Demonstration of the Spirit's Power - the Crucified Jesus (12-21-2012)

December 21, 2012 - 1 Corinthians 2:4-9

2:4		我 說 的 話 講 的 道 、 不 是 用 智 慧 委 婉 的 言 語 、 乃 是 用 聖 靈 和 大 能 的 明 證 ．
2:5		叫 你 們 的 信 不 在 乎 人 的 智 慧 、 只 在 乎 　 神 的 大 能 。

2:6		然 而 在 完 全 的 人 中 、 我 們 也 講 智 慧 ． 但 不 是 這 世 上 的 智 慧 、 也 不 是 這 世 上 有 權 有 位 將 要 敗 亡 之 人 的 智 慧 ．
2:7		我 們 講 的 、 乃 是 從 前 所 隱 藏 、 　 神 奧 秘 的 智 慧 、 就 是 　 神 在 萬 世 以 前 、 預 定 使 我 們 得 榮 耀 的 ．
2:8		這 智 慧 世 上 有 權 有 位 的 人 沒 有 一 個 知 道 的 ． 他 們 若 知 道 、 就 不 把 榮 耀 的 主 釘 在 十 字 架 上 了 ．
2:9		如 經 上 所 記 、 『 　 神 為 愛 他 的 人 所 預 備 的 、 是 眼 睛 未 曾 看 見 、 耳 朵 未 曾 聽 見 、 人 心 也 未 曾 想 到 的 。 』

⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

  ⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written:

   “What no eye has seen, 
   what no ear has heard, 
and what no human mind has conceived”— 
   the things God has prepared for those who love him—

God's power is related with the demonstration of the Spirit's power that is far beyond words and human wisdom. Believers need to experience the power of God, not just knowing that His power exists, but have to experience the demonstration of God's power through the Holy Spirit. This power is also linked up with the hidden mystery, God's wisdom, that is the crucified Jesus whom Paul proclaims as the Lord of glory. The most significant demonstration of the Spirit's power is also based on the gospel of Jesus - the preaching of the gospel, and the living out of the essence of the gospel - living a crucified life like Jesus. 

My Jesus, you are my only master that I follow and imitate. To experience your power is to follow your foot steps and to be with you always. Focus my eyes on Jesus and not following the pattern of this world is the only way to have life and to experience the Spirit's power in life transformation and   our ministry to Him.