“For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” 1 Co4 4:20 The New Living Testament states it this way. “The Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk, it’s living by God’s power!”
The question of the day is this! Are you just a big talker OR do you walk the walk in the Power of God? Paul was returning to the City of Corinth in order to address a bunch of “religious” Christians. He identified those people as the big mouthed ones who said all the right words, and made an open show of their “faith”, and went to Church on Sundays.
He warned them in advance of his arrival, telling them what he was going to be looking for. He was not going to be looking for a group who simply talked about the yesterdays and what happened in the past, or perhaps, even the “I remember when’s…” He claimed to be able to identify the true Believers by the evidence of the Power of God flowing in and through their lives.
In Matthew 22:29 Jesus exposed the same grouping of “religious” peoples. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
There are those whose lives do not back up their declaration of faith in Jesus. The power of God must be flowing in and through our own lives to witness to the fact that we belong to Christ! Acts 1:8 states that when “…the Holy Ghost comes upon you, you shall receive power to witness…”
1) The Power must flow in our own life. When the power of God comes “upon” you, there is a subsequent change in the kind of lifestyle we live. Our lifestyle declares that the flesh is no longer exercising lordship over us. Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
We live lifestyles that stand out from the average everyday life. Others can see the difference and the changes made as a result of His Lordship. The harsh or coarse words cease to be spoken. The smoking, drinking and overeating fall by the wayside, because they no longer have dominion over us! We go to Church on Sundays not because we have to, but because we honor God and we need His refreshment!
We pull on His Power within to live a righteous lifestyle. We begin to encourage instead of criticizing others and the “love of God within us” begins to flow out toward others! WE DO NOT JUST TALK LIKE CHRISTIANS…WE LIVE LIKE ONE!
Do you know how many people are watching and measuring the “Jesus Effect” in our lives? They are judging the reality of His existence, based on the change factor modeled in our lives. What does your lifestyle show about Jesus?
The question of the day is this! Are you just a big talker OR do you walk the walk in the Power of God? Paul was returning to the City of Corinth in order to address a bunch of “religious” Christians. He identified those people as the big mouthed ones who said all the right words, and made an open show of their “faith”, and went to Church on Sundays.
He warned them in advance of his arrival, telling them what he was going to be looking for. He was not going to be looking for a group who simply talked about the yesterdays and what happened in the past, or perhaps, even the “I remember when’s…” He claimed to be able to identify the true Believers by the evidence of the Power of God flowing in and through their lives.
In Matthew 22:29 Jesus exposed the same grouping of “religious” peoples. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
There are those whose lives do not back up their declaration of faith in Jesus. The power of God must be flowing in and through our own lives to witness to the fact that we belong to Christ! Acts 1:8 states that when “…the Holy Ghost comes upon you, you shall receive power to witness…”
1) The Power must flow in our own life. When the power of God comes “upon” you, there is a subsequent change in the kind of lifestyle we live. Our lifestyle declares that the flesh is no longer exercising lordship over us. Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
We live lifestyles that stand out from the average everyday life. Others can see the difference and the changes made as a result of His Lordship. The harsh or coarse words cease to be spoken. The smoking, drinking and overeating fall by the wayside, because they no longer have dominion over us! We go to Church on Sundays not because we have to, but because we honor God and we need His refreshment!
We pull on His Power within to live a righteous lifestyle. We begin to encourage instead of criticizing others and the “love of God within us” begins to flow out toward others! WE DO NOT JUST TALK LIKE CHRISTIANS…WE LIVE LIKE ONE!
Do you know how many people are watching and measuring the “Jesus Effect” in our lives? They are judging the reality of His existence, based on the change factor modeled in our lives. What does your lifestyle show about Jesus?
Finally, Jesus commands us in 1 Corinthians 6:17 “…come out…and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things and…you will be my sons and daughters.” We are not meant to be or to even look like the world. We are called to be differnent!
2) The Power must flow through your life! John 7:38 “He who believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” There is a river within you that exists to flow out of you and into the lives of other people.
The Holy Spirit tells us that “The Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk, it’s living by God’s power!”
Jesus commissioned the twelve to let the river flow out from within. Matthew 10:1 “…He had called unto him his twelve disciples, and he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”
He commissioned the seventy to let the river flow… Luke 10:9 “And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”
Finally He commissions all Believers to let the river flow…Jesus said that “…these signs shall follow them who believe; In my name they will cast out devils; …they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18.
Perhaps it’s time for each of us to pause for some reflection. Does my life truly reflect the Christian (Christlike) lifestyle? What modifications need to be made? What needs to be changed? Do those who do not know Him, really see the Power of God resident in my life? Am I distinguishable from those who live in the world? Can they really see the difference?
1 Corinthians 4:20 “The Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk, it’s living by God’s power!”
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