True preaching is a miracle. An ordinary man called and anointed of God, after painstaking study and agonizing struggle, receives a message from God which the Holy Spirit first preaches to the preacher’s own conscience. A preacher is the only man who knows what it’s like to give birth, a process aptly described by the phrase “wrestling with God.’” He prays over this word from the Lord, organizing, re-organizing, writing, thinking, putting it in communicable form. He sometimes doubts himself. He prays. He reworks the message. He prays. Often, he goes back to his first impressions. On Saturday night, he dreams. It’s a nightmare, actually. He dreams he is standing before the people unprepared (sometimes, undressed.) On Sunday morning, Satan tries to talk him out of that message. One of his kids is sick. He fusses with his wife, then tries to fix it. He arrives at church. Something has gone wrong. The church didn’t get cleaned. Two Sunday School teachers didn’t show. Neither called. Between Sunday School and worship someone stops him in the hallway. “Preacher, we’ve got a problem!” Or, “You need to do something about…” Or, “I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”
In the sanctuary, the attendance seems to be down. The ones he was especially hoping to be here for this message are out today. During the singing, he honestly tries to worship, at the same time praying, “O God help me; I’m not ready.” Finally, he steps into the delivery room, his pulpit. The first few sentences don’t have the dynamic, dramatic effect he had anticipated. The Holy Spirit is a million miles away. He keeps talking.
Then something happens, inexplicably, imperceptibly. He is gradually aware of Another Presence standing behind the Sacred Desk with him. He no longer feels unsure, unprepared, undressed, alone. He is caught up in the message and the moment. The Spirit of Jesus is speaking through him. The Word of God, a fire shut up in his bones, becomes a flash of lightning that streaks across the congregation, igniting hearts, convicting of sin, converting souls. His silent prayer changes from “O God, I can’t do this” to “Thank you for making me a preacher!”
One of the ancient confessions of faith states that “The preaching of the Word of God IS the Word of God,” meaning, of course, when it is faithfully, accurately and spiritually preached. Or, as John Stott put it, “To preach is to open up the inspired text with such faithfulness and sincerity that God’s voice is heard and God’s people obey Him.”
A friend of mine, Richard Owen Roberts, once told me of hearing Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel in London. The Doctor was preaching on The Glories of Christ. Mr. Roberts was in the gallery (balcony.) He was so enraptured by the message, so caught up in the heavenlies thinking on the altogether lovely Jesus that he lost awareness of everything and everyone around him. Suddenly he came to himself and looked around. The gallery was empty and there were only three or four folks on the main floor of the sanctuary. The service had been over quite some time!
I remember the first time I heard Mr. Roberts preach. It was at Glorieta. From the first word out of his mouth I was captivated. For the next hour and a half, I sat entranced by the spiritual preaching of the Word of God.
Lloyd-Jones once said, “If there is no power, it is not preaching. True preaching, after all, is God acting. It is not just a man uttering words; it is God using him. He is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.” Or, as Paul said, “in demonstration of the Spirit and power,” and, not “in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit.” That’s the kind of preaching that exalts Christ, brings conviction and conversions, and is an instrument in promoting Revival.
November 5-12, I’ll be in Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico. Half a dozen pastors, a couple of missionaries, and I will be teaching a Conference on Expository Preaching. My subject is The Spiritual Nature of Preaching.
Terri and I are getting settled in our little travel trailer, sitting on 42 acres in the high desert of New Mexico. Some dear friends practically gave us this property. We love it.
Please note our new address and phone number. And please continue to pray for the Lord’s provision through His people of an extra $20,000 for travel expenses for next year. The opportunities to get before thousands of lost people with the Gospel are limited only by resources. I am ready and willing to go through the countless open doors we have.
For the Harvest,
Dan and Terri Grindstaff