The Power of Preaching

One of the most popular activities in many of our churches is the ministry of preaching. People will travel hundreds and thousands of miles to hear what they consider "good preaching". This is an inspiring phenomenon, if you will, but it may not necessarily be pleasing to the Lord. The reason that I say this is because a lot of the preaching that takes place in our pulpits is more aimed towards entertainment than edification. Many preachers gear their sermons towards making the congregation "feel good" rather than experience the conviction and growth of the Holy Spirit. When preachers preach for the appeasement of the people rather than the truth of God's Word, we lose The Power of Preaching.

Preaching is the means by which God has ordained to reach souls for His Kingdom (Romans 1). This is why Paul says in the 10th chapter of Romans, "how shall they hear without a preacher". We must get back to the centrality of preaching the Word of God. Yes, singing has its place in the Body of Christ. Even teaching is instrumental for the growth of the saints and the people of God. But it is the preaching of the Word that's going to bring in the Harvest and win souls to Christ and His Kingdom.

What is the difference between preaching and teaching? Teaching is for instruction, preaching is for persuasion. We live in a world now where people, including members of the church, are not "persuaded" that God is God. How do we know this? Number one, there are too many believers that don't believe that the Bible is the unadulterated, divinely inspired Word of God. If you don't start with that premise, you have no solid foundation for your faith (what to believe about God). This is why you have so many Christians that are mistakenly advocating same-sex marriage. They don't know the Word! Or they don't "believe" the Word. The next thing we see is that a lot of Christians don't have a healthy "fear of God". When we talk about fear, we're not talking about intimidation, we're talking about Holy Reverence. People just don't have Reverence for God anymore. That's why you have this mentality that "anything goes", including in the church. When you know who God is and you have a proper fear (reverence and respect) for who He is, there are just some things you just won't and don't do. And if you do engage in them, then you know they're wrong. The consciousness and conviction of sin is lacking in our churches and our nation because we aren't persuaded that God is God: Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omniscient and in Total Control.

The day is coming saints, sooner than later, when this nation (America) will feel the wrath of God's Judgment. As I've stated before, you don't slap God in the face with national legislation of perversion and abomination and think you're going to get away with it. When the Judgment hits, what's going to save this nation is The Power of Preaching. People who totally ignored God will be ready to give their lives to Christ because they will literally have no other hope. It was the Power of Preaching through the prophet Jonah that saved a whole nation (Jonah 2). It was the Power of Preaching that made the Israelites ask, "what must we do to be saved?" (Acts 2). It will be the Power of Preaching that will turn America back to her God and faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.