Thessalonians: Living in Light of His Coming (Part 2)

1. The Power of the Church

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

This is a good verse for the soul-winner. Here we have four important things that must accompany the gospel.

1 Peter 1:22-25 (KJV) ²² Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: ²³ Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. ²⁴ For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: ²⁵ But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

There is no salvation apart from God’s Word.

Paul brought the gospel not only in word but, also in power, and in the Holy Ghost. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) Just like no one gets saved without the Word of God, no one gets saved without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the true soulwinner!

First, The Enablement of the Soul-winner.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Old fashioned Holy Ghost power is the missing element in much of today's soul-winning.

Second, The Enablement of the Sinner. The Holy Spirit convicts the lost.

John 16:7-11 (KJV) ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Notice that the Holy Spirit comes to the child of God. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit. Now if any man

The Thessalonian believers received the gospel in much assurance. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) This is an important, but often missed truth in soul-winning. Noah Webster defines assurance as:

"The act of assuring, or of making a declaration in terms that furnish ground of confidence... Firm persuasion; full confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certain expectation; the utmost certainty."

1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Paul said, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) The success or failure of soul-winning hinges on this truth. Paul walked and lived so close to Christ that he was never afraid to put his life out for examination. The best message a man can deliver is his own life, showing the reality of the truths he presents.