The gospel is alive producing power, love, and a sound mind
By Chris Lioi
One thing that separates Christianity from every other religion and every self-help program is this: the gospel is alive. It does not merely inform. It produces. The message of Jesus has power to bring salvation, and when we look at what that salvation actually does in a life, we see three things working together: the power of God, the love of God toward us that then flows out to others, and a sound mind—peace that holds when life does not.
The gospel always works this way to one degree or another, depending on the heart of the one who hears. Those who come with open, willing, and humble hearts can experience His power, love, and peace right away. That work deepens causing you to experience more of God's power, love and peace as you abide in His word.
Jesus said it plainly:
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
—John 8:31–32
That freedom is not an idea. It is the result of the power, love, and sound mind already contained in the gospel. Because God’s Word is living, the gospel is living. When it is shared by someone who knows the Lord and walks in faith, it produces those same things in those who hear.
The problem we all feel
In everyday life, most of us do not see miracles. Nearly everything on television, in the news, and in documentaries never mentions God. It simply shows people living as if He is not there.
Then we go to church, and miracles and healing are rarely spoken of as present realities. Pastors will say God can do miracles—He is the God of miracles—but few will stand up and say He will do them, or, “Let me pray for you, and watch what God does.”
So doubt has room to grow. An emergency comes. We think, Maybe God will do a miracle. People pray. Nothing visible happens. Unbelief settles in.
The answer is not to try harder to believe in mid-crisis. The answer is to make space in your heart before the crisis—space for the miracle God already has awaiting you. Space for the everlasting love of our father in heaven to fill your heart. This takes time in the word, time sitting still, and the Holy Spirit showing you how he's always loved you. Since day, one. His love is what heals your heart so that you can receive these precious promises.
Faith still comes the same way it always has:
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
—Romans 10:17
If you are in the middle of a crisis, it's never too late to start letting God work deeper in your life. As you spend time with Him power, love and peace will fill you and flow through you.
Three passages that stir that hearing:
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
—Isaiah 53:5
"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”
—1 Peter 2:24
“Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”
—Mark 6:56
To receive the fullness of His power, love, and sound mind, we abide in the Word as Jesus said. Sit still and know that He is God, so He can impart what He already knows we need instead of us filling the air with our own words. Then we love our neighbor as ourselves—the thing He is always asking—and we stay in thanksgiving, giving thanks in all things.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
—Psalm 46:10
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
—Mark 12:31
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:18
The word directs our path. This is a three part post discussing power, love, and a sound mind one at a time. I will post the 2nd part Wednesday and the last part next Sunday.
Part 1 — Power: The Gospel That's always at work
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.”
—Romans 1:16
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7
The gospel is not a pep talk. It is the power of God. That power is first for salvation—rescue from sin and death—and it does not stop at the moment we believe. The same gospel that saves is the gospel that heals, restores, and keeps.
We live in a world that never mentions this power, and in churches that often mention it only as history. So when we need a miracle, we have no inner room for one. We have rehearsed unbelief more than we have rehearsed the Word.
Power is activated by hearing. Stay in the Word. Say it. Let it sit in you. Jesus did not heal a few in the villages. They laid the all their sick in the streets, and as many as touched Him were made well. That is the Jesus the gospel still preaches.
Make space. Abide. Then, when the need comes, you are not starting from zero. You are standing in a message that already carries power.
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