THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOUR PREACHING
Do people come to church to hear our opinions, or the truth of God’s Word? Which are they receiving from you? Do we simply share our own uninspired wisdom, or do they connect with the heart of God through the words He gives us? It all depends on if we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us in our preparation and presentation. George Whitefield, who was influential in the Great Awakening revivals during the late 1700s, said we need preachers who are: “…mighty in the Scriptures … dominated by a sense of the greatness, the majesty and holiness of God, and their minds and hearts aglow with the great truths of the doctrines of grace… who will preach with broken hearts and tear-filled eyes … upon whose ministries God will grant an extraordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit, and who will witness “signs and wonders following” in the transformation of multitudes of human lives.” That’s not something we can produce on our own. That only happens a we allow God to flow through us by His Spirit.
As pastors and teachers, our responsibility is to not only convey the knowledge of the Bible to our people, but to allow the Holy Spirit to work through the Word to apply it to their hearts and lives, to convict or encourage as necessary and to bring glory to God through it all. We do not speak to entertain or to merely convey facts, we speak so people can enter the presence of Almighty God through out words and thoughts. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, in us and through us.
The Spirit gives us knowledge and wisdom as we study the Scriptures and the power to communicate the Gospel effectively. Without His help, our preaching will be ineffective. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is “living and active”. The Bible is not lifeless but full of power. When we read it, the Spirit brings forth understanding and application to our mind and heart. He helps it first become real in our own lives. Then when we preach or teach the Bible, it is the Holy Spirit who takes the Word and makes it alive and active in the lives of those who hear us preach.
The Holy Spirit is the one who opens our hearts to understand and apply its message. He will use our Bible study to open our heart, calling us to repentance and holiness. We must spend adequate time looking deep into our own life and allowing God’s Word to change us so that we may not sin (Psalm 119:11). Only then will we be able to take His message to our people.
Without the work of the Holy Spirit in us, our preaching or teaching will be nothing more than a prepared speech. Only God’s Spirit in us can open the passage in such a way that it applies to lives and use it to bring glory to God.
It is the Holy Spirit that gives us boldness, courage and conviction when we speak. He helps direct our thoughts and brings the correct words to mind. He then takes what we say and applies it to the minds and the hearts of the listeners so they can understand and apply what is said. I am a naturally shy and quiet person.
I dislike speaking in front of people, especially groups of people. I get very nervous before preaching or teaching. But when I depend on God’s Presence to give me the words He wants me to speak and to enable the listeners to understand His truth and apply it to their lives, I have peace. He gives me joy at being able to be used as His spokesman, to let Him talk through me. It is a great honor and privilege when the focus is on Him and not on me and my fear of what people may think of me. The whole key is to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in all this and to step aside and let Him do His work in me and through me.
The early disciples spoke boldly and people responded to their message, not because of their skills and strength but because of the Holy Spirit’s presence (Acts 4:31). Paul asked the Ephesians to pray for him for this (Ephesians 6:19), knowing he didn’t have it on his own.
Our mind and tongue need to be open to the Spirit’s moving and speaking to us, while preparing as well as delivering a message. God gives clarity of mind and crispness of speech and prompts thoughts in our mind when we stand up to proclaim the Gospel and the Bible’s truth. God influences the act of speaking on His behalf as it is being done.
Preaching is not preaching if it lacks the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, when we study and prepare as well as when we stand to speak. God uses His Spirit to bring the Word to life, inspire relevant application, and embolden us. Without dependence on the Holy Spirit, a person merely speaks and shares uninspired wisdom. We must not miss God’s heart by missing His Spirit in our preaching and preparation.
Always pray before studying the Bible or working on a message, asking God to speak to you and guide your study and preparation. Pray before speaking to yield yourself to Him so His thoughts and words come from you. Also pray He would take what is spoken and help those listening to understand in their minds and respond in their hearts. Ask Him to make it applicable to your listeners as He ministers to them while you speak.
Preaching is teamwork between you and God. Don’t try to do it all on your own. See yourself as a open tube through which He pours His truth into the lives of others.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Do you always make a conscious effort to ask for God’s help and rely on His Spirit when you prepare and when you speak?
What happens when you don’t?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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