1)
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not
with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto
you the testimony of God.
2)
For I determined not to know any thing among
you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3)
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling.
4)
And my speech and my preaching was not with
enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power:
5)
That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
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true demonstration of
the Spirit and power of God is seen when one answers the command to
"go" and sin no more." This can only be accomplished by
accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel is the primary ministry
Jesus has left us to deliver to the world and anything outside this is vanity.
Thus, the attempt of the world and those only professing salvation to
"humanize" the gospel is an affront and not the will nor design of
the Lord. This is not to say that the Lord (nor those
who know Him) has no interest in the down-trodden, the homeless or the hungry;
for He directed much of His attention (while on earth) to those who had like
needs. The demonstration of His power through such displays of miracles,
however, was not His main purpose. Jesus came to save that which was and is
lost.
Freedom from sin does not come by
the touch of a prayer cloth, gimmicks or magic. Jesus was able to draw many and
influence them to leave their dead-end conditions through the demonstration of
the Spirit and Power of God. This He could do because identified Himself with
the source of His power and understood the real purpose of His divine nature.
He understood that man looks for signs and wonders. He healed the sick,
delivered the oppressed and raised the dead, and has even performed the same
miracles in our midst today. Yet, though men consider these deeds great and
something to aspire for themselves, these outward
shows are secondary in the sight of the Lord. Jesus already told us that we
would do greater works than these. Such demonstrations of power are just a
prelude to the real exhibition which is the resurrection of a sin-free life.
Thus, the Lord did not leave us
confused about what nor whom to follow. His ministry is not without its
healings and deliverances but is always coupled with the call and heed to
salvation. This is His primary agenda.
He never manifests a demonstration of His power and His Spirit without
also saving souls. If such does not happen, then one can assure himself that
God has been left out of His ministry.
Therefore, we can now understand the
evolution of man-made ministries. We have labeled everything a
"ministry"—from reading to the elderly to child care. We pride
ourselves in outreach programs, yet, the real problems
go unattended because the madness of this society will never be reduced until
we stop the sin. The disorders that plague our nation are a result of our
disunity with Christ. Our ability to extend permanent help and assistance will
only be achieved when we recognize our power source and our real purpose—to get
saved, stay saved and win souls.
God is a Spirit and always performs
the supernatural, lest we think that He is as logical and fallible as man.
Yet, He calls us to abide in the Spirit where He is, and calls for lives free
from sin. Only then can mankind truly demonstrate the Spirit and power of
God.