The Kingdom and The Power

We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we entreat. We are, even now, like the world’s garbage, like the filth of all things.

I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can’t have many fathers. Now I have fathered you in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me. This is why I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride. For the kingdom of God is not in talk but in power. What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
(1 Corinthians 4:10-21 HCSB ©®)

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.
(1 Corinthians 2:2-5 HCSB ©®)

How much of the power of the Kingdom is displayed through humility and self-control? How much power is displayed by breaking the grip of unclean spirits on the lives of humans? How much of our talk, even the true part, is just talk?

Lord, lead us to access and display Your power. Lead us to set captives free, and to give eyesight to the blind, and strength to the lame, and glory to Your name. Lead us to the greater things You mentioned. We are weary of the gospel of the church. We are excited about the gospel of salvation, and desperate about the gospel of Your Kingdom. Make us able to preach what You preach.