Let Your Words be Powered by the Holy Spirit
Read the Text: 1 Corinthians 2
Memorize the Text:
For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
(Romans 15:4, CSB)
Consider the Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The world desperately needs Jesus. Yet, our ability to engage the world often becomes deterred by the lack of confidence in our ability to share the truth of the cross. This insecurity comes as we feel unequipped to engage in the conversation about Jesus with others or to engage them about their beliefs that may counter the gospel and God’s Word. In 1 Corinthians 2, the apostle Paul declared that believers should not trust in their ability or strength but the power of the Holy Spirit when one allows the Lord to work in their availability.
Paul noted the WEAKNESS of his words. Paul assessed his ability to speak as an act carried out without brilliance or elegance. He did not believe his words created a poetic rhythm that pointed to Jesus; instead, Paul came before the people in Corinth in trembling, fear, and weakness. He knew that his words came from the flesh and were empty vessels that did not carry any transformational power. He knew that others could eloquently call people to respond to a persuasive speech. Yet, Paul knew his inability in such matters.
Like Paul, believers often feel inadequate at sharing the truth of God’s Word. They desire to yield to individuals who speak well. They seek to limit their usefulness to the cross by the terms and expectations of the world instead of trusting in the commands and expectations of the Lord. Paul did not allow his perceived weaknesses to hinder his faithfulness to the faithful response to the call of the Great Commission. Thus, today, believers must respond in faithfulness to the call to the Great Commission even if they feel inadequate to speak.
The apostle understood the POWER of the Holy Spirit. Paul did not become deterred by his weaknesses in the flesh because he knew the power of the Holy Spirit would overcome his limitations. He rested in the work and wisdom that extended from his words spoken in faithfulness because they came not as empty rhetoric but as words of power from the Holy Spirit. They extended as words to pierce the heart and to reveal to people their need for a Savior. Thus, Paul knew the words declared were insignificant in the power of the flesh but life-changing with the power of the Holy Spirit.
The same power exists today. When followers of Christ come in humility and fulfill the Great Commission in faithfulness, the Holy Spirit provides the needed power to bring forth transformation. God takes the powerless, unable vessel and makes the vessel able and powerful through the Holy Spirit. Thus, declaring Jesus must not be left to the well-spoken but must be performed in faith by all believers. Are you trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit today? Are you allowing the Lord to use you as the vessel to share His truth?
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
