WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DEMONSTRATION - 2/7/18 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"For years I thought my assignment or the Church's assignment was to articulate the Gospel and nothing more. Now I believe that if we don't support the verbal expression of the Gospel with physical demonstration of compassion, we are not imitating Jesus." - Max Lucado   This week we watched the launch of the Falcon SpaceX rocket created by South African/Canadian business magnate, investor, engineer, inventor and Tesla founder and CEO, Elon Musk. Musk is one of the great innovators of our time. Who would have thought a regular- or not so regular businessman would be able to do what we thought only NASA could accomplish. I'm sure some doubted him along the way.  That's why he had to do a DEMONSTRATION - the action or process of showingthe existence or truth of something by giving proof or showing evidence. Musk set out to accomplish in tangible terms what was only thought possible in the imagination.  For a moment at 3:45 pm yesterday, the whole world was mesmerized by the feat. It wasn't all talk and dreams. There was demonstration. The prophets foretold of the coming Messiah and all he would accomplish. I imagine that there were those that claimed to be the Christ, who were proven wrong. What differentiated Jesus? Was it His wise teaching? His way with people? No, it was the demonstration of the Spirit's power through Him. Even his cousin John the Baptist, who foretold and confirmed Him as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world," (John 1:29) over time was unsure about His Messianic identity. John being imprisoned and soon to be executed while Jesus roamed free I'm sure helped to spur on those doubts, "Are you the One, or should we look for another?" When John's disciples came to him, Jesus simply said go back to John and tell him, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Matthew 11:5-6) I prove My identity as King of the Kingdom by demonstrations of power and compassion that heal and save. "Believe me for the work's sake." (John 14:11b) The apostle James said it this way, "Someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."  Paul explained to the church at Corinth that though his frame was frail, his ministry was dynamic in force, "I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.(1 Corinthians 2:3-5)  "For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power." (1 Corinthians 4:20) When's the last time you demonstrated the Kingdom?  Too few Christians operate in the power of the Spirit, use their spiritual gifts, or demonstrate signs, wonders and miracles. We all were blessed by how God used members of the Eagles NFL Team, not only to win the Super Bowl... (Yay! Philly girl here) but to demonstrate their commitment to Christ, not just with wonderful speeches, but with salvation and baptisms, operating as pastors, and by showing genuine love, compassion and character.  It was a sign to the entire world of the Lordship of Jesus Christ for the coach, quarterback and key players to express the priority of discipleship even over the tremendous feat of winning the Championship.  The old folks to say, "If you love Jesus, you should show some sign."  Jesus didn't say, "these words will follow believers..." He said, "These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages." (Mark 16:17-18) If you're a Believer in Jesus, manifest it in demonstration.

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131