1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”  NKJV

            I have had the pleasure of hearing men and women who exhibited incredible oratorical ability and could hold a crowd virtually spellbound for lengthy periods leaving them wanting more.  I have heard preaching and read the writings of some incredibly wise people regarding spiritual things.  Some seem to have such a depth of knowledge concerning the Word of God that it is inspiring and challenging.  Yet, orators and word smiths cannot substitute for the crucified Christ in transforming lives.  I am not diminishing either and value learned theologians, people with oratorical abilities, and the word smiths of our day and previous generations. They have offered and offer something valuable to the Body of Christ.

             I am convinced that there were few in Paul’s day that had a deeper knowledge of Scripture than he and yet when he spoke to the Corinthian church and others he did so with a humility that is refreshing.  Here he tells them that ‘excellence of speech or wisdom’ is not the most important Jesus’ work on the Cross is.  He pulled back the veil that many in ministry and leadership refuse and exposed his own weaknesses.  The Holy Spirit backed up Paul’s preaching and teaching with the Power of God and I would to God that we could somehow get back to the ‘Power of God’ rather than the ‘Wisdom of man’.

             I could have great theological knowledge, be an expert in Greek and Hebrew, able to teach with oratorical skills that could captivate audiences and write with such fluidity and clarity that people were instantly enlightened and that would pale in comparison to the demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s Power in lives.  If I am able to do anything I want to point to the Cross and the Resurrected Christ.  I know that dazzling people with speech can become nothing more than a tinkling cymbal or sounding brass and have the ultimate effect of rain on a tin roof but when the Holy Spirit moves in a life it is forever changed and that is what I desire!

             The Western church has had enough preaching to last three lifetimes and I am a preacher, enjoy preaching and believe it is valuable but I long for God’s presence in people’s lives more than I desire to preach.  My heart’s cry is for God to move through me and if necessary in spite of me in the Power of the Spirit of God and transform lives.  I am convinced that if we were to become what they were in the early church we would so radically transform this world that Sunday morning would become a ‘reporting time’ rather than a ‘preaching time.’

             Oh Lord God move in our midst and remind us of the Cross!  May God be with you as you go through your day!