The Wednesday Word ~ 17 December, 2025 A.D.

The Gospel and Authentic  

New Testament Ministry, Part VI

 by Miles Mckee

 

In authentic New Testament ministry, the Holy Spirit and the Gospel are never reckoned as competitors.  Paul writes,

 

“Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so ... I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19).

 

To the Thessalonians he writes, “For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, --” (I Thessalonians1:5).

 

The Spirit and the Gospel, therefore, must not be seen as two truths competing for our loyalty. There is only one focal point - the Christ event...the Gospel (John 16:13).

 

When Paul preached the Gospel, he preached in the power of the Spirit. Under Spirit anointed Gospel preaching, God sovereignly commanded the light to shine in the darkness. As a result, people were supernaturally translated from the kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of God’s dear son  (II Corinthians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:13).

 

Through the years, I’ve observed, however, that much modern preaching lacks the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work.  Often there’s a pretended power, but not a genuine one.  In this theory, ‘Salvation’ is now ‘accomplished’ by a personal decision, a raising of the hand or a giving of the heart to Jesus. This, however, is far removed from authentic New Testament ministry where the Lord majestically moves in authority.

 

Nowadays there are many who sit under subjective, man-centred preaching being taught to focus on their experiences and condition. And we wonder why there is little revival!  However, here’s something worth remembering, the genuine Holy Spirit does not cause us to be occupied and absorbed with our own experience (John 16:14). When we are genuinely filled with the Spirit we are occupied with the Lord Christ, the very glory of heaven. He is our life (Colossians 3:4).

 

As Spirit filled believers, we become absorbed with the One who laid aside His royal crown and humbled Himself to become one of us. Although He was the Majesty of Heaven, He became human and was placed in a feeding trough. Although all things were created by Him, He was viciously rejected. Although He revealed the identity and character of God, we esteemed Him not.  He was crucified and buried but He rose from the grave, ascended to glory leading captivity captive.  By Himself He conquered sin, Satan and death. He is now exalted and glorified and in Him we are now blessed with all spiritual blessings.

 

It is the Holy Spirit who draws us to Christ our life. Far from being in competition with the Gospel, the Holy Spirit draws us out of ourselves to where our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). In fact, the Holy Spirit delivers us from the wretched inward looking, self-focused life and releases us to be absorbed with the revelation of Christ. Therefore, wherever and whenever the Spirit is moving in power, there we find believers occupied with Gospel truths such as,

 

Christ our Representative, Righteousness and Redeemer.

 

Christ our Substitute and Surety.

 

Christ the Way and the Truth.

 

Christ our life.

 

Christ our Good, Great and Chief Shepherd.

 

Christ our High Priest and Intercessor.

 

Christ our Prophet and Perfection.

 

Christ our King ruling and reigning for His people.

 

Christ guiding the affairs of human history toward the day of His coming in glory.

 

When there is preoccupation with Christ Jesus, there is the true evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in power...revival will follow.

 

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

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