Preaching: Purposeful Communications Powered by the Spirit
Preachers are sanctified instruments in the hand of God, chosen vessels for delivering God’s life-giving word to people in the world, but the Spirit of God is the one who brings the message to life in the hearts of the listeners. “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6. A preacher may deliver a biblical message, but only the Spirit of God can bring the vital lessons of the message home to our hearts. A preacher may pour out a passionate message from their heart and yet find they cannot penetrate our heart. Only the Holy Spirit can! It’s important that both the preacher and the hearers know this. Imagine a preacher who spends hours preparing a sermon, pouring their heart into every word. On Sunday morning or Sunday evening, standing at the pulpit, they deliver the sermon with passion, love and hope, but as the preacher looks out at the congregation, they see blank faces. Discouraged, they wonder if their efforts were in vain, or if they should give up preaching, or adapt their message to suit the hearers, perhaps water it down next time or maybe bump it up with some politics, current affairs and plenty of humour, jokes. Later, a member of the congregation approaches them and says, “Your message spoke directly to my situation and current troubles, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you. God spoke to me through what you said.” The preacher smiles and is pleased. The preacher realises it wasn’t their effective delivery of the words, but the very Spirit of God working through them and through their humble, well-meant words. Although they did not know it, God’s Spirit made good use of the inspired Bible verses the preacher was led to select. The Spirit made the difference. Another person talked with the preacher after refreshments, tea and biscuits, and almost in tears tells them that it’s the first time they have been to church in many years and that she will come again next week with her husband. Dear friends, if you attend Church encourage your preacher this week. Your feedback makes a difference. It’s more important than you know. Also, as a hearer or preacher, how often do you pray for the Spirit to work through the message? Do think about it seriously. Preaching is like planting seeds in the soil, but seeds need water to germinate and grow. The preacher sows the seed, all our prayers are like the rain that waters the soil. Water wakes the seeds up and hydrates the enzymes within the seed. This hydration causes the seed to enlarge and helps the seed take in nutrients. When the seed enlarges, it will pop, and a plant will start growing. God is amazing when you think about what He does, the marvels of nature, the wonders of creation. Small seeds can grow into tall trees that bear fruit and give shade. God gets the glory for the fruition and increase. It’s grace. Have you ever prayed for your preacher before a sermon? Your prayer might invite the Spirit to work more deeply. Holy Spirit you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory, GOD, is what our hearts long for To be overcome by your presence, Lord. There's nothing worth more That will ever come close. No thing can compare. You're our living hope. Your presence, Lord. Your presence, Lord. Holy Spirit you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. BOOKMARK this post, “Preaching: Purposeful Communications Powered by the Spirit.” Bookmark to read later when you have sufficient time or press ahead. Reflect, enjoy, repost if you like it. Pass it on. Please don’t only copy & paste it or pinch it. Be kind, maybe someone out there needs to read it today. God knows. It’s suitable for Christians and non-Christians too, penned in an unadorned, amiable, energetic, no frills, free-flowing style. It’s an encouragement for preachers, it’s a reminder of the role of the Holy Spirit, and it includes a suggestion to pray effectively before and after sermons that the Holy Spirit might then work more effectively both on the preacher and the hearers. Preaching is a sacred partnership powered by the Spirit. Without the Spirit, even the most passionate and best prepared sermon may fall on deaf ears and will drop like stones upon hard hearts. This brings a humbling perspective to the ministry of preaching. As we reflect on this sobering truth, may we be inspired to up our prayers for preachers and for everyone who comes to hear them. Remember the wise man did not build his house upon the sand. In light of this teaching, let us strive to be good hearers of the word so that we might be doers of the word also. Pray for your preacher. Pray for the hearers. Pray for the Spirit to work. Before the sermon even begins, pray for the preacher and for the Spirit to open your heart to the message that you might profit much. “Holy Spirit, breathe life into the words spoken from the pulpit today. Amen.” Ask the Spirit to reveal what He wants you to learn as He knows you inside out and far better than anyone else. May He enrich your life. During the sermon, tune in, actively listen, follow the train of thought. Focus. The central point is that preaching is a special, sacred partnership between God and humans; it’s human effort with divine, sovereign intervention. It’s a relationship between the preacher, God and the congregation. There’s a synergistical element to preaching. We should pray earnestly for preachers of the Gospel to have extra power and clarity, to bear good fruit, to see favourable results. