How do you experience the Holy Spirit’s power in your life?
According to the apostle Paul, this is how it happened for the Christians in Thessalonica. In his letter to them, Paul recalls…
For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power. (1 Thessalonians 1:5 NLT)
The word for power that Paul uses here is the same word used for miracle throughout the New Testament, often in connection with a visible, divine healing.
Of course, these kinds of miracles and healings were common in Paul’s ministry.
But here’s something interesting.
When you look back at the account of Paul’s visit to Thessalonica as recorded in Acts 17, there is no mention of a single physical healing or visible miracle.
So what was the powerful work of the Holy Spirit that happened amongst the Thessalonian believers?
It was a powerful work of the Spirit that came alongside the preaching of God’s Word. It wasn’t an outward, visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power. Rather it was an inward, invisible miracle that took place.
See how Paul continues…
For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.
And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 1:5–6 NLT)
Yes, the power displayed in Thessalonica was an inward work of power by the Holy Spirit that brought deep assurance and lasting joy. It was supernatural. It was deep. It was real.
When the Thessalonians heard the gospel preached, the Holy Spirit gave them an unmistakable, powerful, inward assurance that the message was true. Then, once they embraced it and believed, the Holy Spirit gave them deep assurance that they now belonged to the Lord.
In other words, they really knew that they were saved. They weren’t just crossing their fingers and hoping. They knew it with complete certainty.
In his letters, the apostle John also talks about this powerful, inward work of the Holy Spirit:
And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:24 NKJV)
It’s a point he really wants to get across because he repeats it in the very next chapter!
By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (1 John 4:13 NKJV)
Never fall into the trap of underestimating the power of the Holy Spirit as He works deep within you, convicting you of your need for Jesus and convincing you that you’re a child of God.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15 NIV)
I have never doubted my salvation since I said “yes” to Jesus in that Street Mission in Oregon over four decades ago. And God wants you to experience the same thing. I can’t give you that assurance, but the Holy Spirit can, and He will.
