The Gospel is The Power of God !

THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD: "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." (Romans 1:16). The apostle Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel." The word gospel means "good news." Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the good new." But I have seen people who were shame of the good news. The reason for their attitude was that they had heard someone who was arrogant. They told in such a manner that people just didn't want to hear it. I have heard some people say, "I've heard all of this faith business I want to hear." If they have, they have heard all of the word of God they want to hear, for God's word is filled with faith. If you teach God's Word, you will be teaching faith. That isn't really what the critics meant. They meant they didn't like the attitude we which some people deliver the message of faith. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the good new is, for it is the power of God." Good news is the power of God. It is the gospel. And the gospel, of course, is faith, and it is prosperity, and it is healing. All of these are involved in salvation. When Paul said that, he was telling us that the power of God is in the word of God. He upholds all things by the word of his power. The gospel is good news. It is the power of God unto salvation-- which means deliverance, preservation, healing, soundness. If you preach it the way the word says it, and with the right attitude, people will believe it. But you can turn people off by saying things the wrong way. Don't take the Bible and beat people over the head with it. Sure, they are bound in religious traditions. I was to. You were to before you first heard it--- we all were. We were all in the same boat headed nowhere fast. Anytime you teach something with an attitude people won't receive, even though you may be right scripturally, you are wrong in attitude. . . "The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning." (Proverbs 16:21). The gospel, the good news, is the power of God. But sometimes people take good news and turn it into bad news. They take a description that actually is one of the greatest healing Scriptures and then turn it into bad news. As an example, thank of what Jesus said to the apostle Paul where he prayed asking to be delivered from the thorn in the flesh. Jesus said, . . . My grace is sufficient for thee (2 Corinthians 12:9). Rightly Divide The Word. I have heard people say, "God wouldn't heal Paul. "But, Jesus said, "Paul, my grace is sufficient for you." Grace is God's willingness. That Scripture is one of the most powerful Scriptures and the Bible for healing and deliverance. But first, you must understand that power stone in the flesh wasn't sickness. Paul calls it a messenger of Satan. "And last I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities (weaknesses), in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7--10). The Lord was saying, "Draw from My Grace, Paul." He had to say that three times before Paul understood it. God wasn't going to remove the thorn. It was up to Paul. He had to act on that grace. He had to resist the devil himself. And he did. We can see from the last two verses of the book of acts that Paul did get rid of the thorn in the flesh. And Paul dwelt to hold years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:30--31). The gospel is the power of God, and it's good news. Yet some people tried to make bad news out of it. I have seen some who were afraid of the prosperity message. But it is involved in the principles of the Bible. God's word is full of prosperity. Prosperity is involved in salvation. The word salvation is the Greek word sozo, which means "deliverance, preservation, healing, soundness." I believe the idea encompassed in it is total prosperity for spirit, soul, and body.