Paul, an Apostle, called by Jesus.

Paul was and is a preacher (God still speaks to us through the letters Paul wrote).

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Paul came preaching the Gospel – which is, Jesus Christ; crucified, died, buried and risen for you. In the above passages we learn that it is not our speech or wisdom that has the power to build faith, but that it is the Holy Spirit using God’s word to build faith.

This is something I forget, especially with my family and friends. I think that if I just try harder they will believe…

Thankfully the job of convincing people is not on us. It is not even on our Pastors… they are simply passing along the beautiful words of the Gospel, It is finished… your sins are forgiven!