Text: 1 Corinthians 2:4
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
1 Corinthians 2:4 NKJV
MESSAGE
The gospel by design is the only potent equipment to change and save lives. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 NKJV
The power of the gospel does not lie in mere oratory or explosion but in the power of the Holy Spirit. If any life must be changed by the gospel, it must be because the message of the cross is preached with the anointing of the Holy Ghost.
When our Lord was leaving the earth, He stated clearly that all power in heaven and earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). In the later verses, He asked His disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations. However, this can not be done until they have received power.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 NKJV
Let’s be honest, the gospel story will only be viewed as just another nice story until there is God’s power coming to enforce the truth in a man’s heart. If we Christians will succeed in preaching the gospel, then we will have must ask for God’s power to back us up.
The church must stop preaching the gospel without God’s enabling power. We will lack fruit and harvest in our ministry. Apostle Paul in our text of the day clearly pointed out that the gospel must be preached with power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
The only reason why Philip was successful on his evangelistic and mission trip to Samaria was because he was full of the Holy Spirit. Do you want to do the work of God and bring many to Christ? Then you must desire the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Christian leaders must pray this prayer to be filled with all the fullness of God.
To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19 NKJV
REFLECTION
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 NKJV
To preach the gospel, you must pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. Until the Holy Spirit comes upon our preaching, it will only be empty words.
PRAYER
Father, please empower me with the Holy Spirit.
