1 Corinthians 2:4, In Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

The Apostle Paul would have failed to qualify for any TED talk. There is a deliberateness on his part that he must not get in the way of presenting the gospel in its fullness and in its simplicity by any of his own wisdom. He does not speak “sleek” words that will attract the people to listen. He instead relied on the power of God’s Word and the mighty Holy Spirit to evangelise and to save.

This man knows his humble position in the economy of God’s salvation plan. And dare not act, speak presumptuously so that any man converted must only be attributed to the work of God’s grace. Hence, he serves with an acute sense of his own weakness, in the fear of God to the point of trembling.

The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6 is found in God’s throne room at the time when the king Uzziah died for intruding into the priestly office to offer sacrifice in the temple. He died a leper. Isaiah is acutely aware of his own sins. He confessed that he is a man of unclean lips. He was being purified, cleansed by the coal taken from the altar that touched his tongue. In Isaiah 5, Isaiah pronounced six “woes” on all Israel. But in Isaiah 6, he pronounced a seventh “woe” on himself. He understood his inadequacy to be a mouthpiece for God and dare not speak presumptuously. After being cleansed, he surrendered himself for God’s service like the Apostle Paul, who regained his sight, humbly submitted himself to God’s will to be His messenger.

May our lives reflect such needful consecration for His service! Amen.