“And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).
“For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:18-19).
The apostles preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. We share the message of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Have we been deceived into thinking that we need elegant words or sharp logic or compelling apologetics to share the message of Jesus Christ? Has our church hierarchy inadvertently contributed to this attitude with its focus on seminary training, public speaking skills, and celebrity pastors? You, yes you, are qualified to preach the gospel. Because you carry in you the same Spirit of power that the apostles possessed.
You have what it takes to share, proclaim, teach, and explain the message of the gospel; the message of grace. “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to human standards, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong” (I Corinthians 1:26-27). This is us.
If you have believed the gospel message of Jesus Christ, Christ Himself is living His life through you. The Holy Spirit is teaching you. Christ is guiding you. The Father is empowering you. You are qualified to proclaim grace to those God brings into your circle. (And thanks to the internet, that circle is getting bigger and bigger.) Never be ashamed of what training or expertise you lack. You are fully qualified to announce the good news!
The apostle Paul summarized it this way, “My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (I Corinthians 2:4-5). Our message does not rest on the wisdom of men. It rests on the power of God.
Or put another way, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power” (I Corinthians 4:20). Our message does not rest on our words. It rests on the power of God. May you walk, rest, and preach in the power of the Spirit!