Not Just Words
By: Pastor Ben Aguirre
1 Corinthians 4:20
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
As I have been reflecting on the Church recently I cannot help but give a reminder about certain truths that can easily be forgotten in the routine of life. If we can grasp the depths of the above verse it can help clear up certain things that happen to us as we sit under the Word of God.
Recently I have been led by the Lord to kick off the new year with ministry about marriage and family. It is a good reminder that God has Principles about how He said marriage should be. It helps us adjust and put into practice healthy tools that give big rewards. “Strong Marriages and Families” is not just a slogan but a central point of vision for CFC. God gave that to us in the beginning of our tenure and we are committed to building on that revelation.
Along with that we all sometimes think of the messages and words that we hear from the pulpit as nice refreshing reminders and miss that it may really be much deeper. When we think of Church we need to make the connection to the Kingdom of God. I have heard it put this way, “the Church is designed to be the visible manifestation of the invisible Kingdom”. That is quite the revelation. That means that God may be giving directives, healing, freeing, feeding, dispensing and equipping through what is coming from the pulpit. I don't mean to say that is the only way God moves or works in the service or in life in general. But in the concept of the kingdom it definitely has a major impact upon life.
I have noticed throughout this teaching on marriage there are things that have stirred up. Marriages have been under attack. Not all, but more than usual. It is important to make a proper connection. When God moves He tends to reach deep into our well and all the settled sediment gets stirred up. The water for a time gets cloudy as God attempts to heal and restore. This is common not just in marriage but in every Word God brings forth. There is a warfare that accompanies the sowing of the seed of His Word. The enemy always comes to try and steal what was sown before it can produce. We usually don't understand that is what is going on. We just seem to get distracted by the trouble not knowing we are under attack. Think about this verse:
Psalms 105:17-19
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
Joseph had a great Word sown over his life and destiny. That Word however came with many trials and tests. Hated, betrayed, put in a pit, sold into slavery, lied on by Potiphar’s wife, thrown into prison and forgotten. He never saw any of this when God first began to speak to him.
Through it all Joseph grew stronger. God wanted to save his family and keep His Word to Abraham, and Joseph was key to that plan. The enemy attacked time and time again to try and get Joseph off track, but Joseph didn't give in. He held firm and God's plan won out.
God's Kingdom isn't just words. It may seem like it at times but don't be fooled. If God called you to a Church He will feed and equip you there. He will work a work in you, your marriage and your family as you sit under the ministry of His Word. Don't be distracted and defeated by the tests that may appear. Just hold fast and stay steady. God is leading you to victory!
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
As I have been reflecting on the Church recently I cannot help but give a reminder about certain truths that can easily be forgotten in the routine of life. If we can grasp the depths of the above verse it can help clear up certain things that happen to us as we sit under the Word of God.
Recently I have been led by the Lord to kick off the new year with ministry about marriage and family. It is a good reminder that God has Principles about how He said marriage should be. It helps us adjust and put into practice healthy tools that give big rewards. “Strong Marriages and Families” is not just a slogan but a central point of vision for CFC. God gave that to us in the beginning of our tenure and we are committed to building on that revelation.
Along with that we all sometimes think of the messages and words that we hear from the pulpit as nice refreshing reminders and miss that it may really be much deeper. When we think of Church we need to make the connection to the Kingdom of God. I have heard it put this way, “the Church is designed to be the visible manifestation of the invisible Kingdom”. That is quite the revelation. That means that God may be giving directives, healing, freeing, feeding, dispensing and equipping through what is coming from the pulpit. I don't mean to say that is the only way God moves or works in the service or in life in general. But in the concept of the kingdom it definitely has a major impact upon life.
I have noticed throughout this teaching on marriage there are things that have stirred up. Marriages have been under attack. Not all, but more than usual. It is important to make a proper connection. When God moves He tends to reach deep into our well and all the settled sediment gets stirred up. The water for a time gets cloudy as God attempts to heal and restore. This is common not just in marriage but in every Word God brings forth. There is a warfare that accompanies the sowing of the seed of His Word. The enemy always comes to try and steal what was sown before it can produce. We usually don't understand that is what is going on. We just seem to get distracted by the trouble not knowing we are under attack. Think about this verse:
Psalms 105:17-19
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
Joseph had a great Word sown over his life and destiny. That Word however came with many trials and tests. Hated, betrayed, put in a pit, sold into slavery, lied on by Potiphar’s wife, thrown into prison and forgotten. He never saw any of this when God first began to speak to him.
Through it all Joseph grew stronger. God wanted to save his family and keep His Word to Abraham, and Joseph was key to that plan. The enemy attacked time and time again to try and get Joseph off track, but Joseph didn't give in. He held firm and God's plan won out.
God's Kingdom isn't just words. It may seem like it at times but don't be fooled. If God called you to a Church He will feed and equip you there. He will work a work in you, your marriage and your family as you sit under the ministry of His Word. Don't be distracted and defeated by the tests that may appear. Just hold fast and stay steady. God is leading you to victory!
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
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