Power, Not Words

1 Corinthians 4:20:
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Paul had been dealing with puffed-up people who had smooth words but no power.  Paul’s words were far from smooth, but he consistently demonstrated the power of God, as we should.  Paul was demonstrating the gospel, not marketing it.

2 Corinthians 2:17:
Fow we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

The word “corrupt” here means to peddle or be a huckster, doing something just for the money.  There have always been such people and always will be until Jesus returns, but the hallmark of true gospel preaching is not slick marketing but rather a demonstration of the power of God.

2 Corinthians 12:12:
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, in wonders, and mighty deeds.

2 Corinthians 10:10:
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Take heart if you’re not a great public speaker.  Paul wasn’t either, and he got excellent results because he demonstrated the gospel.  There is a crying need in this hour for others who will do likewise.  Today everyone knows who Paul was.  Nobody remembers the names of his slick contemporaries who preached without power.

Churches today resort to all kinds of gimmicks to attract crowds.  They have raffles where a lucky winner will walk away with considerable cash, a car, a gun or something else valuable, put on smoke-and-laser-light shows during worship, show quick clips from old movies to break up the monotony of their messages, and the list could go on and on.  Can you see the apostles in the Bible resorting to any such natural methods to spread the good news?  What GOD wants to use to attract people is signs and wonders.  That has always been the case and that will never change as long as this current earth remains.  God is not looking for “slick” – He is looking for “powerful.”

Zechariah 4:6:
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying. This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

We should ask ourselves, “Is what we’re doing in our might and power or by the Holy Spirit?”  Do we think that clever advertising will build the church or do we expect people transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to be our best advertising?  Are we trusting our own persuasiveness or the Holy Spirit to advance God’s kingdom?

Please understand that I am not saying you can’t advertise your church.  It’s OK to let people know you’re there.  I AM saying that such advertising should not be what you’re trusting in to grow your church.  Jesus told people to heal the sick wherever they went, and His method worked well to get the crowds to come out.  They didn’t need gimmicks when they had the power of the Holy Spirit on display.

Jude 3:
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Let’s contend for the faith as it was once delivered as opposed to how many modern churches deliver it.