Evangelizing with Power
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power”(1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
To get our devices going, we rely on batteries to power them consistently. Without power, we can’t use our gadgets for their intended purpose. Power has a way of commanding and authorizing, and once we have access to that power, we function at a different level.
Paul opens the book of 1 Corinthians explaining his lowly state when he first brought the message of the gospel to the believers. After founding this church and then leaving, he finds it necessary to address the Corinthians in order to restore them to their foundation – Jesus Christ. He reflects on the person that he is, and stresses that he really had nothing particularly special to offer. The only element that made a difference in his approach was the Spirit’s power.
As an Evangelist, you must know that even if you have nothing but God, you have enough. It’s amazing that despite how inadequate Paul made himself out to be, he was credited with establishing the church in Corinth and many other churches throughout the New Testament. In his reflection, he highlights that he virtually didn’t possess anything that was appealing to the specific groups he was dealing with. But, what he had was more than enough to spur people to believe. When he made his only focus Jesus Christ, he put all of his personal accolades aside and made room for God to take over. As an ordinary man who acknowledges his own weaknesses, Paul began ministry by humbling himself and fully relying on God. For this reason, the only way to explain the conversion of such a great number of Corinthian believers was through the Spirit at work in him.
Moreover, it is specifically the demonstration of the Spirit’s power that was revealed in Paul’s testimony about God. It is the Spirit’s power that overrides and replaces the lack of training and experience an Evangelist might have. It is this power that takes a message from one level to the next. And, it is this same power that transforms the lives of unbelievers, leading them to believe in the good news.
Don’t underestimate the power of the Spirit. Instead, surrender completely when the Spirit is at work. Then, allow the power of the Spirit to make your message effective in ways that you never could. Without the Spirit, you might be weak and fearful, but with the Spirit you communicate boldly (2 Timothy 1:7; Acts 4:31). You will find that because faith has to be placed in something bigger than yourself, the power of the Spirit will exceed human comprehension. For the Corinthians, it was this demonstration of power that left them never to be the same again.
It’s time to make way and let His power take over.
Reflection: Do you see a demonstration of the Spirit’s power when you evangelize?
How might you acknowledge your own weaknesses and submit them to the power of God?
Prayer: Father God, I thank You for being able to use me despite my weaknesses. My earnest plea is that Lord, I would resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified. May the power of the Holy Spirit take over all my evangelistic efforts now. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
Written by Deborah Nimoh
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