More Than Words

"More than Words"

Text: 2 Cor 4:20

Intro:

This morning I would like to bring you a message entitled “More than Words…”

Illus:

A woman went to the doctors office, where she was seen by one of the new doctors, but after about 4 minutes in the examination room, she burst out, screaming as she ran down the hall. An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was, and she told him her story. After listening, he had her sit down and told her to go relax in another room. The older doctor marched down hallway to the back where the first doctor was and demanded,"What’s the matter with you? Mrs. Terry is 63 yearsold, she has four grown children and seven grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?" The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard and without looking up said, "Does she still have the hiccups?"

Words are powerful…

They have caused nations to rise and nations to fall

They have cause hearts to swoon and marriages to collapse. But words can also have the opposite the effect. They can lull the listener even turn the listener away. Even Paul had the misfortune of having one of his listeners fall asleep and unfortunately

fall out of third story window. (Acts 20:9)

That story makes all preachers a little bit more comfortable.In the day an age in which we live we are subjected to so much rhetoric…just empty words.In Politics we have politicians who just ramble on and on with out seemingly saying a thing.Unfortunatley we have the same problem within the church. So many times we ramble on and on with our religious ease…but it is no more than a mantra that we have memorized.

Illus

It’s like the Lutheran pastor who always started each service with "The Lord be with you." The people would respond, "and also with you.” But, one Sunday the PA system wasn’t working so the first thing he said was "There’s something wrong with this microphone." The people responded, "and also with you."

This morning Paul encourages us in our text to be more than words…he encourages us to walk in Power.

Lets look real quickly at some definitions before we get into the heart of the message…

“Word” logos something said

“Power” Dunamis; force specifically miraculous power

If we were to restate verse 20 based upon these definitions we would say…

"Christianity is more than something said, it is something that is marked by miraculous power”

1 Cor 4:18-20 “The Message”

“I know there are some among you who are so full of themselves they never listen to anyone, let alone me. They don’t think I’ll ever show up in person. But I’ll be there sooner than you think, God willing, and then we’ll see if they’re full of anything but hot air. God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.

This word “Dunamis” very key it shows up many times throughout the New Testament. We are instructed, encouraged, admonished, and asked to walk a powerful, and victorious life throughout the Scripture, not just speak the words. So where is the gap between the words we speak and the lives we many times live. We must remember that we fight from a “Position of Victory.”

When we sign up for this thing called Christianity, it is not like joining the Boy Scouts…we become new creatures. And with that change there are some things that become available to us. We have more to offer than nice and encouraging words. We have a power that is available to those who are willing to search out the source.

This morning I would like to share for a few moments on this word Power…or “Dunamis”

There are Five Powerpoints that are available to those who call themselves Christian…

1)INHERENT POWER

According to Thayers Greek dictionary…this is a power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

You are now longer operating as you always have, you are not longer operating as this world operates.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

When God comes into this house, something happens.

You upfront receive a powerful enhancement.

Illus:

The high performance chip they put into vehicles. The vehicle could have done it before, but not without the chip.

This is what God does for us…but we cannot tap into that new life power unless He dwells in us. He completes you and makes you whole.