GOD'S POWER CONFIRMS HIS CHURCH

1 Corinthians 4:17-21 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them, which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye: shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Although Paul was unable, at the time of this writing, to visit the church at Corinth, he assured them that, if it was God's will, he would come to you shortly. This letter he had written to them identified many of the problems that existed in this body of Christ in this city. Because he was not able to visit them personally at the time this letter was written, and because of the serious nature of the problems that existed within their congregation, Paul sent Timothy to administer to their immediate needs until he was able to personally come to them. The purpose of Timothy coming to them at this time was to bring you into remembrance of my ways, which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Here again, as before, Paul tells them that his preaching to them had no selfish motives - were not designed to gain their following of him. The only reason they should follow him was because his "way" was in Jesus Christ.

There were probably preachers in this early ages of the church, and the world is filled with preachers today, that teach the "mysterious word of God" that they say was revealed to them, that only they can interpret; preachers that rely on masterful oratory to stir the emotions of their audiences; preachers that teach new doctrines based on their own private interpretations of God's word; preachers that reinforce their message with staged acts of "healing." These methods of preaching are intentionally planned in order to gain a personal following to satisfy their own covetous desires for fame and fortune. Unlike these false teachers that lead the children of God astray and cause envy, strife, and division, Paul says that the messages, he had delivered to them, taught only the pure gospel of Christ Jesus. He also assured them that his messages are the same as those he preaches everywhere in every church. This being so, the seed planted by faithful preachers, that teach only God's word - the gospel of Jesus Christ - will always produce Christians. Through baptism into the body of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, these newborn Christians will not be followers of a particular preacher, but will be followers of Christ. This message of Paul that was needed in the church at Corinth, is the same message that is urgently needed throughout the world today.

Some in the church at Corinth were "puffed up" - that is they spoke derisively of Paul in an effort to disclaim his teaching, as well as his authority to discipline their conduct. He assured them that he would come to them shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them, which are puffed up, but the power. It is evident that, what these critics of Paul had said, had been told him. So he wasn't concerned about what they said, but he desired to hear from them, by what power, or by what authority they said it.

Although complete authority within the kingdom was given to His Son, Jesus Christ, it was established by the power of God - planned from the beginning of time, foretold by His inspired prophets, and fulfilled with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Established by the power of God, its doctrine and discipline rests solely within the power of its Creator. Therefore, it is the word of God that reveals to Christians the authority, which governs the church of Christ. This demonstrates God's power over each body of Christ. Unless elders, preachers, teachers, or any other human being recognizes, accepts, and teaches this fact, they are stepping beyond responsibilities, and assuming the authority of the church that belongs only to God, its Creator. Paul, the inspired apostle of Jesus Christ, had complete authority to discipline the church at Corinth. In order to carry out God's will, Paul's question to them was, "shall I exercise God's authority with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?"

When human beings usurp the authority of God and replace it with their own human wisdom, it ceased to be God's church, loses its identity, and becomes a human institution. God's power confirms His church!