1 Corinthians 2:1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
"and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. "
I wonder how many pastors even recognize, understand, or even care about Paul's declaration of how he preached to people? I imagine if those who preach, did, and even attempted "Paul's way" the unchurched population of the US wouldn't be growing. Paul said, "I did not preach anything persuasive from my own wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
The key word here is "demonstration", in Greek ἀπόδειξις, apodeixis, manifestation; or to show or a showing off. Another added word in some interpretations reads αποκαλυψει, in the revelation of the Spirit. The doctrine that he preached was revealed by the Spirit: that it was a revelation of the Spirit not from himself or from anyone else. He did not copy.
The manifestation of, "In the showing" ἀπόδειξις, apodeixis, manifestation; or in the testimony or evidence which the Spirit produced. The meaning is, that the Spirit furnished the evidence of the divine origin of the religion which he preached, and that it did not depend for its proof on his reasoning or eloquence. The proof, the demonstration which the Spirit furnished was, undoubtedly, the miracles which were performed.
Miracles were performed. Wow! The actual manifestation of the Spirit of a living Holy God through his Son. The shed Blood of Jesus in action. Something you don't see much in the church today. Why? Men walking in their own wisdom believing that their words, have more power. Many have not seen the power manifested themselves, or have and deem that the "Power" is not relevant anymore, or they feel that power may scare people away because those attending have never seen it either.
And I can guess some reading this are thinking, "Oh no, one of those ultra conservative pentecostal kooks who wants the churchback in the dark ages." Not at all. I actually think of myself a bit liberal actually to much of the church. I am not orthodox by any means and at the moment I am in an independent contemporary church and its great. But......
Through prayer, and a lots of it. The Lord has been speaking to me about "walking in the ancient ways". What are the ancient ways? Ancient means old, and the Word of God is old. Well read the Word. It lays it out, plainly. We as Pastors read the Word but do not see. We listen, but don't hear. It is as plain as your hand in front of your face. Paul walked in the ancient ways, and men throughout history did also. Men today walk in the ancient ways. So what's the issue?
Paul said he did not speak with "excellence of speech" as reads in many interpretations. He spoke, but what did he speak? Christ crucified. He spoke the Words of God. God manifested Himself, people believed. Do you think Paul preached a series on healing? How about a series on the power of the Holy Spirit? He didn't have to. People saw it and believed. Hands were laid on people and what ever their issues, they were healed of those issues. Today we preach the power of positive thinking with the hope that people can fix their problems themselves or place them in "help" groups so we can all help each other get through issues. I had a friend who was a drunk, coke addict who was a chain smoker. He was prayed for one time, and walked away with no addictions, and no desire to abuse his body anymore. That is the Power of God manifested. Thank the Lord that the pastor didn't tell him to go to some place to get dried out. It wouldn't have happened. I imagine you get where I am going.
The power is at our finger tips, and with our mouth, and with our ears. It is the Word of God, and prayer, seeking God just to know Him. To get close to Him. Be one with Him, and be at a place where we hear Him when he speaks to us. When we are at that point in our walk, we will not have to come up with some great message to "feed the flock" to make them happy, or hopefully help them through life's issues. No, it will be a place where God shows up, and "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that "men's" faith should not rest on the wisdom of "other" men, but on the power of God.
I am going to continue with this in the future, but I am wore out from typing at the moment. Be Blessed!
