“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” with these words, by the Apostle Paul over in 1 Corinthians 4:20, he reminds the saints that God is about more than talk, He operates in power. And since we are the ambassadors of Christ, we should also operate in the power that God has extended to us.
Many of us are often faced with situations or opportunities where we feel like we have no say in the outcome. Circumstances, that are seemingly beyond our control, are a part of our daily life. But for the Christian we know that every situation we face is a chance for God to show the wonder of His power through us. We testify of the goodness of God because we know that His power always works in our favor. We overcome, we survive, we live, we pay the bill, we heal, we make the transition, we receive the promotion; all by the power of God!
Power is the ability to act or produce an effect, the possession of control, authority, or influence, and all of these are the attributes of an all-powerful God. Things don’t always work out the way we expect them to, but they always work out in our favor. So even when it looks bad, it’s good. No matter what it looks like, Paul told the Ephesians, “…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” The power that we possess is through Christ. We lean on Him when things get difficult and confusing, because He has the strength to handle whatever comes our way. The old folks use to tell us that,” The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Those mysterious ways weren’t based upon our talk, but it was about His actions!
We have the power to have a major impact on our society; our jobs, our homes, our churches, our cities, and our communities. The task might begin with talk, but the results will be demonstrated by power. In the end, God receives the glory and we can testify by telling the story. What is that thing you’ve been talking about doing? Step out on faith and allow the power of God to shape your vision into a masterpiece.
Richard D. Hayes is the pastor of New Day Community Church and the president of the United Ministerial Alliance.