's salvation, where do you begin? Well, you begin with God.
Well, where do we begin with God? Well, I think about the
earliest place I can think of to begin with is election. I don't know anything that happened
before then, do you? I mean, I don't know how to explain that.
But election. Turn with me for a moment to
Romans chapter 9. Election is a demonstration of
his mighty power. Verse 15. Now, you know, this
is the great chapter Regarding God's electing mercy, let's begin
in verse 11, for the children, talking about Jacob and Esau,
being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but
of him that calleth that was said unto her, the elder shall
serve the younger, as it's written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau
have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? Is God unfair? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I'll have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I'll have compassion on whom
I will have compassion. So then it's not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh. Now, Pharaoh wasn't
one of the elect. You know, it's kind of hard to talk about election
without getting reprobation in there, too. He's talking about
the reprobate here. And look what he says. For the
scripture saith unto Pharaoh. I thought God said that to Pharaoh.
When God speaks, the Scripture speaks. When the Scripture speaks,
it's God speaking. There's just a statement regarding
the awesomeness of the Word of God. The Scripture says to Pharaoh,
God said this to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I
raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that
my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath
he mercy on whom he will have mercy, And whom He will, He hardens. Well, that will save me. Why
does He have to find fault for who has resented His will if
it's all under His control? How can He hold me responsible?
How can He find fault with me if He's determined to decree
everything, if there's an elect, and if there's a reprobate? How
can He hold me responsible for this? I love Paul's answer, Nay,
but O man, Who are you to reply against God? Since when are you
in the position to sit as God's judge? You're not fit. Do you feel qualified to judge
God? Whatever He does is right. And He doesn't do it because
it's right. It's right because He does it. Shall the thing form say to him
that forms it, why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter,
what? power over the clay. Of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor, what is God willing
to show His wrath and to make His power known? Endured with much longsuffering,
the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, that He might make
known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which
He had before prepared unto glory. even as whom he had called, not
of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles." So we even see
here that God's sovereign election, His purposes, demonstrate His
power. What power was displayed in the
Incarnation when God became a man? In Him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead. None of us know what that means.
That's so awesome and glorious. In Him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead in a body. What amazing power. What about the virgin birth of
the Lord Jesus Christ? The power of the highest shall
overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing,
the angel didn't even know what to call him, that holy thing
which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. What almighty power. What power is seen in the obedience
of his life. You know, I could talk about
his miracles and no doubt those were glorious. He could bring
into existence what was not there before. He made He changed water
into wine. I mean, it was water. It became
real wine. He healed the sick. He gave sight
to the blind. He raised the dead. No doubt
His power is displayed in His mighty miracles. But what about
this? The power of a perfectly obedient
life. He never sinned. He never thought
of sin. We read in Romans 1-4, He's declared
to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness. What power is in His obedient
life? What power is seen in His death?
You talk about the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, I'm amazed
that He could die! He's alive! He's the Son of God! What power
it took for Him to die in the first place! You know, there's
darkness surrounding His death. Darkness. I mean, there's just
so much, we just don't much understand. The Son of God died. They took Him down from that
cross a dead, lifeless corpse. Now, I don't understand that.
What about the accomplishments of His death? What did he accomplish
by his death? Now, you want to talk about power.
I've read before about... I don't remember where I read this. It's
kind of interesting. It says two things that can't
be... It takes omnipotence to bring something from nothing. Now, it takes omnipotence. But
you don't have to say something else you can't do. You can't
make something not be anymore. Matter never leaves the universe.
Once it's here, it's supposed to be there for good. But you
know, he makes something to not be by his death. That's what
he accomplished by his death. You know, my sin. My sin. When he said, it is finished.
You know what's finished? No more sin. I'm perfectly just
in God's sight without sin, without guilt. No sin! Now you want to talk about power,
now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin
by the sacrifice of himself. Now that is powerful. What power is seen in his resurrection? Only the power of God could raise
the dead. What power is seen in His ascension
when He led captivity captive. I love thinking about that. He
led captivity captive. He gave gifts to men. Oh, the
power of His ascension. What power is seen in His intercession,
in His prayers for His people, as He's seated at the right hand
of the Father. You think of this power. He said, Father, forgive
them. And the Father forgave everybody
He prayed for. The Father can't say no to him.
