POWER IN PREACHING

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.  (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

Good news can be presented in an orthodox form—and it should be—and remain only a form, resulting in no conversion or false confession.  So, Paul, in exhorting young Pastor Timothy spoke of those, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”  (2 Tim.3:5a)  The Apostle rejoiced that his preaching had not been so received by the Thessalonians, evidencing that there was power accompanying the proclamation!

What makes for power in preaching?  Two things are essential:  divine energizing and demonstrable example.

Concerning divine energizing, the key phrase is, “in the Holy Spirit.”  This is more than the Spirit in us—apart from that we are not converted ourselves!  This is our being in the Spirit—apart from that we cannot see others converted!  In the former, the Spirit is resident, and in the latter, He is president.  This comes in a dependence on God—seeking Him for spiritual power.  It is a refusal to rely on professionalism, rationalism, or emotionalism.  Rather, it is casting yourself upon God in faith, letting Him bear you up and carry you along in the act of preaching.   Think in terms of how God inspired the writers of Scripture, “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”  (2 Pet.1:21b).  Certainly our preaching will not be on the level of infallible inspiration, but we must honor that sacred revelation by preaching it in spiritual reliance.  Brother, on Saturday night, get naked before God—confess your utter helplessness—and then on Sunday morning, be clothed in power before you dare to enter the pulpit!  You can then speak with assured authority!

Pertaining to demonstrable example, this is a stressed by the phrase, “you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”  Power in proclamation must ever be linked to practice.  To demand in others what we are not willing to demonstrate is hypocrisy!  That is the kind of preaching the Pharisees did—and Jesus condemned it in forceful terms.  As you look at the qualifications for the pastor in 1 Timothy 3 it is quickly apparent that character is as vital as competence.  There are things we must do—there is nothing commendable in incompetence and indolence—but, there is also the matter of who we are—and that is integrity.  Failing to model the message short-circuits spiritual power.  The verbal proclamation from our lips can never be divorced from the visual pattern of our lifestyle.

When these are present there will be power in preaching—and this is the result: “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.”  (1 Thess.1:6-7)  This is fruitful reproduction: realignment to God’s will, “you became followers of us and of the Lord,” reception of God’s Word, “having received the word in much affliction,” rejoicing in God’s work, “with joy of the Holy Spirit,” and replication in God’s world, “you became examples to all.”