THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE GOVERNING POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
“For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Our verse above tells us, the Kingdom of God is not a kingdom of words but a kingdom of power. Meaning, the kingdom of God does not use empty words to rule but uses force, uses power. This is the reason why Jesus prevented his disciples from starting the ministry of preaching the good news of the kingdom, without first being clothed with the power of the kingdom from above. Jesus said, “And behold, I bring upon you the promise of my Father; but stay in this city, until you are clothed with power from above” (Luke 24:49). “Even when he had met them, he instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard about from me; that John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit after these few days. And you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-5,8). Going to spread the good news of the kingdom of God without first having the power of God is like playing a game that has no benefit. As Jesus himself told us through those words, that we should not first go to do his work until we are clothed with power from above, so let’s be sure if we go to do his work without first being clothed with the power of the kingdom from above, we will be just wasting time. There will not be any great fruits of the work we do. This shows us how the power of God is very important in the work of God in his kingdom. The power of God is very important in expanding the kingdom of God on earth.

Jesus himself did not minister in the kingdom of heaven with empty words, but much more with power. When Jesus preached the kingdom with words, he also had to perform miracles to demonstrate the power of the kingdom he is preaching. “And Jesus was going around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and infirmity in the people” (Matthew 4:23). Jesus preached and revealed the kingdom by using the power of the kingdom more than words. He performed miracles, signs and wonders far more than the words he spoke. “Then there are many other signs that Jesus did in front of his disciples, which are not written in this book. There are many things that Jesus did; which if written one by one, I think even the world would not be enough for the books that will be written” (John 20:30; 21:25). Jesus preached the kingdom with actions more by using the power of the kingdom than words.

When Jesus sent us to proclaim the kingdom of God, he told us also to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. “He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2). “And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8). Jesus instructed us there not to proclaim the kingdom without healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, and also casting out demons. The Gospel is the power of God that can save people in their problems, and it is not empty words can save people. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; because it is the power of God that brings salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and to the Greek as well” (Romans 1:16). Empty words cannot save any person or help anyone who is in sickness, who is in the bonds of dark forces, who is in the state of death, who is in the torment of the devil and demons, or who is in hunger. Only the power of God can help them and save them and get them out of those problems.

This is what the apostles and disciples of Jesus focused on in their ministry. They focused more on revealing the kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit and power than empty words. “And my word and my preaching was not with words of wisdom to persuade people’s minds, but with signs of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith is not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 ). “That our gospel reached them not only in words, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit…..” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). “Because I will not dare to mention a word that Christ did not do for my work, so that the Gentiles may obey, by word or deed, by the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; until it was from Jerusalem, and all around it, to Illyricum, I have preached the Gospel of Christ in fullness” (Romans 15:18-19). That is what Jesus wants us too to focus more in that. He says this is why the Apostle Paul told us, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). When he tells us to do everything in the name of Jesus, he means that we should do everything by using the authority and power of Jesus Christ. Let us remember the name of Jesus, represent the person or Spirit of Jesus and his all authority and power of his kingdom. This is the power of the Kingdom of Heaven given to us to use in everything we do, in word or deed. This is the only way we will be able to save and get people out of the problems and sufferings that tormenting them for a long time in this world. We have been blessed by being given the power of the kingdom, with the aim of us also bless the nations with that power and saving them and deliver them from the problems and sufferings of this world. Amen!!