Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Kingdom of God is a Matter of Power

Date: Mar. 24, 2021

Passage

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:20

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Imitate Paul (14-17)

Paul's letter to the Corinthians was not meant to shame them. He wrote to them to warn them as his dear children. Paul genuinely loved the Corinthians. He was their spiritual father. They first heard the gospel through Paul. They became Christians because of Paul. He became the instrument of their new birth. How could they, who were liable to fall into division continue to grow in the gospel? Paul urged them to imitate him. As Paul followed Christ, they should follow Christ in the same way. For this purpose, Paul would send Timothy to help them.

Not a matter of talk, but of power (18-21)

Some in the Corinthian church became condescending toward Paul. Some were even speaking out against Paul and his ministry, saying he was weak (2 Cor 2:17). Paul was coming in God's power, not only to help them grow spiritually, but to deal with the arrogant talkers. So, they could either continue as they were and incur Paul's wrath or repent their division and accept Paul in love.

Prayer: Father, thank you for our spiritual fathers. Help us not be arrogant, but to grow in power, imitating Paul and his faith.

One Word: The Kingdom of God is a matter of power

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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