Powerful Words - December 3

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to

you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Reflect

Has someone ever told you something that you knew were just empty words? Why didn’t you believe them?

Have you ever met someone who is all talk? They make promises but never deliver and their words sound good but are never backed up by their actions. Just empty words. On the contrary, you’ve probably also met someone who says what they mean and means what they say. When they talk, people listen because they can trust them. The most powerful speakers are those who speak the truth and live what they say.

In today’s verses, Paul reminded the Thessalonians that when he was among them, along with Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy, they preached the Gospel. But they didn’t speak just empty words. They spoke powerful words. Their message was full of the Holy Spirit. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were faithful to preach the truth of the Gospel. But in and of themselves, their words didn’t have the power to save anyone.

Still, Paul knew that God had truly chosen the Thessalonian believers and that their conversion was genuine because the Holy Spirit was at work. They were deeply convinced that the Spirit was working through them in their preaching. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised to give the apostles the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” We see that fulfilled in Acts 2.

But it wouldn’t matter how clearly they communicated the truth of the Gospel or how compelling and convincing they were, if the Holy Spirit wasn’t also at work in the hearts of those listening. Thankfully, the Spirit was at work as they preached to the Thessalonians. Some Jews and many Greeks were saved as a result (Acts 17:4). Because of all of this, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were convinced that God, in His sovereignty, had chosen the Thessalonians to become a part of the family of God.

If the Thessalonians believers needed more reassurance that the Gospel message was powerful and true, Paul reminded them of their personal conduct when they lived among them. They didn’t merely preach with words, they preached with their very lives! They backed up what they said with how they lived. They walked the talk. Their lifestyle was evidence of the Spirit’s power to transform lives and gave their message authenticity.

This is a lesson that all believers should take to heart. We’ve all been called to preach the Gospel but we should be careful that our words aren’t perceived to be empty words because we fail to back them up with our lives. We aren’t perfect, of course, but if we’ve truly been saved we have the power of the Holy Spirit transforming us and conforming us to the image of His Son. Thus, our lives should be markedly different from the world around us. And, of course, we should practice what we preach!

But before we share the Gospel, we should also pray. No one is saved simply because we said some words to them. They are saved because the Holy Spirit works through our words and He works in their hearts.

Respond

Lord, thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to practice what I preach and live out the truth of Your Gospel. Work in the hearts of those You have called me to share the Gospel with. Give my words Your power and prepare hearts to accept Your truth. Amen.

Reveal

Pray and ask the Spirit to work through you as you share the Gospel with someone today.