“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5, NLT)
I don’t know if you realize it yet, but YOU are God’s walking and talking gospel story. When you share the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the urging of the Holy Spirit, amazing things happen. People respond to the gospel. They begin to discern God’s presence. They look for other instances of God’s hand. They begin to see how the world has bought into sinful lies. Those who respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ need YOU to share God’s message using YOUR words and actions! God needs YOU. Jesus calls YOU.
Joseph Bayly wrote an interesting book called The Gospel Blimp. In that book, the reader is introduced to some very excited Christians who wanted to share the gospel in a unique way. They decided that to effectively reach an entire town with the gospel message, they would send up a blimp high enough to release a payload of thousands of gospel tracts and brochures sharing the gospel all over town. They thought it was the most inspiring idea ever! They just knew that people would respond in droves. That didn’t quite happen. What those enthusiastic Christians failed to realize is that paper brochures and tracts don’t have the amazing impact of a faithful person in a holy moment.
A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit and inspired to share the gospel often causes a response in others. Some will reject the gospel, even though that holy seed is planted in heart and soul. Others will respond partially, with the seed of faith growing over time. And some will respond with “deep conviction” and become godly themselves. That’s what happened with the people in Thessalonica where the Apostle Paul preached. They responded to Paul and Silas and Timothy and their preaching with “deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:4). The believers formed an amazing church, even supporting further missionary efforts like no other New Testament church had before! (See 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 3:6, 4:9 and elsewhere to see their amazing efforts after responding with deep conviction!)
Our scripture reading for today from 1 Thessalonians 1:5 is an account from Paul of the missionary efforts among the Thessalonians. When Paul and Silas and Timothy “brought the Good News” of the gospel, they did so “not only with words but also with power”. The Holy Spirit was with them. The living example of these apostles was a powerful enticement to the Thessalonians, inspiring them to faith and a “deep conviction” to follow Jesus Christ. The apostles put their hearts into sharing the gospel using faithful sincerity and inspired words ground in the Biblical story. The combination of all these powerful forces made a deep impression on the people of Thessalonica, causing many to respond to the faith. Many became followers of Jesus and worshipped the risen Lord.
You might think that it was only because Paul and Silas and Timothy were great apostles that the people responded in faith to their preaching. Not true! People respond to authentic people of faith every day! When people who are inspired by the Holy Spirit share the gospel and their own stories of God’s work in their lives, others respond. Even a response of anger can be something God can use to save a soul!
At a high school reunion, two old friends got together at the bar. Tom was drinking whiskey. Phillip was drinking a soda. As they reminisced on their high school escapades and shared history, they got caught up in the moment. They were thoroughly enjoying their time when Tom asked, “So what are you up to lately?” Phillip replied excitedly, “I’m going with my church group to help at a homeless shelter in Virginia. We will spend an entire weekend fixing what needs to be fixed, cleaning up their landscaping, and saving them some bills for that type of work. We will also pray with the people staying there and just be there for them!” When Phillip finished his sentence, Tom grew silent. Their conversation was stunted and cold thereafter.
A few years later, Phillip ran into Tom at a Hardware store in town. At first, Phillip was hesitant to say anything. He could tell Tom had felt uncomfortable back at their high school reunion and Phillip didn’t want to shake things up with his old pal. However, Tom saw Phillip and raised his hand with a big smile, walking over to him. As Phillip braced for negativity from Tom, he was surprised at Tom’s words, “Hey old friend! How you doin’ since I saw you at the reunion?” Phillip shared a smile and a handshake but said a couple of things, not wanting to spook Tom again. Then, Phillip got a big surprise. Tom began to tell Phillip how that conversation at the high school reunion changed a lot of things. At the time of the reunion, Tom was struggling with a change at work, family issues, and other problems. That conversation with Phillip inspired Tom to seek out God for direction. Since then, Tom has found a church and gotten involved. He now teaches a Sunday School class and has even worked at a shelter for battered women! It seems that Phillip’s excitement about his own mission work had pushed Tom to rekindle his lost faith. Both men talked for twenty-five minutes that day in the hardware store. They ended their conversation with a hug and a handshake and lots of good wishes. Both men point back to their awkward conversation at that high school reunion about a mission trip as words that brought Tom back to a love of God in Christ.
You never know what your statements about God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, will do. You never know how someone might respond. However, each time you share your love of God and witness to God’s work in your life, it will cause things to happen in others. God will plant a seed in their souls. God will put thoughts of faith and hope and love into their minds. God will show them the way to salvation. Every word shared in Christ, every seed planted, makes a difference. EVERY SINGLE ONE!