If he represents you, how safe, how secure are you? Peter, I
pray for you. Do you have anything to worry
about? If the Son of God brings your worthless name before
the Father, you're not worthless. You're just as precious to Him
as Christ Himself. Wherefore, He is able to save
them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession for them. What power we will see
when He returns with power and great glory. Behold, He cometh
with the clouds. Now, our Lord said all power
is given to me. You see how God's power is displayed
in the salvation of a sinner. And what power there is in his
gospel. I love what Paul says in Romans 1.16 when he said,
I'm not ashamed of the gospel. For it, the gospel, is the power
of God unto salvation to everyone that believe it. The gospel is
the power of God, the salvation. You know, that's why no gimmicks
are needed. No special methods are needed. The preaching of
the gospel actually conquers the hearts of those God intends
to save by His power. We're not to dress it up with
the wisdom of words. That's what makes the cross of
Christ of none effect. Listen to this scripture. 1 Corinthians
1, 17 and 18, Paul said, Christ sent me not to baptize. He didn't
send me to, quote, get results. Does that mean we're indifferent
about baptism? Of course not. We'd love to see all kinds of
folks confessing Christ and believers' baptism. He said, Christ didn't
send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross of Christ should be made with none effect.
For the preaching of the cross, the doctrine of the cross, what
Christ accomplished on the cross is to them that perish foolishness.
But unto us which are saved, it's what? the power of God. We preach Christ crucified unto
the Jews of stumbling block, unto the Greeks foolishness,
but unto them which are thee called. Christ, the power of
God. Christ, the wisdom of God. Now when Paul makes this statement
in our text, would you look once again in 1 Corinthians chapter
4. Verse 19, But I will come to
you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know not the speech
of them which are puffed up. They have a lot to say. You know,
puffed up people usually talk a lot, don't they? And he says,
I'm not interested in what they have to say. I don't want to
hear about their speech. I want to hear about their power. Paul, in making this statement,
Our text is speaking of the power of the kingdom of God in the
heart of a sinner. This is what he's speaking of
specifically. The power of God in the heart
of a sinner. Now what do you and I know? I'm
asking myself this question, I'm asking you this question.
What do you and I know of the mighty power of God operating
in your heart. What's this all about? I want
to be honest with you, because I tell you what, you feel like
you've got all kinds of power working in you? As far as the way you
feel? God's really blessing me? Well,
he is, but I believe it. Do I see it? A lot of times I
don't, but I believe it. But as far as, do you feel power? Do you have more power in your
life? Everybody wants more power. What do we know of the power
of God in the heart. Now, turn with me for a moment
to 2 Timothy chapter 3. A word of warning. Paul warns us about these people
in verse 5 of 2 Timothy chapter 3. He says they have a form of
godliness. But they deny the power thereof. Now, I don't want to be in that
crowd, do you? To have a form of godliness. It looks real. It looks good. It says the right
things. It's the right form. It's been
poured into the bowls. It looks pretty good. Now, he
warns us of those who have a form of godliness, but they deny the
power. Now, how do you go about denying
the power of godliness? Well, take three ways. First, you deny the source of
the power. What's the source of the power
of godliness? God himself. God and the Trinity of his blessed
person. You deny the source of the power,
you deny the power of God in election, divine election. You
deny the source of the power if you deny the saving work of
the Son in redemption, saving the elect. You deny the power
when you deny the invincible, irresistible power of the Holy
Spirit in giving life to the elect. You deny the source of
the power. Or you can deny the means of
the power. What is the means of the power?
The gospel. It's the gospel. The gospel. Not a gospel, not
some gospel. The gospel. The gospel of God. That's the power of God unto
salvation. Or we can deny the results of
that power. The results of the power of God
in the hearts of His people. Now when Paul speaks of the power
of God, His ability to produce results, He's speaking of his
power in the hearts of those he saves. The kingdom of God
is not in word. It's not just in saying the right
stuff. It's in power. Now what is that
all about? Would you turn with me for a
moment to Ephesians chapter 1? Verse 19. We've already heard about this
this evening. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power
to us who believe according to the working of His mighty power
which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and
set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places. Now, when
God birthed you into his kingdom. When he gave me a new nature
and a new heart, do you know the same power that was exerted
in raising Christ from the dead is exerted in giving somebody
a new heart. Look in chapter 2, verse 1, and
you had be quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. Where in times past you walked
according to the course of this world. according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the
children of disobedience. Among them also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and the mind. We were by nature the
children of wrath, just like everybody else. But God, who
is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace you are saved. and had
raised us up together and made us to sit together in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. Now that's the power of God,
dead in sins, the same power that was exerted in raising Christ
from the dead was exerted in giving you this new life. And that's what he's talking
about in this passage of scripture when he talks about the kingdom
of God is not in word but in power. He's talking about the
kingdom of God set up in a sinner's heart. And this power The same
power that was exerted in raising Christ from the dead, and that's
power that I can't even begin to describe, that same power
delivers us from the dominion of sin. Now listen to this scripture,
Romans chapter 6 verse 14. Sin shall not have dominion over
you, for you're not under the law.
