I Corinthians 2. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on man’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
What is the need of the hour? It is a demonstration of the Spirit’s power
We are in desperate times. I heard Pastor Jim Cymbala said a few years back, “Is your church crying out to God? And if not why not?”
Corinth was a wicked city. Much of the godlessness is prevalent in our modern culture.
Some of the godlessness is being embraced by portions of the church.
Our need is not be entertained today.
God has called us into transforming work, of the human heart.
We are losing the influence of the church daily, hourly in the culture. Unless God intervenes the future for America is not bright. The Corinthian Church was a group of people who had been “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” Colossians 1.13 We are too.
There is a definitely a departure from the faith today.
I Timothy 4 1-2 God’s Spirit specifically tells us that in later days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of the devil, teachings given by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are as dead as seared flesh.
Then there are the Prodigals, which we have talked about and will mention again this morning.
1. What is A Demonstration of The Spirit’s Power?
Demonstration=
- a making manifestshowing fortha proofElijah in I Kings 18
Today the Spirit is made manifest in the ministry of the word, oftentimes the gift of prophecy, the gift of the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge that is being exercised from the pulpit.
It is things unattributed to natural means.
Unexplainable events.
Miracles
Church Roofs and Parking lots
A Waitress’ father getting better through the LORD answering the prayers of a church for him.
If the church is run as a business then how we will know if it is really the LORD Who is building the house?
If it is built by prayer and a movement of God’s Spirit then you will have to say that is it the LORD.
Matthew 21.13 And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”
Things happening that make Christ known.
Glorify Christ!
Makes people look to heaven. How we need that today.
Lives being transformed because of it.
2. Why Do We Need This?
It is our only hope.
The government and education and social programs cannot change the heart. They have their place but as Paul said, “I Corinthians 1.20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
People need to be redeemed.
Prodigals need to return
Broken hearts need to mended.
3. How is A Demonstration Obtained?
Recognizing we need it.
A Holy Dissatisfaction.
Humbling ourselves
Prayer
Begins with me... “O LORD, illuminate my mind and heart as I read (or hear) Your Word today.”
Listening
Believing
Waiting
LORD, work in our hearts to bring a demonstration of the Spirit’s power today.
