The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners…

The last line above can read: ”and release from darkness for the blind”.

Whichever way we may take it, it all points to this truth: the preaching of the the gospel, the ”good news” about Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, has tangible results. It is not only the proclamation of Word, but also ”a demonstration of the Spirit’s power…” (1 Cor.2:4).

”For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1 Thess.1:4,5a).

As I was prayerfully reflecting on this, I noticed a biography of Spurgeon by Arnold Dallimore, sitting on a bookshelf. It’s years since I read it, but I felt impelled to pick it up. Opening it at random, this is what I saw. It concerns days of revival in London when the church grew significantly:

‘The new members were very largely people who did not come from other churches. The vast majority were men and women who had never been in the habit of attending church, but they came, especially to the Music Hall, heard the gospel, and were converted. Many of these represented marvellous transformations – drunkards, harlots and thieves with lives changed and homes made new – men and women who once did not know God, but now were happily living for the Lord and serving Him.’ (pp.86,87).

That causes my heart to burn and cry out, ‘Lord, do it again.’

The preaching of the gospel, in the power of the Spirit, brings tangible results.