The Power of God Rom. 1: 16 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
The Power of God
When we deal with folks about the Lord, we shouldn’t worry about whether or not we’re doing a good enough job. I realize how nervous we can be trying to talk to someone about Jesus. However, how they respond is really not up to us or how “smooth” we are in our “presentation.” We aren’t depending on ourselves; we are depending upon the power of God.
The Power of God Is In:
The Gospel
Rom 1:16 – the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ [1 Cor 15:3-4]. Imagine the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead. It is through the power of the gospel that we are saved. The gospel is the power of God to everyone that believeth. When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are forever saved from hell and from your sins. It is not we, but rather the gospel of Jesus that brings them salvation.
The Cross
1 Cor 1:18 – the cross is where Christ became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [2 Cor 5:21]. Christ completed the work of salvation at the cross. To the saved, the preaching of the cross is the power of God. By the cross, the world is crucified to us and we are crucified to the world [Gal 6:14]. On the cross, our old man is dead [Rom 6:6] that we should not serve sin. On the cross, Christ lives in us and we live our lives by the faith of the Son of God. When we are crucified with Christ, talking to others about him is a living testimony. He is in us presenting himself, not us, to them.
The Word
Ecc 8:4 – where the word of king is there is power. These are the words of God. And they work effectually in you when you believe them [1 Thes 2:13]. Through them you are born again [1 Pet 1:23]. They clean you up [Jn 15:3]. They have the power to completely change your life and to grow you up as a child of God [Acts 20:32]. When you preach the words of God, they are what bring someone else to saving faith in Jesus [Rom 10:17]. It is the word, rather than your presentation, that brings them to Christ.
The Spirit
Lk 4:14 – the Spirit of God reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment [Jn 16:8-11]. It is through the Spirit of God that men are born again [Jn 3:5-8]. The Spirit fills you so that you can speak the word with boldness [Acts 4:31]. He brings scriptures to your remembrance so that you can speak the precise oracles of God that he wants you to speak [Jn 14:26; 1 Pet 4:11]. We yield to him so that he can do the work through us. We are weak; he is powerful.
The Blood
Col 1:14 – the blood of Jesus Christ is eternally efficacious [Heb 9:14]. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin [1 Jn 1:7]. As the hymn says, “There is power in the blood.” We do not have the power to forgive sins; only God can do that. And when he applies the blood to a sinner’s sins, he washes them in his blood. As another hymn says, “What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Conclusion to the Power of God
Can you see how much of the power of God is involved when you are witnessing to someone? You don’t need to worry about how well you’re doing when you are sure that the power to see them saved is not yours but God’s. Rely upon the power of God.