In the next few weeks, look for the Holy Spirit to give you moments to share your faith. You don’t have to make a huge thing about it, like buying a blimp! All you need to do is be genuine in your love of God, willingly sharing of the gospel as you know it. That worked for the Apostle Paul and Silas and Timothy. It WILL work for you. You may not see it right away, but your words will change things. Today’s scripture proves that sharing the gospel in the Spirit works wonders!
Joseph Bayly wrote an interesting book called The Gospel Blimp. In that book, the reader is introduced to some very excited Christians who wanted to share the gospel in a unique way. They decided that to effectively reach an entire town with the gospel message, they would send up a blimp high enough to release a payload of thousands of gospel tracts and brochures sharing the gospel all over town. They thought it was the most inspiring idea ever! They just knew that people would respond in droves. That didn’t quite happen. What those enthusiastic Christians failed to realize is that paper brochures and tracts don’t have the amazing impact of a faithful person in a holy moment.
A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit and inspired to share the gospel often causes a response in others. Some will reject the gospel, even though that holy seed is planted in heart and soul. Others will respond partially, with the seed of faith growing over time. And some will respond with “deep conviction” and become godly themselves. That’s what happened with the people in Thessalonica where the Apostle Paul preached. They responded to Paul and Silas and Timothy and their preaching with “deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:4). The believers formed an amazing church, even supporting further missionary efforts like no other New Testament church had before! (See 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 3:6, 4:9 and elsewhere to see their amazing efforts after responding with deep conviction!)
Our scripture reading for today from 1 Thessalonians 1:5 is an account from Paul of the missionary efforts among the Thessalonians. When Paul and Silas and Timothy “brought the Good News” of the gospel, they did so “not only with words but also with power”. The Holy Spirit was with them. The living example of these apostles was a powerful enticement to the Thessalonians, inspiring them to faith and a “deep conviction” to follow Jesus Christ. The apostles put their hearts into sharing the gospel using faithful sincerity and inspired words ground in the Biblical story. The combination of all these powerful forces made a deep impression on the people of Thessalonica, causing many to respond to the faith. Many became followers of Jesus and worshipped the risen Lord.
You might think that it was only because Paul and Silas and Timothy were great apostles that the people responded in faith to their preaching. Not true! People respond to authentic people of faith every day! When people who are inspired by the Holy Spirit share the gospel and their own stories of God’s work in their lives, others respond. Even a response of anger can be something God can use to save a soul!
At a high school reunion, two old friends got together at the bar. Tom was drinking whiskey. Phillip was drinking a soda. As they reminisced on their high school escapades and shared history, they got caught up in the moment. They were thoroughly enjoying their time when Tom asked, “So what are you up to lately?” Phillip replied excitedly, “I’m going with my church group to help at a homeless shelter in Virginia. We will spend an entire weekend fixing what needs to be fixed, cleaning up their landscaping, and saving them some bills for that type of work. We will also pray with the people staying there and just be there for them!” When Phillip finished his sentence, Tom grew silent. Their conversation was stunted and cold thereafter.
A few years later, Phillip ran into Tom at a Hardware store in town. At first, Phillip was hesitant to say anything. He could tell Tom had felt uncomfortable back at their high school reunion and Phillip didn’t want to shake things up with his old pal. However, Tom saw Phillip and raised his hand with a big smile, walking over to him. As Phillip braced for negativity from Tom, he was surprised at Tom’s words, “Hey old friend! How you doin’ since I saw you at the reunion?” Phillip shared a smile and a handshake but said a couple of things, not wanting to spook Tom again. Then, Phillip got a big surprise. Tom began to tell Phillip how that conversation at the high school reunion changed a lot of things. At the time of the reunion, Tom was struggling with a change at work, family issues, and other problems. That conversation with Phillip inspired Tom to seek out God for direction. Since then, Tom has found a church and gotten involved. He now teaches a Sunday School class and has even worked at a shelter for battered women! It seems that Phillip’s excitement about his own mission work had pushed Tom to rekindle his lost faith. Both men talked for twenty-five minutes that day in the hardware store. They ended their conversation with a hug and a handshake and lots of good wishes. Both men point back to their awkward conversation at that high school reunion about a mission trip as words that brought Tom back to a love of God in Christ.
You never know what your statements about God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, will do. You never know how someone might respond. However, each time you share your love of God and witness to God’s work in your life, it will cause things to happen in others. God will plant a seed in their souls. God will put thoughts of faith and hope and love into their minds. God will show them the way to salvation. Every word shared in Christ, every seed planted, makes a difference. EVERY SINGLE ONE!
In the next few weeks, look for the Holy Spirit to give you moments to share your faith. You don’t have to make a huge thing about it, like buying a blimp! All you need to do is be genuine in your love of God, willingly sharing of the gospel as you know it. That worked for the Apostle Paul and Silas and Timothy. It WILL work for you. You may not see it right away, but your words will change things. Today’s scripture proves that sharing the gospel in the Spirit works wonders!