On Words or The Word
1 Corinthians 4: 20 caught my attention today. “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” Therein is a subtle difference that I found little in terms of commentary from experts.
Learning The Word is what this blog is about. Let’s dive in.
The choice of words is important. That’s why I use only the King James Version of the Bible. But that is not Paul’s point in his declaration that “…the kingdom of God is not in word…”. Paul is addressing the Corinthian church members who were arrogantly proclaiming their virtue and their erroneous assumption that Paul would not be coming to them again. Words like that are a common problem in American churches today.
How many pastors proclaim there is “Power in The Word,” yet go on to use words which point only to their power, to their church, filling the listeners with hope that is not meant to be withing God’s will. God’s power, The Word’s power, does not fit within the definition of worldly power. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power definition almost fills a whole page, and none of the definitions gives direct reference to God. How times have changed! Now look at https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Power, an note items 18 – 24. Woke society would not want you to compare those definition sources.
The world’s view of power is in terms of wealth, strength and many different things. The name-it-and-claim-it crowd fits in quite well. But Paul knows that difference and points to God’s power as being spiritual, supernatural and not quantifiable by mankind’s standards or methods. He is saying there is a different kind of power than the world knows, just like there is a difference in wisdom between God’s and the world’s wisdom. Those differences are illuminated in God’s Holy Word, the Bible, and manifested in one’s spirit, heart and mind through an active prayer life.
I believe that Paul is saying, “Listen! What matters is not whether I’m coming to Corinth again, what matters is that it is not about talk. That’s not what God’s kingdom is about. The kingdom of God is about God’s power, not your words! The kingdom does not consist of your debates, your assertions and all the division you’re facing! The kingdom consists of the Holy Spirit, and his Word as he delivered it to the prophets, and most of all the power of Christ’s crucifixion within us.” In other words, the kingdom is not about man’s wisdom or exalting men within the church; the kingdom is only about salvation through Jesus Christ. In fact, salvation through Jesus Christ is the very foundation of the Bible!
Paul says that men are puffed with pride, claiming he was not coming again to Corinth. Some said they thought Paul was afraid to come to Corinth again. Pity their arrogance. It made them all the more proud at least in their own minds. But we, today, have the advantage of hindsight and learning from the experience of Paul and the apostles.
So, what are we to do with this verse, 1 Cor. 4:20? I believe the answer is clear: We are to trust God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. We are to look diligently into God’s Word for spiritual as well as personal direction. We are to speak of the Lord and talk about what the Bible says with our friends. When I say that, I don’t mean what church leaders said; I said what the Bible says. That is not to say that your church leaders cannot be trusted; that is where Spiritual discernment comes in. And the only way to have spiritual discernment is to know what the Bible says: All of it, not just part of it; and then to pray fervently and frequently.
Like the Corinthians that Paul was addressing, you have a choice. God may be leading you, but the choice is yours. Once you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus by accepting his free gift of salvation, the choice is still yours. The choice can be as meaningful as you make it but the kingdom, the power will always be there. Relying on the Word of God is a wonderful experience…not just the words, the experience.
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
