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The first key he mentioned was the Word. Paul repeatedly warned those whom he mentored against substituting human rhetoric for gospel preaching. He called these powerless messages vain babblings, fables, science falsely so called, philosophy, vain deceit, the traditions and commandments of men, the rudiments of this world, endless genealogies, profane stories, and old wives’ tales. (Colossians 2:8, I Timothy 1:4, 4:7, 6:20, II Timothy 4:4, Titus 1:14) He warned that such teachings and sermons engender questions rather than godly edification in faith, resulting in spoiling people and turning them from the truth. The power of true gospel preaching is revealed in Jesus’ parable about sowing seed. In this teaching, Jesus described two important elements — the seed and the soil into which it was sown. When He explained the parable, Jesus told us what the seed was and spelled out the significance of each of the four soils. Interestingly enough, He said nothing about the farmer who was sowing the seed. We have no idea at all about the motivation or technique of this farmer; all we know is that he sowed the seed. We must remember that the power of the seed is in the seed itself and that the potential for productiveness is in the soil into which it is planted. Therefore, it is the gospel and the hearts of the hearers — not the preacher — which make the difference. Of course, this is not intended to negate the significance of the minister, only to emphasize the fact that God’s Word can produce fruit regardless of the pipeline through which it is delivered. Just imagine how much more effective the ministry will be when the power of the word and the receptiveness of the hearts of the recipients is coupled with a genuine sincerity and skill on the part of the preacher. Paul had a true desire to see people saved and he made a deliberate attempt to relate the gospel to them in a way that they would find relevant and palatable. “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (I Corinthians 9:22) Like the Greeks with the Trojan horse, the apostle looked for a way to get inside his target audience’s defenses before he released his assault. In many cases, his subjects didn’t even know what had hit them until they were fully in the grasp of the gospel.
Paul’s second key was power. All we need is a quick review of the book of Acts to see that his ministry was indeed accompanied with miraculous events. (Acts 13:11, 16:16-18, 19:11, 20:9-10, 28:3-6) This is a consistent biblical pattern of evangelism. Miraculous acts at the hands of Daniel resulted in empire-wide decrees from the ruling monarchs themselves that the entire population must reverence the Lord. (verses 4:1-37, 6:25-27) When Jesus sent His disciples out, He commanded them to accompany their acclamation of the kingdom with demonstration of its presence, “Go preach saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:7-8) He added that even the citizens of Sodom would have repented had they been presented with a message confirmed with manifestations. (Matthew 10:15, 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12) When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He ordered His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit so that they would be able to confirm their message with signs and wonders. (Luke 24:49, Mark 16:17) The book of Acts records abundant examples of miraculous acts resulting in mass conversions: supernatural tongues on the day of Pentecost, the healing of the lame man at the Temple gate, miraculous healings and deliverances in Samaria, the raising of Dorcus from the dead, an angelic visit to Cornelius, and Paul’s miraculous protection from a venomous snake bite and the healing of Publius’ father on the island of Malta. In fact, the Apostle Paul declared that having signs and wonders in conjunction with his preaching was his modus oporendum and that this combination of miracle and message had allowed him to fully saturate his targeted region. “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ…But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you.” (Romans 15:19-23) In his letter to the Corinthian church, he emphasized that he had come to them with the power of God as well as with God’s powerful message. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (I Corinthians 2:4)
Next, Paul mentioned the Holy Ghost. In that the operation of the gifts seems to have been his topic in the previous category, we must interpret this reference to suggest a fuller meaning of the operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. Turning to his letter to the Galatians, we see at least two areas where the Holy Spirit’s influence must be evidenced in a believer’s life and ministry. The first is in chapter five verses sixteen and eighteen: walking in and being led by the Spirit. Such Holy Spirit orchestrated movement is not only vitally important to the success of our personal lives and the productivity of our ministries, but it may also make the difference between life and death. As Paul mentioned in the Galatian passage, the fatally destructive works of the flesh will overcome us unless we walk in the Spirit. The apostle was directed away from Asia toward a fertile ministry in Europe through the Holy Spirit’s direction. The inner voice of the Holy Spirit also warned Paul of the impending danger into which his ship was to sail. (Acts 27:10) The other Holy Spirit quality that Paul discusses in Galatians chapter five is the fruit of the Spirit listed in verses twenty-two and twenty-three. Just as no one cares for a barren tree that does not produce fruit (Matthew 21:19, Luke 13:6-7), people will not be attracted to our lives or ministries unless we manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul followed with the quality of assurance. Even without an examination of some of the key biblical injunctions concerning assurance (Isaiah 32:17, Acts 17:31, Colossians 2:2, Hebrews 6:11, and 10:22), we can recognize from the natural world that we never want to believe what someone is saying if we don’t feel that he really believes it himself. I know that I’d never buy a car from a salesman if I saw him driving another make. Paul was persuaded of the validity of his message (Romans 8:38, 14:14, II Timothy 1:12) and admonished his disciples to be fully persuaded concerning their faith. (Romans 14:5)
Character was the fifth key which Paul used to open the city of Thessalonica to the gospel. In our Thessalonian passage, he called it his “manner of man.” To get a definition of this term, we can turn to his farewell to the Ephesian church where again he used this same expression and gave a rather lengthy explanation. (Acts 20:18-34) The purity of his motives and the unselfishness of his service permeate the speech and testify to the quality of life he lived before the people. Who he was backed up what he said. As the old expression goes, he walked the walk as well as talked the talk. Another couplet reminds us that people don’t care what we know unless they know that we care. Our personal character is likely the most powerful force in communicating to the city we wish to win for Christ. After all, many more people will read our lives than will ever read our tracts.