Read I Thessalonians 1 Faithfulness to the Lord

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. (I Thessalonians 1:5 NKJV)

Paul wrote both in defence of his ministry and the Gospel to the church of the Thessalonians. He greeted them on behalf of his team, Silvanus, and Timothy. He had spent three weeks preaching and teaching in the synagogue while in Thessalonica. Paul does not say, We came to you. He says, Our gospel came to you. He was so focused on the gospel that, when Paul came to town, the gospel came to town. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,... For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (I Corinthians 15:1, 3-4)A perfect life without words is not enough. They had preached the Gospel of God, not about themselves.

The gospel comes in power. The evidence is significant. His point is the proof of their election in the power they experienced under the ministry of the gospel. They showed it in their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, (I Thessalonians

The gospel comes in power of the Holy Spirit. It's not oratorical, human eloquence but supernatural power that brings conviction with miracles accompanying it. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians

The enemy seeks to discredit Gods messengers and then the message. In chapter 2 Paul thus reminded them of the time they were with them the four marks of the kind of man he was among for their sake: boldness in response to opposition (2:14); gentleness in response to immaturity (2:58); work in response to need (2:912); and yearning in response to separation (2:1720). The Thessalonians saw in Paul the living embodiment of what he was preaching, and that intensified the impact of his message. The divine power with which we preach to people is inseparable from the kind of men we are with people.. A message that comes through the head goes to the head and ones from the heart will go to the heart and life to life.

Prayer: Lord, You have set me apart for the ministry of the Gospel. May I speak with revelation and power what You have entrusted me. Let me not preach about myself but what the Holy Spirit has to exalt You with a life consistent to the message.

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