“POWER-BALL” or “POWER of GOD”

“And my Spirit and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God…For the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in power.” 1 Corinthians 2:2- 4:5 KJV

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to believers in Corinth around 56 AD because the “Church” was in serious trouble (Study Romans 1:18-32). The congregation consist of different schools of thoughts rather than one message: the “Message of the Gospel.” It was a divided church with 4 different groups competing for leadership. It was a defiled church with members guilty of sexual immorality and excusing other riotous living under the grace of God. It was a disgraced church not glorifying God by the way they lived; hindering the growth of the church. Their problems were known by unbelievers outside the church on full display. The lowest accusation of a person that day could get was to be called a despicable Corinthian. Paul wrote this letter to remind them of their Christian Ethics in their calling as Believers in Jesus Christ. The church that God called is designed to be Holy and set apart (Sanctified); Called into Fellowship with one another and not divided; and called to Glorify God and this is why we were born and born for this purpose. With this Truth, we are empowered and authorized to walk with Purpose and Truth.

To understand the Power of God, we must understand the message of the Creator, the source of the power. So, what is the Gospel message? There are 3 fundamentals of the Gospel message: 1) It is part of The Father, God’s eternal plan, 2) It centers on the death of The Son, Jesus, and 3) It message is revealed by The Holy Ghost, through the Word. The Godhead (The Trinity): God, The Father, God, The Son, and God, The Holy Spirit makes all things possible.

Paul declared to the Corinthians, he needed not try to persuade them with his education (indeed he was highly educated) because there were false teachers already in Corinth already doing that. Rather, he told them he could not depend upon himself. All his degrees can die going out the window. Paul told them, he becomes nothing so Christ becomes most important. When he was weak its only God that makes him strong, not his degrees. Paul thought of all the killings he had committed, God had forgiven when he became saved. Why? Its because of God’s Mercy. God places upon Christ our punishment for our sins and lets us live! Mercy is when God gives to Christ, the servant, what we really do deserve (death). Isaiah 53:6 says, the Lord has laid on him (Jesus Christ) the iniquity of us all.

Paul was not saying deny our education or avoid using our gifts. Rather, we must allow the Holy Spirit to work on the hearts of those we minister. God did not put his plan of salvation in a philosophical system so we would trust in an explanation or mere facts. Its based on our FAITH!

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the “POWER of GOD” unto salvation to every one of us that believes..” (Rom 1:8) Dr. Dowe