God created man and gave him the power of speech. He chose speech as the means for messages to be delivered, and through speech, the gospel message is delivered. One of the messages from Jesus is found in John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  Jesus said he was the way and the only path way to God.  Some believe it and some don’t and some won’t.  Again, those words have power since they show the path to God. Yet, there are those who say in unbelief that there are other paths to God.  

On the day of Pentecost, the first gospel message was preached. People heard the message and obeyed as recorded in Acts 2:17-47. There was power in the words spoken by the apostles because they were preaching the message of the power to save found in Jesus Christ.  Philip preached the message of Jesus Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8: 27-39. Verse 35 says, Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  Then in verses 36 -38: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  The words of Jesus had the power to produce belief that led to the first step of faith being exercised in baptism.

In I Corinthians 1:18-25 Paul wrote: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. God chose preaching of the gospel using words to deliver the message. To some, Paul said it was foolish. To those that believed it made sense. The wisdom of man can’t know the power needed for salvation. In fact, the wisdom of man says there is no need for salvation due to their belief that sin is a myth; a myth made up by religious zealots designed to enslave the weak-minded

Throughout the scriptures, there are the accounts of lives being changed from the path of sin to the path of righteousness found only in Jesus Christ. Sin held sway with its power in the lives of those who heard, but the power of Jesus is vastly greater and their lives became different by following him. Their lives were changed after the word was preached and the hearers obeyed the message. Paul said in Romans 10:14-17: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Here Paul says the way to salvation is to hear the word. The gospel message is to be told by a messenger so that people can be saved. 

That  the message is the power of salvation is undeniable no matter what the unbelievers may say. The believers are told in I Peter 1:5: Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The power of God spoke the earth into existence. The power of God raised Jesus from the dead defeating the power of sin and death. The power of God is revealed and proclaimed in the gospel message.  And Peter says that that same power keeps us safe through faith for salvation, which will be revealed in the last time.

There is power in the word of God.  Obey the gospel and follow Jesus. The power of his way can change your life and through faith bring life everlasting.

© 10-16-2002 DEC

Revised 06-21-2008                      

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