Resting On God's Power

“It reminds us that homiletical techniques alone do not prepare us to preach with spiritual power. Only when the Spirit first convicts us from a given text do we have the right to preach it to others” (NIVAC, 1 Corinthians, p. 58)

Except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

“Refers…to its centrality in his preaching” (NIVAC, 1 Corinthians, p. 54)

Came in Weakness, Fear and with Much Trembling

“The words point to the anxiety or solicitude of mind arising out a sense of his insufficiency, and of the infinite importance of his work” (R&R, p. 390)

He clearly recognized his own inadequacies and inability to carry out the work to which God had called him without God’s empowering. There is some indication in 2 Corinthians 10:10 that Paul may have been less than spectacular by worldly standards in both appearance and speaking ability. There we read the arguments of some of his critics: For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”

Paul’s Message and Preaching

A distinction is made between Paul’s message and his preaching. Message = everyday conversations with people. Preaching = proclamation specifically as God’s spokesperson. This was how he operated in all of his encounters with people. His life, whether purposely proclaiming the gospel through preaching or as a byproduct of his everyday living, was a declaration of the life of Christ to the world.

Not with Wise and Persuasive Words

“Refers to worldly wisdom and persuasion” (NIVAC, 1 Corinthians, p. 55)

Reliance upon finely crafted arguments.

But with a Demonstration of the Spirit’s Power

Demonstration = “means to show forth with the most rigorous evidence and proof. The idea is that the evidence is presented so strongly that the truth is clearly seen” (POSB-WS)

We find a similar description of Paul’s practice of ministering the gospel in 1 Thessalonians: For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake (1:4-5).

Paul may have been unimpressive in how he looked and spoke, but there was an element about him which no one could deny or refute. When Paul ministered, it was with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.

God’s has been working on my heart, especially this past week, and in His mercy He has shown me that I am guilty of settling for and propagating a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5). That is not to say that I do not believe in the power of God or even want the power of God, but I have been content to settle for less than the power of God. I, too, have bought the lie about information and education. Consequently, I have not seen the demonstration of the Spirit’s power as the norm. Quite honestly, there are times when I do not even expect a demonstration of the Spirit’s power as an exceptional occurrence.

So that Your Faith Might not Rest on Men’s Wisdom