“Has it never dawned upon you that the essence of witnessing is just plain honesty? You are salt – whether you feel like it or not. You are not told to act like salt but to be what you are. You are a light. God has done a work in your life. Don’t try to shine. Let the light that God put there shine out. It demands no more than honesty. It demands honesty before unbelievers. In fact such honesty is ninety per cent of witnessing. Witnessing is not putting on a Christian front as to convince prospective customers. Witnessing is just being honest, that is, being true to what God has made you in your speech and everyday behavior” (John White).
When you preach the gospel of Christ crucified cross in the power of the Holy Spirit, you understand what He freely gives you. God reveals Himself when you preach the gospel.
Receive God’s Grace and Spiritual Gifts Until Christ Comes Back
Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus by God’s will, wrote to the church of God in Corinth. He thanked God for the grace given as they were enriched in their speaking and knowledge because of Paul’s testimony. They lacked no spiritual gift as they waited and were blameless on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ who called them into fellowship with Him (1 Cor. 1:1-9). Receive God’s grace and spiritual gifts until Christ comes back again.
Sent by God to Preach the Cross with Power and Unity
Paul asked that they all agree without divisions, united in mind and thought. Chloe’s household informed him about quarrels with some saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” I follow Cephas” or “I follow Christ.” Paul was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel without words of human wisdom so the cross would not be emptied of its power (1 Cor. 1:10-17). Sent by God to preach the gospel of the cross with power and unity.
Glory in Crucified Christ Superior to Human Philosophy
The message of the cross was foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to those being saved. God destroyed the wisdom of the wise and frustrated the intelligence of the intelligent. God made the wisdom of the world foolish since they could not know Him. The foolishness of preaching saved those who believed. Jews demanded miracles and Gentiles looked for wisdom but Paul and his companions preached Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. Christ was the power and wisdom of God to those who were called. The foolishness and weakness of God was wiser and stronger than man’s wisdom and strength (1 Cor. 1:18-25). Glory in crucified Christ wiser and stronger than man’s wisdom and strength.
Associate with Foolish and Weak People to Shame the Wise
Not many called were wise by human standards, influential or of noble birth. God chose the foolish, weak, lowly and despised things of the world to shame the wise, strong and nullify the things that are so no one could boast before Him. You were in Jesus because of Him becoming wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption from God. As it was written, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” ( 1 Cor. 1:26-31). Associate with foolish and weak people to shame the wise and strong so no one can boast.
Experience Spirit’s Power When You Proclaim Crucified Christ
When Paul came to Corinth, he proclaimed the testimony of Christ without eloquence or superior wisdom. He knew nothing except Jesus and Him crucified while coming with weakness, fear and much trembling. His message had no wise and persuasive words but showed the Spirit’s power. Their faith did not rely on man’s wisdom but God’s power (1 Cor. 2:1-5). Experience the Spirit’s power when you proclaim Jesus and Him crucified.
Listen to God’s Revelation Through the Spirit to Understand His Free Gifts
Paul and his companions spoke of God’s hidden wisdom destined by Him for their glory before time began. If earthly rulers understood Him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. It is written, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him,” but God revealed it by His Spirit who searches the deep things of God. No one knows God’s thoughts except His Spirit so we may understand what He gave freely to us. The man without the Spirit cannot understand things from the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he is not subject to man’s judgment (1 Cor. 2:6-15). Listen to God’s revelation through the Spirit so you may understand what He freely gives you.
Ask God to open up opportunities to preach the gospel of Christ crucified. Listen to the Holy Spirit to understand what He freely gives you.
