From Persuasion to Power: Learning to Trust God's Strength

In a recent sermon from House Church's Corinthians series, Pastor Alex explores 1 Corinthians 2:3-5, unpacking Paul's approach to ministry and what it teaches us about authentic faith.

The Power of Weakness

The passage reads:

"I came to you in weakness and fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with the demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom, but on God's power."

Alex highlights how Paul, despite his impressive credentials as a former Pharisee, approached the Corinthians in "weakness, fear, and trembling." Why? Because his message—that a crucified carpenter was actually the Son of God—sounded absolutely crazy in their context.

In Corinth, public speakers typically used eloquent, theatrical speech following Aristotle's methods. But Paul deliberately chose not to use these persuasive techniques. Instead, he relied on God's power to demonstrate the truth of his message.

Explanation vs. Demonstration

Paul didn't want the Corinthians' faith to be based on clever arguments or persuasive speech, but on experiencing God's power firsthand. Alex explains:

"He didn't want their faith to be an explanation. He wanted their faith to be a demonstration."

This distinction matters deeply. When our faith rests on human persuasion rather than God's power, it becomes vulnerable to what Alex calls "false conversions"—people who are emotionally moved by entertaining messages but whose faith eventually fades.

David and Goliath: Faith in Action

To illustrate true faith, Alex turns to the story of David and Goliath. He points out that David didn't approach Goliath with impressive weapons or armor, but with complete confidence in God's power. While Goliath relied on intimidation and his physical advantages, David declared he was coming "in the name of the Lord of armies."

In the Bible, a person's name represents their character. David wasn't just invoking God's name—he was expressing complete trust in God's character and power. This is what faith is: believing in God's character and power rather than our own abilities.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Alex connects this to how God continually called Israel to remember His deliverance from Egypt—their "Red Sea moment." For Christians today, the cross serves the same purpose. When we face challenges that seem impossible, we look back to the cross and resurrection as proof of God's power and faithfulness.

"Where you're going to be able to get through circumstances where, you know, I can't do this on my own strength is to look back at the crucifixion, to look back at the cross. That is your Red Sea moment."

After Hours Reflections

In a post-sermon conversation with his wife Lokelani, Alex shares how this message challenges him personally. As someone naturally gifted at charming and persuading others, he has to be careful not to rely on those abilities when sharing God's Word.

Lokelani adds that it's about "not mustering up our own strength" but allowing the Spirit to work through us. They agree that true spiritual impact comes not from confidence and polished presentations, but from approaching ministry with genuine humility and dependence on God.

Alex concludes with an insightful observation: "How do you know you're being led by the Spirit? Do you feel that weakness, fear and trembling? Do you feel that like, 'man, this sounds crazy, but I know it's true'?"

In our latest episode of the Amen podcast, we explored a profound truth from Matthew 22:15-22 – the story of Jesus and the denarius. While this passage is often discussed in terms of taxes and civic duty, there's a deeper message about finding true contentment and joy in God.

The Missing Denarius

One detail that often gets overlooked is that Jesus didn't have a denarius when asked about taxes. He had to request one from his challengers. This wasn't because He was making a statement against money or government – He was practical enough to tell people to pay their taxes. Rather, it revealed something beautiful about His relationship with God: Jesus was supremely happy and content despite owning very little.

Understanding True Delight

This brings us to Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Many interpret this verse as a formula: if we're happy in God, He'll give us what we want. But the truth is more profound – when we truly delight in God, what we want changes. The desire of our new heart becomes God Himself.

Consider Abraham's story. He wanted a son for years, and God blessed him with Isaac. But when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, it revealed that Abraham's true desire wasn't just for a son – it was for God Himself. Similarly, Jesus showed us that true wealth isn't found in denarii, but in delighting in the Father's will.

