Kingdom Power
I love it when math points to a Kingdom truth. I know ... nerdy. But I believe God uses His natural creation and even man’s interpretation of creation as signs that point directly back at the Creator. I love seeing those signs.
Take Power (P), for example. Man has created a formulaic law: P = W/t, where W = work and t = time. So the existence of power is dependent on work being done over a length of time. If no work is being done, there can be no Power, and if no time is spent, there can be no Power. There must be work, and there must be time to have power.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes pretty passionately about those who would put themselves forth as judges of Paul and the ministry that God had given him. In chapter 4, Paul “admonishes” the Corinthians to keep from judging that which only Jesus Christ has the authority to judge and to instead be an “imitator” of Paul, who lived as a “fool for Christ’s sake.” In this section, Paul writes, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (vs 20)
Paul lets the Corinthians know that he hoped to return to them soon. When he did, he would look up these “arrogant people,” not out of interest in what they had to say but instead their “power.” What exactly was Paul referring to here? I believe that he was emphatically pointing his readers to the reality that these arrogant, judging people were, in fact, powerless. They lacked both the work and the time investment to hold judgment over Paul’s ministry. There was no W or t, so there could be no P.
The Kingdom of God is not made up of much talk and lip service. Preachers who only talk do not make their proclamations with Kingdom Power. People who court congregations, luring congregants away from their faithful pastors with eloquent words, are not proponents of God’s Kingdom. Without the investment of work and the spending of time, a person is unwarranted in proclaiming Kingdom Power.
However, when a person spends time putting their hands to the plow to till the field, build a business, form a church, run a school, or any other endeavor the Lord has laid on their heart to work, that person has created the environment in which God’s power will shine forth. Their investment of time and work will be used to proclaim the Kingdom of God. That person will most assuredly be accorded a power greater than their own. The same power which:
Created both heaven and earth.
Called the stars into being.
Made the sea stop at the shore.
Quickened a dead body, saving our souls.
This power is made manifest when we spend time working at what God has given us to accomplish. Put forth the time and effort. With these, you will have the Power of God’s Kingdom!