1 Thessalonians 1:5

1 Thess 1:5 "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."

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;” Paul is not downplaying the importance of the word delivered in the preaching of the gospel. The word is very important. The word is the message delivered from the scriptures and it is our only rule of faith and practice. As we read in 2 Tim. 3:16, 17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” However, the gospel comes to us not only in word, but also in power as the following verses show:

1. 1 Cor. 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

2. Rom. 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Power moves things. On the day of Pentecost when Peter preached to the multitude that was gathered, many of the people were moved by the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ: Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Through the preaching of the gospel many of the people were pricked in their hearts and did as Peter told them to do. Thus, they were moved by the power of the preaching of the gospel.

It has been my experience that the preaching of the gospel has often moved me. It moved me to repent and to submit to water baptism. It has often moved me to serve the Lord in many different ways and by showing me the errors of my wrongdoings has moved me to repent of those wrongdoings.

The gospel also comes in the Holy Ghost. Just as holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, so those who preach do so in demonstration of the Spirit. It has always been amazement to me how that the Holy Ghost is demonstrated in the preaching of the gospel. When a God called minister is given a message by the Spirit to preach to a congregation of people that that message is delivered it often speaks to the needs and concerns and problems of the congregation. The preacher usually does not know the needs, concerns, and problems of each member of a congregation, yet the Spirit often through the preaching of the gospel answers the needs, concerns and problems of each member of the congregation. Thus there is a demonstration of the Spirit in the preaching of the gospel.

Moreover, the preaching of the gospel also gives much assurance to those who hear it. It assures the congregation of their salvation from sin and assures the congregation of the Lord’s love and concern for them both in their eternal salvation and in their timely deliverances.

“As ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Paul as a preacher of the gospel was an example to the people to whom he preached. It is important that the preacher set a good example to the people to whom he preaches. If we expect the people we serve to live upright lives, then we as preachers should live upright lives. Paul and the men that were with him when he was among the congregation of the church at Thessalonica set an example for the members of that congregation.