WORD, POWER AND SPIRIT - PART 3
TUESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021
The Good News of the gospel of Christ always comes with the ability to demonstrate God's power through the Holy Spirit. While sharing the gospel, our words could become non-effective if the power of God does not back it up. Successful communication of the gospel requires the full demonstration of the power of God.

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 1:5 New Living Translation (NLT) "For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true..."
The words apostle Paul invested in the gospel were not ordinary. His messages and preaching were not with wise and persuasive words or excellency of speech, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power. This power reflects the glory of the Father and manifests His life in those that are being saved by the Spirit. For this reason, in 1 Corinthians 1:17 (NIV), Paul acknowledged that he was sent to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Romans 1:16 (NIV) reads, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Apostle Paul was obsessed with the power of God. If we examine the reasons He wasn't ashamed of the gospel, the main reason is because it has to do with the power of God. As long as the power of God was involved, Paul was pleased. At one point, Paul said, "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead" (NLT). For the man, Apostle Paul, knowing Christ is to the great extent of experiencing the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.
If you studied His words carefully, you would grasp His utmost desire - In a deeper sense, he wished to be there physically when Christ was being crucified, not just experiencing the power behind His resurrection - in spiritual sense. Before his conversion, he was powerful enough to influence the high priest and request a letter of authorization he could take to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, requesting their cooperation in finding, arresting and intensely persecuting those who were disciples of the Lord Jesus. When Jesus arrested him, he extraordinarily encountered the real power, which is the power of God unto salvation. After that encounter with Christ, he desired to experience more of it.
Beloved, the power of God is our divine inheritance. That's where our value, worth and identity come from. Ephesians 3:20 (NCV) reads, "With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine." By this divine power at work in us, God can infinitely execute His plan for us and in our lives and also fulfil His purpose on earth through us. No wonder 1st Corinthians 4:20 (NLT) says: "For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power." That means, it is the power we live by.
In our referenced Scripture, Paul says, "our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance." This power determines how effectively our words are in spreading the gospel. In fact, it is our inherent or inbuilt ability to deliver the gospel to the lost. It is vested in us as a right or privilege to carry out the great commission. Stay tuned for part four of this topic. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:5; Ephesians 3:7; 1 Corinthians 2:13.
Exuberant Declaration: The infinite gracious power of God is at work in me both to do and to will of His good pleasure. It is the quickening power that raised Christ from the dead and gives eternal life. By this power, I partake of the Divine nature and I'm successful in delivering the gospel message to my world. Blessed be God!

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