Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
The Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
This week we continue our study focusing on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Today we are talking about The Kingdom of God in Power.
Text
1 Corinthians 4:20 NKJV
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 4:14-20 NKJV
Paul’s Paternal Care
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Introduction
The kingdom of God is a much talked about subject.
There is also a considerable amount of controversy related to the meaning, extent, and so on, of the kingdom.
However, it is not the intent of this message to deal with controversial issues but to take Paul’s simple statement found in 1 Corinthians 4:20 and deal with it.
- Why would Paul make such a statement?
Basically, it was because of the attitude of the recipients of the epistle.
The people in the Corinthian church were almost everything that Paul believed a Christian should not be.
They were puffed up, proud, and guilty of holding partisan opinions.
This is characteristic of many modern day Christians.
Many good people in current society think thee is power in words, and therefore many are spoken, and often very loudly.
It was also spoken to remind the reader about more important things.
All Christians need to be reminded of the truth by being confronted with it.
The truth needs to be held high and straight.
The truth is that if all you have is words, all you have is an empty display, but the kingdom of God produces true faith, true confession, and true love.
2. What is the kingdom of God?
Paul said it is power.
The kingdom is the reign of God in and among people.
It is presently among God’s people and within them.
The very nature of the kingdom proves it is not in word.
A kingdom implies authority exercised and obedience rendered.
Such an idea is incompatible with mere words.
It is action, it is activity.
This kingdom has a read secret.
It is the working of God through His people in right living.
Paul spoke of himself as being an example and exhorted the Corinthians to follow him.
He also spoke of Christ being the director of his life, which would indicate God’s power in action.
In the same verse, Paul makes a contrast between power and the words of those who are puffed up.
3. How is the kingdom of God manifested?
Sometimes it is in the form of discipline.
Paul makes reference to the rod, which implies punishment or discipline.
It refers to disapproval.
God’s reign does denounce wrongdoing.
All the time it is in the form of love.
Discipline does not exclude, but includes, love.
Love is always God’s method and never involves such ideas as arrogance, false wisdom, etc.
It is also in the form of kindness.
In verse 21 Paul speaks of the “spirit of meekness.”
This is kindness in word and action, it is how the kingdom works.
Conclusion.
Each Christian ought to be careful about words.
They can be good or bad, but they are not the kingdom of God.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2022 IS A YEAR OF REPENTANCE AND BLESSINGS
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