THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 Talkative’s Sad Deception – Toni M. Babcock

“For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” 

(1 Corinthians 4:20 KJV)

Christ must inhabit the heart, not merely the head if we are to experience the power of the gospel. 

Consider one full-headed (but empty-hearted) character in Bunyan’s Christian classic Pilgrim’s Progress, whose name was Talkative. 

Talkative loved to impress and dominate the conversation while in the company of other Christians by brandishing his in-depth knowledge of all things evangelical. 

Sadly, he knew nothing of Christ’s saving power that would translate into a changed life. 

Not surprisingly, his duplicity became apparent when absent from his evangelical audience.

Long before Pilgrim set out from the town of Destruction to seek his own salvation, he visited Talkative’s home from time to time and observed the man’s glaring hypocrisy. 

He found Talkative irreverent, mean-spirited, and a chronic complainer—as well as a notorious cheat. 

Along with that, he concluded 

“There is no prayer offered in his home, nor any sign of repentance for sin.”

 
And therein lay the crux of Talkative’s sad deception, and a warning to all who own a head-knowledge of Jesus Christ, but who’ve never experienced His life through faith in the gospel. 

For where there is no true faith, there is no true power to live the life of faith; thus no true repentance. Jesus said it plainly, 

“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” 

(Matthew 7:20 NKJV)

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us examine the fruit in our lives, and thereby discover whether or not we’re walking the walk, or simply talking the talk. 

Help us call upon you to meet our deepest need. 

When your Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin, give us the will and power to overcome that sin through faith. 

We believe you died and rose again to set us free. 

But where and when we fail (which we will from time to time) renew our faith and commitment to You. 

Empower us to be the authentic followers you died for until the day we meet you face to face. Amen.”

Toni is author of Reflections from the Heart, and The Stone Writer. Contact