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” Romans 10:13-15. A preacher is not against people but is for them, wanting the very best for them. A preacher is an ambassador of salvation, a minister of reconciliation. “Know that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing people’s trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God beseeched you through us; we plead with you instead of Christ, be reconciled to God. For God has made Christ to be sin for us, who Himself knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:19-21. How wonderful is Jesus, the Christ! I once lived like Jesus didn’t matter but I now do that no more; the Holy Spirit has caused me to believe Lord Jesus and today He is everything and more than life to me. Listen to Jesus and rejoice in what He says. “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Gospel of John 11:25-26. I sincerely hope so. Listen to Jesus. “Truly, I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. God.” When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Gospel of John 13:20-21. Paul the Apostle knew a thing or two about preaching, as he says himself in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Christ sent me not to baptise but to preach.” Paul’s heart was filled with love for everyone who heard his message, and he prayed for his hearers and readers too. “You know that I did not hold back from preaching and proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts of the Apostles 20:21. At the close of his letter, James wrote, “Let them know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20. Know that God will work to honour and empower His own message, will work to bless people, will save sinners and will glorify Himself. If you’re a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and preach about sin and you faithfully preach about the Cross and preach about the blood and preach the whole counsel of God, don’t feel despondent if you don’t see results whereas other preachers who compromise might do. They might see temporary results and have a full collection plate, as it were, but what is that worth? Don’t water down the message or be tempted to bump it up with politics, current affairs and plenty of humour, jokes. You carry on and be faithful as a good servant, knowing that you serve the Lord Christ. Prophesies are being fulfilled, right now, even as we speak. Behold, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers and preachers, having itching ears.” 2 Timothy 4:3. Neither change your approach and style in an attempt to entertain people, nor try to impress listeners with fancy, highfalutin words and philosophy. The Apostle Paul, a great preacher, if not the greatest, said, “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:4-8. Dear friends, although this is a brief reflection about preaching, and hearing the message preached, and the crucial role of the Holy Spirit, what I’m saying also applies to Bible reading and Bible study, because the Holy Spirit is equally essential whenever we read or study the Bible, the Book of God, the Scriptures. You know that “all Scripture is inspired by God, it is God-breathed, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16. Some people read their Bible or sit and listen to a sermon and have great difficulty grasping anything from the thoughts. They may struggle with the interpretation of the spiritual message. To the reader or hearer, it might seem to lack relevancy, eloquence, profundity, practicality and the element of modernity. I pray for you and for me that He, the Holy Spirit, will shed light upon the truth and illuminate our minds and apply God’s Word deep within us. Let’s rest our faith on Jesus and stand on the solid promises of Jesus. He said the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, “The Helper, whom the Father will send to you in My Name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Gospel of John 14:26. The Spirit takes the words Jesus has spoken and makes them effective. They are life-changing truths that resonate deeply within us. Let’s press on looking forwards not backwards, upwards not downwards. I appreciate everyone is on a different level and at a different stage of spiritual growth; each person has made different degrees of progress on the spiritual path, their personal faith walk. Together, we’ll make progress, and we’ll be blessed, and we’ll be crowned with glory at the end. “If we continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which we have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; of which Paul was made a minister; who rejoiced in his sufferings for us in his flesh, and filled up that which was lacking of the afflictions of Christ for His body's sake, which is the church.” Colossians 1:23-24. