Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
As Jesus wasn’t ashamed of us when He bore our sins on the cross, neither should we be ashamed of the Gospel. However, many of us are afraid to share the Gospel, fearing rejection by others and possible persecution. But let us remember, even if we face persecution for our faith, rewards await us in heaven.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NKJV) And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
The power of God is what lies behind the salvation of everyone who believes. It has nothing to do with our ability to convince or our eloquence of speech. Instead, the Gospel itself has the power to save because it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8).
Mark 16:17,20 (NKJV) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Moreover, Jesus promised us that signs and wonders would follow the preaching of the Gospel. Because the Holy Spirit is invisible, when He demonstrates His power, it must be tangible and visible. Just like God’s power flows through the sick when someone lays hands on them, we are working in partnership with God when we respond in obedience to preach the Gospel, and God’s power will manifest in our midst.
Jesus came for the ungodly and the sinners. All of us are spiritually bankrupt, and nobody can use their own strength to stand right before God because sin has caused us to be separated from Him. No human effort can wash away the prickling of our conscience for our sins, and a continuous conviction that we are not good enough to face God after we die will linger unless we receive Jesus as our Saviour.
Rather than waiting for us to be condemned and suffer in hell, God took the initiative to send His only Son to deal with humanity’s sin issue. We are messengers of the good news, and we can stand on the promise that signs and wonders will follow the preaching of the Gospel.
Sermon Series：The Time is Now
福音的大能
罗马书 1:16-17 我不以福音为耻；这福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是犹太 人，后是希腊人。 因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来；这义是本于信，以至于信。如经上所记：“义人必因信得生。”
当耶稣被挂在木头上担当了我们的罪时，祂并没有以我们为耻，我们也不应以福音为耻。然而，我们许多人害怕分享福音，担心会被他人拒绝和可能被逼迫。但我们要记住，即使我们因我们的信仰遭受逼迫，在天上会有赏赐在等着我们。
哥林多前书 2:4-5 我说的话、讲的道，不是用智慧委婉的言语，乃是用圣灵和大能的明证，叫你们的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎神的大能。
在每一个相信且得救的人的背后都有神的大能。这与我们说服人的能力或口才无关。相反，福音本身就有救赎的大能，因为圣灵的工作是叫罪人为罪、为义、为审判，自己责备自己（约翰福音 16:8）。
马可福音 16:17,20 信的人必有神迹随着他们，就是：奉我的名赶鬼；说新方言…… 门徒出去，到处宣传福音。主和他们同工，用神迹随着证实所传的道。阿门。
此外，耶稣应许我们，在传福音时必有神迹奇事随着。因为圣灵是那不能看见的，但当祂显现祂的大能时，必须是有形可见的。就像当有人为病人按手时，神的大能会从病人身上流出一样，当我们顺服去传福音的时候，我们就是在与神同工，神的能力就会在我们中间彰显出来。耶稣是为了不敬虔的人和罪人而来。我们都是在灵里匮乏的，没有人能靠自己的力量在神面前站立得住，因为罪使我们与神隔绝。没有任何人的努力能除去我们的良知对罪的刺痛，除非接受耶稣为我们的救主，否则我们死后仍将持续感到自己不够好，无法面对神。
神主动派遣祂的独生子来解决人类罪的问题，而不是等我们被定罪和在地狱里受苦。我们是好消息的传递者，我们可以抓住传福音时必有神迹奇事随着的应许。
讲章系列：把握时机
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