But you're under grace. And that's why I won't have dominion.
If you're under the law, it has complete control. But you're not under dominion.
You're not under the dominion of sin. Now, what's that mean,
not under the dominion of sin? Because when I think about it,
I think, boy, if I'm not under the dominion of sin, it seems
mighty powerful to me. What's that mean to not be under
the dominion of sin? Well, very simple. There was
a time when I could not believe the gospel. And I didn't know
what it meant to believe the gospel. I tried to figure it
out and I couldn't do it. But I believe now. I believe the gospel. I am relying on Jesus Christ
the Lord right now as my full salvation before God. There was
a time when I had not even a clue as to what that meant. I've been delivered from this
dominion of sin. There was a time when I couldn't
repent. Trying to make myself didn't even know what it meant
to do it. I was so confused by that it wasn't me to repent.
I wanted to, but I didn't. I repent right now while I talk
to the Lord. Because I've been delivered from the dominion of
sin. I'm enabled by divine grace to do that which I could not
do. Why? He gave me life. He gave me a new nature. A new
heart that was not there before. He didn't change the old one.
It's just as bad as it ever was. But I've got a new one. One that
was not there before. And we also heard this tonight. I've got this new heart that
believes, that loves God and loves his people. That loves
holiness and hates sin. And you know how that heart is
preserved and kept? We already read it in Brother
Bell's message. We're kept. by the power of God,
through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last
time, kept looking to Christ. That's how we're kept. We're
kept by continuing to look to Christ. Paul said to the Thessalonians,
knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God, for our gospel
came not to you in word only, but also in power. And here's what that power is.
The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Christ in you. And in much assurance. Now what's that much assurance
about? Does that mean you have much assurance you're saved?
Well, you ought to if you believe on Christ. You ought to. There's
no doubt. I mean, if you don't have it,
if He's all your righteousness, why wouldn't you have assurance?
Now you ought to have that, but that's not what that's talking
about. It's not talking about assurance of personal salvation.
It's talking about much assurance that this is the gospel. Much
assurance that this is the truth. This is the word of God. Now
right now, do you believe the gospel? Now faith in its very essence It's believing in the power of
God, isn't it? You remember when those two blind
fellows came up to the Lord, broke their way into the room
where He was at, and they stand before Him, and He said, Do you
believe that I am able? That word, able, is the verb
form of the noun power. Do you believe that I have the
power to do this." Do you believe that he has the
power to save you with no help from you? Abraham, what to say about him? He staggered not at the promise
of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith. giving glory
to God, being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He
was able also to perform. You believe that? Paul said in
2 Timothy 1-12, I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded,
I am convinced that He is able to keep that which I've committed
to him, that which I've deposited to him against that day. What
did you deposit to him? Listen to me, all my heads are
in this one master. If he wouldn't do it all, I've
got no other. Now, I really believe that, and all my heads are right
there. I've deposited that to him, and
I am fully persuaded that he's able to keep what I've committed
to him against that day. Faith, in its very essence, is
believing the power of God. If you right now are relying
on His power, the power of His blood, the power of His righteousness,
the power of His grace, the power of His intercession, if you're
relying on His almighty power, you personally are an object
of the mighty power of God. God's almighty power is operating
in your heart right now, and you are kept by the power of
God through faith unto salvation. Now I'd like to close by looking
at an illustration of this in 2 Corinthians chapter 8. Here's God's power illustrated.
Verse 1. Moreover, brethren, we do you
the wit, we want you to know about the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia, how that in a great trial of
affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded unto the riches of their liberality, for to their power." If you don't have any power,
and God gives you power, and it's your power. I know it's
His power, but it's your power. He says to their power, I bear
them record and be on their power. They were willing. Now here's
the power of God when He makes somebody willing. Thy people shall be willing. When? In the day of thy power. They were willing of themselves.
They didn't have to have their arm twisted. They didn't have
to be pushed. Preying us with much entreating
that we should would receive the gift. They're given a gift
and they're, please take it. Please take it. And take upon
us the fellowship of the ministry of the saints. And this they
did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the
Lord. And unto us by the will of God,
insomuch that we desired to have it as He had begun, so He would
also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as you abound
in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and
all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in
disgrace also. I speak not by commandment, but
by occasion, of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity
of your love for." Now here's the, this is what captivates
a believer, right here. For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich. Oh, the infinite
riches of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your
sakes, He became poor. Yes, poor in purse, but He became
poor in righteousness. He was made sin, and whatever
that means, He became poor that you, through His poverty, might
be rich. You know, that, with nothing
else, will captivate the heart of every child of God. The Kingdom of God is not in
words. It's in part. Basket.