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. It’s true. We need the Holy Spirit, or we are spiritually blind, spiritually senseless, spiritually lifeless. This truth calls forth prayer. May preachers and hearers and Bible readers alike recognise their dependence on the Holy Spirit for spiritual life, for understanding in all things spiritual, heavenly, supernatural and divine, for spiritual growth, for ministry success in the spiritual realm and for victory in spiritual warfare. The Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for success in the Gospel mission or for success with the Great Commission. The Apostles of our Lord knew this to be true and they waited for Lord Jesus, the Son of God, to send them the Holy Spirit after He ascended to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. Lord Jesus told them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts of the Apostles 1:8. The Holy Spirit is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Holy Spirit gives power and authority, boldness and clarity. What He did for the Apostles and the Prophets who went before, the Holy Spirit can do for preachers, evangelists, apologists and teachers today. Pray for your preacher before a sermon and for other hearers in the congregation. In your prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to make you all grow in grace and love. This is the way you’ll excel and be entrusted with spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31. In your prayer, ask the Spirit to work more deeply. Holy Spirit you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory, GOD, is what our hearts long for To be overcome by your presence, Lord. I've tasted and seen Of the sweetest of loves Where my heart becomes free And my shame is undone. Your presence, Lord. Your presence, Lord. Holy Spirit you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. ~ By Brian and Katie Torwalt Lead by example and practice what you preach if you are a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tell everyone in the world about Christ. Speak about Him. Tell them of His power and of His love; tell them of His exploits and of His feelings; tell them of His peerless wisdom and of His resplendent glory; and of what He has done for the chief of sinners. Tell it to them over and over again. The importance of preaching cannot be overstated. Preachers should preach the life-transforming Gospel and not their own opinions. Jesus Himself preached. Remember He said, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for therefore I came forth (from Heaven).” Gospel of Mark 1:38. And in the synagogue, He said, “The Spirit of the LORD God is upon Me; because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” Isaiah 61:1 & Luke 4:17-18. Dear friend, have you ever heard a Gospel sermon that deeply moved you? How significant, in your opinion, was the role of the Holy Spirit on that occasion? Certainly, He was active, moving in a mysterious way, unseen yet felt. Thanks for reading Preaching: Purposeful Communications Powered by the Spirit. Of course, there is more to say. But we can talk about these things on another occasion, God-willing. Carry on preaching, don’t stop. Listen to Lord Jesus again. “Anyone who receives you receives Me, and anyone who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. God. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.”
Gospel of Matthew 10:40-41.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give glory to Him. Amen.” 
And if you are a pastor, then please “take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the Church of God…” Acts of the Apostles 20:28. Preach the word in season and out of season. 
To the person who thinks preaching is not important or who thinks that anyone can step up and do it. You’re mistaken. The preacher isn’t standing there at a pulpit and talking because they like the sound of their own voice or because they’ve got nothing better to do on a Sunday. They are there because God specifically called them to serve Him, to share the glad tidings of salvation, everlasting life and glory by Jesus Christ, the risen, ascended Lord, Governor, King. It is a heavy responsibility that preachers bear, knowing that everyone must give an account on the great Day when the Lord judges and brings to light the hidden things and exposes the motives of hearts “in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.” Romans 2:16.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in their body, according to what they have done, whether good or bad.” 
2 Corinthians 5:10. Family of Lord Jesus Christ, may we experience persuasive preaching from the pulpit, offer persistent prayers from the pews, and feel the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit among us. Amen. Together we’re longing to see revival and chasing the delightful dream. 
Let us pray for preachers to be Spirit-led and Spirit-filled and for hearers to be Spirit-receptive and spiritually attentive, so God’s Gospel, God’s Word, may transform lives, and many be rescued from hell and made heirs of Heaven. Preaching is not a game. No. It’s a matter of life and death. Preaching is purposeful communications powered by the Spirit. Preaching is like planting seeds; the Spirit makes them grow and then flourish. LIFE.
Take care, loving you much. 
From Focus Thoughts
“Here to be a blessing to someone every day”
Thursday 10th April 2025
#DailyInspiration #ILoveJesus #BibleStudy
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