Living Simply and Quietly

This understanding transforms how we view success and contentment. When we're truly delighting in God:

* We stop measuring our worth by cultural standards

* We find freedom in living simply

* We realize we may already have everything we need

* Our focus shifts from accumulating more to enjoying God more

Practical Application

How can we cultivate this delight in God? Here are some insights from our discussion:

* Embrace Imperfect Moments: Your quiet time doesn't have to be perfect or even quiet. God meets us in the mess of daily life.

* Use Technology Wisely: Don't feel guilty about using tools that help you create space for God, whether it's noise-canceling headphones or appropriate entertainment for your children while you pray.

* Start Your Day with God: There's only one opportunity each day to start with God. While you can exercise or work later, that first moment with God is precious.

* Remember You Already Have Him: If you're a believer, you don't need to change everything to delight in God. Often, it's just about enjoying what – and Who – you already have.

A New Perspective on God's Gifts

Sometimes God gives us responsibilities or roles we wouldn't have chosen for ourselves. These aren't burdens meant to diminish our joy – they're opportunities to experience more of Him. Whether it's parenthood, a challenging job, or an unexpected ministry, these can become pathways to deeper delight in God.

Conclusion

True delight isn't found in having more denarii in our pockets or achieving cultural success. It's found in God Himself. As we learn to delight in Him, we often discover that we already have everything we truly need.

In honor of Valentine's Day, let's explore a profound question from the Christian catechism: What does God's law require? The answer lies in two simple yet powerful commandments, but first, let me share a timely story about the real Saint Valentine.

The True Story of Saint Valentine

In the third century, during the reign of Emperor Claudius, a priest named Valentine took a bold stand for love. While Claudius was sending young men to die in meaningless wars, Valentine secretly married Christian couples, knowing that married men were exempt from military service. This act of defiance saved countless lives and allowed young families to flourish. Valentine's commitment to love ultimately cost him his life – he was executed in his 40s for his actions and attempts to evangelize Claudius himself.

This story perfectly illustrates the two fundamental commandments that encompass all of God's law.

The Two Great Commandments

As Jesus teaches in Matthew 22:37-40, all of God's law – every command and prophetic word – can be distilled into two essential principles:

* Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind

* Love your neighbor as yourself

What Does It Mean to Love God?

Loving God means:

* Enjoying His presence

* Obeying His commands

* Putting Him first in every area of life

* Starting each day by asking: "Is this action motivated by love for God, or love for something else?"

What Does It Mean to Love Your Neighbor?

The command to "love your neighbor as yourself" isn't about self-love as a prerequisite – it's about extending the same care and consideration to others that we naturally give ourselves. Just as we instinctively seek our own wellbeing, we're called to actively pursue the happiness and growth of others, even when it requires difficult choices.

The Heart of the Matter

Here's the challenging truth: we can't fulfill these commands on our own. Our natural state is one of selfishness – just watch any baby and you'll see this truth in action. That's why the story of God's law doesn't end with commands, but with Christ.

The same God who gave the law on Mount Sinai later sent His Son to a different mountain – Calvary – not just to give us the law, but to fulfill it perfectly on our behalf. Through Christ's sacrifice, we receive both forgiveness for our failures and a new heart capable of truly loving God and others.

Practical Application

This transformation shows up in everyday moments:

* In how we start our day, choosing to put God first

* In how we handle difficult conversations

* In how we make decisions that might cause temporary discomfort but lead to long-term growth

* In how we extend grace to others, just as we've received grace

Closing Thoughts

The requirements of God's law – loving Him and loving others – aren't just rules to follow. They're an invitation to experience life as it was meant to be lived. Through Christ, we receive the power to move beyond our natural selfishness and into a life marked by genuine love for God and neighbor.

As we celebrate Valentine's Day, let's remember the priest who gave his life demonstrating these twin loves, and more importantly, the God who makes such love possible through Christ.

This post is adapted from Episode 7 of our weekly catechism series, where we explore the core doctrines of the Christian faith.