|
Ministry Under God’s Anointing Produces Results
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me [Jesus], because he has anointed me... Acts 10:38, KJV How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, [5] because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [7] And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, [9] for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. Vss. 4-5a For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
Vs. 5b You know how we lived among you for your sake.
In verses four and five we have seen that the apostle Paul preached the Word of God to them in the power of the Holy Spirit anointing, and with deep conviction. Let’s look now at the remarkable RESULTS of such God-anointed Christian ministry. ######################### Vss. 6-7 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 1) They welcomed the message that came to them in the above way — that is, under God’s anointing. It came to them “with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
2) The Holy Spirit lodged the gospel in their hearts with joy.
3) They treasured this new life enough to endure “severe suffering” for it.
4) The Thessalonian hearers changed their conduct so as to:
5) They in turn became a model to all the believers.
Vs. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it. 6) The gospel message “rang out” from them. This suggests that they undertook bold, articulate witnessing. And it is very likely that the gospel message went out from them the same way that it came to them, that is, under God’s anointing by Spirit-filled ministers — “not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). 7) The new Thessalonian believers lived and shared their faith in God everywhere.
Vs. 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 8) They renounced the old ways for God’s ways. This speaks of radical conversion, not just a nonchalant, halfhearted decision to believe the gospel.
9) They chose to serve God, not just passively believe in Him.
Vs. 10 and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 10) Jesus became the center and focus of their lives and thoughts and expectations.
In sum, when God’s Spirit-filled people minister under God’s anointing, it will produce powerful results in the hearers:
These are the results God’s people can expect when they minister the gospel of Christ’s saving grace under the Holy-Ghost anointing of God. Preached at Medford (Oregon) Christian Center, Wednesday, January 27, 1993 ------------------------------------------------ All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of the Zondervan Corporation. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. © 1993, 2007, James H. Feeney, All rights reserved. Website owners: If you find this sermon outline on Christian ministry under God's anointing helpful for your website's purposes, you are welcome to post a link to it entitled "Ministry Under God's Anointing Produces Results". The URL is http://www.jimfeeney.org/Gods-anointing-ministry.html More free online bible study, plus free sermons on speaking in tongues, divine healing, gifts of the Holy Spirit, the end times, traditional marriage, pro-life vs. pro-choice, apostles and prophets today, and more may be linked to or viewed at Pentecostal Bible Studies and Free Sermons (http://www.jimfeeney.org). |
|
 |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|