Empowered
1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power
Spiritual blessing, favor and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ,
This is my first post of the new year! I received a text message from a dear friend on the 1st that closed, “Be empowered to prosper!” “Amen”, I responded. “Even as my soul prospers.” Our souls prosper because they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are Spirit-filled Christians, baptized in the Holy Spirit. Any power you and I have as Kingdom people, comes from Him!
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, andyou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
I am not speaking of what the world considers “power”. I recently read an interesting anecdote about the famous mystery writer, Agatha Christie. It seems she received ideas for her mysteries from different people she met in various walks of life. One doctor she met used to carry around a piece of deadly poison from the South American rain forest. When asked why by Agatha Christie he said,” I like the feeling of power it gives me.” He had a "sense" of power, a physical sensation , a “feeling”, really, of power. The stimulus, the poison, was subjective and he had a mental awareness of power. The so called power he thought he had was in the flesh. The Bible tells us to put no confidence in the flesh, but have confidence before God! ( Phil 3:3: I John 3:21). That doctor's fleshly confidence was because of the potential to cause death. OUR confidence is spiritual and is an actuality that means life! This is the confidence we have, we can approach God, ask of Him, be in relationship with Him. Hebrews 10:35 admonishes us:
"Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward." Jesus said the kingdom of God is within us and it is not in word, but in power! ( Luke 17:21; I Cor 4:20). That is power with God and that is a great reward. The down payment of the life of God within, from which we are to live and minister to others. The power we have is life in and through Christ Jesus. I like the power God has given!
2 Peter 1:3
Divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Power that pertains and speaks not to death, but life is what I am talking about. We are empowered, we must only have faith to know and obtain from the Kingdom within, in the Name of Jesus. It not a pocket-sized pseudo-power like the doctor spoke of!
1 Corinthians 4:19-20
But I will come to you [and] shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will perceive and understand not what the talk of these puffed up and arrogant spirits amount to, but their force (the moral power and excellence of soul they really possess).
For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul).
With excellence of soul, a clear conscious toward God, and the boldness and confidence to approach Him and ask what we will, expecting to receive;the Power of God is manifested and demonstrated. My God, that is so very needed today! People need to experience the genuine power and Presence of God! The Power of God unto salvation, the gospel. Let us be aware of the power we carry by the Spirit of God, and be led by His Spirit to release that power to souls that are in need of the life of God. Glory to God! Operate out of the Kingdom of God within you!
Amen, be empowered.
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