“Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29 (ESV); Mark 12:24. “ your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” I Corinthians 2:5 (NKJV) “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV); John 5:39-40(NKJV)
Word of God:
We should take all the verses in the Bible as if it is written by God through Holy Spirit inspired writers, so believe all are true. We cannot take one portion and leave others as irrelevant. 2 Timothy 3:16-17(NKJV) Knowing the written words of God gives a very firm foundation to understand who God is and what He is trying to tell us. Holy Spirit of God again helps the readers too to understand what He is trying to imply. We cannot understand with our own understanding just like we read ordinary books. After understanding we should take the essence of the stories and instructions in the Bible to apply in our lives. Just knowing is not enough. We should practice in our lives. So to practice in our day to day lives we need the Power of God.
Power of God:
Christ Jesus is the power of God -“but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” I Corinthians 1:24 (NKJV) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV) “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”II Corinthians 13:4-5 (NKJV)
Word of God + Power of God:
If we have to be right in doctrine and have a life full of power of God working through us; we should be having both the Word and the Power of God so that the fruits and the gifts of Holy Spirit manifest in our lives. Some pursue only understanding the Word of God more and some after the manifestation of God’s Power only. But we should operate “by purity, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,” II Corinthians 6:6-7 (NKJV) Both are needed as right hand and left hand.
So we have to preach Gospel both with the demonstration of Word and Power.“For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;” Romans 15:18-19 (ESV)