1 THESSALONIANS:
Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:5 NIV
"Our Gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction."
"Our Gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction."
WORDS:
The instruction in 2 Tim.2:15 clearly shows the
importance of the ability to communicate the scriptures effectively to others.
- STUDY: This comes only through conscientious and consistent devotion to the reading of the scriptures. To study is much more than merely reading, it requires commitment of quality time, desire to understand, if possible committing portions of the scriptures to memory. It requires burning the midnight candle.
- The complete gospel is the whole Bible, “All Scripture is God breathed, and PROFITABLE.” 2 Tim. 3:16. We must commit to the study of the entire Bible – Old and New Testaments, and not just portions of it. That would result in preaching a fragmented gospel.
- It is the words that we study that are profitable to us and make us approved unto God, the author of the words.
- Our ability to rightly divide the truth comes from our study of the words and this in turn makes us workmen / workwomen who are not ashamed, both in Heaven and in the camp of the enemy.
- So for us to be able to convey the message of the cross effectively like Paul, our ability to articulate it correctly through the study of the scriptures cannot be overemphasised.
POWER:
The Holy
Bible is the only Book I know that confers upon those who study it divine power
to obey its instructions.
- Our Saviour said, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, are spirit, and they are life.” John 6: 63. It is the life that is embedded in the written word that confers power when spoken.
- “They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Rev. 12:11. The power in the word is in speaking it. The words in the Bible placed under the pillow or portions of it displayed on our car screen or hung on the walls in our home will not protect or bless until it is spoken, articulated.
- The instruction of the great commission is; GO, PREACH! i.e say it, speak it out. The power in the words to convict, correct etc., is in the mouth of the speaker of the words. The words on the pages of a scroll or book is powerless until it is spoken.
THE HOLY
SPIRIT:
- In John 6:63, quoted above, we note in “it is the Spirit that gives life, “the capital S refers to the person of the HOLY SPIRIT the 3rd person of the Trinity. He is the life giver.
- John 16: 13 – He guides us into all truth, He will glorify Christ and declares the things of Christ to us.
- John 15:26 – He is our Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Standby. He is everything we need for life and Godliness, Hallelujah!
DEEP
CONVICTION:
The Lord said of the
leaders of the people of His days in Matt. 23: 2-3: “the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do
according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
- This is a clear indication of teachers of the law, pastors, leaders with no conviction whatsoever, men with mere big titles and no substance.
How
to recognise preachers with deep conviction like brother Paul.
- The first thing one observes in the life of a man deeply committed to a course is the willingness to lay down the life for the course.
- Our Saviour followed through His purpose on Earth (to lay down His life for us), and would not let Himself be distracted. He had to strongly rebuke His best friend (Peter) when he tried to persuade Him otherwise.
- Paul was so totally sold out to the preaching of the gospel among the Gentiles that he incurred the wrath of his people, the Jews, at the expense of his comfort, even his very life.
- He was divinely warned not to go to Jerusalem because death was waiting for him there, this brother was willing to go and die, as long as he was able to defend what he stood for.
- How many ‘men of God’ today are willing to go to areas hostile to the message of the cross to preach the gospel today?
