Bible Reading: Psalm 103,104; 1 Corinthians 2
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” 1 Corinthians 2:3-4 (KJV)
There was this group from a church that went out for evangelism some time ago. The target was to get in as many souls. The church was new in that area and there was a very strong revival in the air. Among this group was a not-too educated woman of average age. She hardly makes any contribution in meetings when the group gathers in church. But whenever they go out for evangelism, this woman doesn’t just come with names, the souls won all follow her to church the way a sheep follows after their shepherd.
One of the brothers who believed he knows so much about the scripture but could hardly get ten percent of the souls this woman brings in each time they go out, decided to go near her the next time they went out to listen to what she tells the would-be converts. He was amazed at what he heard. He even said the things the woman was saying cannot make him surrender to Christ. But when it was time to make an alter call ninety-eight percent of the people in the gathering she was speaking to raised up their hands. Our brother learned something new that day. The woman only preached Christ plain and simple.
Paul was very effective as a preacher because he preached Christ plain and simple. 1 Corinthians 2:2,4 (NLT) says, “For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. [4] And my message and my preaching were very plain. I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you.” As he did this, the Holy Spirit was powerful among the converts. The Holy Spirit will only testify of Jesus. Same pattern was followed by the late Billy Graham of blessed memory. Anyone who preach Jesus as directed by the Spirit will see the power of God visibly manifested.
Today, a lot of people preach other things than Christ, the wisdom and power of God. Any wisdom other than the wisdom of God in the person of Christ will not yield any result. Some people unknowingly talk more about their churches and their pastors more than Christ. No wonder they spend more time using persuasive words trying to get people saved. The Holy Spirit, the Lord of the harvest, will only back the message of Christ.
As you go out today, share the message of Christ and all He has done for all. Tell them of the benefits that He gives you, “He forgives all my sins and heals my diseases, He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies, He fills my life with good things” Psalm 103:3-5 (NLT). These and many more are what Christ gives to all who believes in Him.
Action Plan: As you go out for evangelism, consciously speak Christ first before anything. Let Christ be the reason for your meeting and the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself right before your eyes.
Bro. Onyema Aghanenu