from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church http://bit.ly/2WYGF3J
via IFTTT The kingdom of God does not consist of words, but of POWER! The gospel, the kingdom, is not about education, learning, thinking. Those are actually things of man. Man speaks, man thinks, man learns. But God moves! God makes things change! God is a God of action, results, creation. Not ideas, but power! We all love a good sermon, one that touches our heart, quickens our soul, but a sermon that does not bring change, is just flowery words. What good are words without power to change? Why learn if we end up the same as before we knew? Jesus come to give life. Abudan't life. That requires change, requires action. Contrary to modern thought, it is not about learning. It is about walking in power. Abundant Life is a life so bright with God's love and power that everywhere we go is brightened, everything we do brings change. The world is a dark and dismal place. Man bumping around in the dark trying to find his way, but always suffering from this or that. The world is desperate for power , not just nice words. Paul says here, after a long discourse about ending division and worship of human idols, that he will come for a visit and see who is living in the power of God. Who is walking rightly with God in truth will be walking in the power of God daily, and it will be evident. He who is serving self, living for self, spreading lies will not walk in the power of God. There was another man, a prophet, who stood against the crowd of evildoers and declared "show me the power of your god". He set up a demonstration. Two sides. Each built an alter to their God and did whatever was necessary for their God to "show up" and burn the alter with fire. Whoever was able to demonstrate the power of their God was serving the real God. Elijah stood that day in power. Elijah's God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob showed up and demonstrated his mighty power for all to see. Power. Reality. The alter burst into flames from fire falling from heaven. This is power. Paul is setting up a repeat of Elijah's challenge. "I will come and we will see by their power". This stuff is real. It is not just pretty words, but what we speak of is power, the power that created all that is. The power that hung the sun into the sky for us. This power is available to those who walk humbly before a holy God, seeking Him first. "All the things that I do you shall do, and even greater things shall you do". That is a promise of Jesus. Power. Power to DO. God is doing things every day, in the lives of His servants. Life is amazing! We are constantly impressed and awe struck by the actions God takes in the lives of his believers. He is moving and doing. Miracles that boggle the mind and empower the heart. Seek Him first and His righteousness, and you too will see the power of a Holy, living, caring God work through His power.
