Preach With Power - Not Just Theory

God is doing something great among us here at the Vine as we draw closer to Him. He is meeting us in fresh and new ways in our services. I have had many comments on what is happening. Many don’t want to leave as they are afraid that they will miss something. When God is in the house in demonstration of power and the miraculous, there is a sense that anything could happen. I don’t want to leave either!

1Co 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. NIV

Paul was a great communicator, preacher, writer, evangelist, and apostle. However, from the verses above he just didn’t rely on his skills and gift of communication. He knew he could preach everyone under the rug. But, he would rather speak a few words and see the power of God manifested than be eloquent and communicate with many words and not see the power of God.

Bill Johnson said, “Many of us have preached in the name of Jesus without any demonstration of power. That kind of powerless, ineffective preaching must stop. We can’t afford to give theory without the reality anymore.”

Ouch! I strive to be a great communicator at the Vine and when I minister other places. I still want that but now with fewer words and the demonstration of the power of God! This is what Jesus told his disciples:

Mt 10:7-8 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. NKJV

Pastors, let’s believe God to demonstrate His kingdom here on earth through us.