Words of Grace – Oct. 9, 2014

When the apostle Paul went to the city of Corinth to preach the gospel, “many of the Corinthians hearing believed” (Acts 18:8). But because of all the opposition there, the Lord spoke to Paul in a night vision, saying:

“Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

Because of these encouraging words, “he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” A church was started in the city, and years later, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, he reminded them of that year and a half when he was there.

“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Charles Spurgeon also felt his own weakness, fretting and worrying because his sermons seemed to fall short of his expectations. “What can I do?” he asked his hearers.

“I can preach Christ to you, but I cannot preach you to Christ. I can tell you that if you come to him you shall be saved, but I cannot make you come.”