...
When Paul speaks here of how his Gospel came to the Thessalonians “in power,
and in the Holy Ghost,” our Pentecostal friends might suggest that he was speaking
about miraculous power...
...The power of God is not being expressed today as it was at Pentecost, when even
The LORD’s enemies had to admit that “a notable miracle” had been performed by
His Holy Ghost-Filled apostles (Acts 4:16). Notable miracles like this are conspicuous
by their absence in the present age, an age which began with The LORD responding to Paul’s prayer for healing With These Words:
Quite obviously, a dispensational change had taken place since Pentecost, where
the power of the Holy Ghost was seen when we read of the sick that “they were
healed every one” (Acts 5:16). Paul showed that he recognized this dispensational
change when he responded to The LORD’s Promise Of Sufficient Grace with these
words:
Paul concluded from our LORD’s Words that in the dispensation of Grace the power
of Christ would no longer be demonstrated in the miraculous healing of weaknesses.
It would now rather be displayed when believers show God’s Strength in the midst
of their weaknesses, as the Apostle Paul did in the midst of his struggle with his
thorn in the flesh (vv. 7-9)...
...On the basis of our text, we believe that God’s power is not just displayed today in
the weakness of physical infirmity, but also in the kind of weakness Paul experienced
in Thessalonica, the weakness caused by the persecution and opposition of the
unbelieving Jews of that city.
If we had to sum it all up, we would extrapolate from these examples and say that
God’s power is not seen today in the removing of any of our adversities, but rather
in the Sustaining Grace that He So Abundantly Supplies us in the midst of them.
What a revolutionary change!...
...how about you? Does the power of the Holy Ghost appear in your manner of life,
as others observe what manner of person you are among them?...
(R Kurth)
FULL study: Holy Ghost Power
GRACE And Peace...
"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” (I Thes. 1:5).
and in The Holy Ghost, and in Much Assurance; as ye know what
manner of men we were among you for your sake” (I Thes. 1:5).
When Paul speaks here of how his Gospel came to the Thessalonians “in power,
and in the Holy Ghost,” our Pentecostal friends might suggest that he was speaking
about miraculous power...
...The power of God is not being expressed today as it was at Pentecost, when even
The LORD’s enemies had to admit that “a notable miracle” had been performed by
His Holy Ghost-Filled apostles (Acts 4:16). Notable miracles like this are conspicuous
by their absence in the present age, an age which began with The LORD responding to Paul’s prayer for healing With These Words:
“My Grace Is Sufficient For thee: for My Strength Is
Made Perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:7-9).
Made Perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:7-9).
Quite obviously, a dispensational change had taken place since Pentecost, where
the power of the Holy Ghost was seen when we read of the sick that “they were
healed every one” (Acts 5:16). Paul showed that he recognized this dispensational
change when he responded to The LORD’s Promise Of Sufficient Grace with these
words:
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that The Power Of Christ may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12:9).
that The Power Of Christ may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12:9).
Paul concluded from our LORD’s Words that in the dispensation of Grace the power
of Christ would no longer be demonstrated in the miraculous healing of weaknesses.
It would now rather be displayed when believers show God’s Strength in the midst
of their weaknesses, as the Apostle Paul did in the midst of his struggle with his
thorn in the flesh (vv. 7-9)...
...On the basis of our text, we believe that God’s power is not just displayed today in
the weakness of physical infirmity, but also in the kind of weakness Paul experienced
in Thessalonica, the weakness caused by the persecution and opposition of the
unbelieving Jews of that city.
If we had to sum it all up, we would extrapolate from these examples and say that
God’s power is not seen today in the removing of any of our adversities, but rather
in the Sustaining Grace that He So Abundantly Supplies us in the midst of them.
What a revolutionary change!...
...how about you? Does the power of the Holy Ghost appear in your manner of life,
as others observe what manner of person you are among them?...
(R Kurth)
FULL study: Holy Ghost Power
GRACE And Peace...
Last edited:
