[19] But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
[20] For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Cor 4:19-20 RSV
Where does our power come from?
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The Holy Spirit.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells his followers that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, enabling them to be His witnesses throughout the world. Similarly, Luke 24:49 refers to this as being “clothed with power from on high.”
In Ephesians 3:16, Paul prays for believers to be strengthened with power through God’s Spirit in their inner being. Likewise, 2 Timothy 1:7 notes that God gives a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline rather than fear.
God is the ultimate origin, of course. While the Holy Spirit is the personal agent imparting this strength to individuals, Scripture also makes clear that all power ultimately belongs to God (as noted in passages like Psalm 62:11 and 1 Chronicles 29:11–12).
The Holy Spirit functions as the direct source of a believer’s daily spiritual power, wisdom, and capacity to act.
Be blessed, be a blessing.
Peter
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Re read 1Cor 4, the whole chapter and see what Paul was writing about.
The rich, ruling Christians, compared to how they judged Paul, how he lived in poverty, how he was like a man condemned to die for peoples amusement, and how he urged them to become like him!
That is where the power is needed, not to perform miracles but to be able to live a humble, despised lifestyle.
20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
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Everything stems from God, but under what conditions does God give us power?
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Job_21:7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Job_23:6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
Job_24:22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
Job_26:2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
Job_26:12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
Job_26:14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Job_36:22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
Job_37:23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
Job_41:12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
J.
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Powerful study here by Jessica Brodie.
Nothing more to elucidate.
J.
In the text given, it seems that Paul is actually berating those whom he says he will find out…their power. Like so many today, most people’s power is their own mouth, boasting great things that they do not even know what they are talking about. He indirectly says that they have no power, that they are only big mouths that he will probably have to shut when he arrives, just as he says in other passages.
“Where does our power come from?”
I would say it depends upon what kind of power you are talking about. If we are abiding in Christ, in God’s living New Covenant, then we have been give specific power to do specific things, like healing, casting demons out of the possessed, and other such supernatural giftings.
But if we are talking about power to daily walk as Christ walked, then the answer is different. The more time we spend with God in prayer and worship, being in His presence, the stronger we become day by day in order to have the power to conform to the image of Christ.
If we are not spending time with God in His presence, then the flesh will continue to overpower us and we will continue to walk in the flesh. But when we spend more time in the light of His presence than we do in the light of our devices, it has an affect upon us as demonstrated in Scripture with Moses upon the mountain with God. In history, certain evangelists also procured the supernatural glow as they spent copious hours in God’s presence, and while we may not glow from being in His presence, doing so has a definite affect upon our character and ability to walk closer to him.
Look at Smith Wigglesworth and those like him, whose exploits are directly linked to how much time they spent with God in prayer and worship.
If you are stuck in a rut in the flesh, then do what ever it takes to spend more time with God in prayer and worship, in His very presence, and soon you will be walking in the Spirit.
Blessings.