Revival and Preaching
Throughout the Bible, as well as church history, we clearly see preaching under the power of the Holy Spirit is a catalyst for seasons of revival. In some respects we have almost lost the art of preaching in our evangelical charismatic circles. Preaching historically has been like a trumpet call to awaken and enlighten hearts to our need for God's truth. Preaching can be as a sharp sword that rends the veil of the heart and natural, or carnal, understanding. Anointed preaching, with the Presence of the Holy Spirit, can brand the listener forever.
There are some historians who would point to Jonah's preaching to the city of Nineveh as the Biblical high water mark of revival preaching. It didn't seem like a really inspired message, at least as it is recorded in the book of Jonah: "Forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown". It is not much content in that preaching. It caused such an effect of conviction and cries for mercy that even the King of Nineveh commanded everybody fast, repent from evil ways and violence and have a national prayer meeting. Incredible. Although the message sounded like judgement, it was actually an invitation to mercy from the heart of God who longs to give mercy.
Apparently Jonah's preaching was more powerful than even he himself thought. History tells us Nineveh survived as a strong city for another 100 years after their corporate repentance. How would you like one of your preaching messages to have a 100 year effect?!
When most of us look at Acts chapter 2, we are enamoured with the physical manifestations of wind, fire and wine. But the effect of that outpouring was that Peter stood up with great boldness and preached a 5 minute message that brought in three thousand souls to the Kingdom. A few weeks before, Peter had shouted out his denial of Christ with oaths. Now under a power from the resurrected Christ, his lips and vocal chords had a heavenly flavour and persuasion that stirred people's hearts. His mind suddenly became filled with scripture that he probably had learned from youth as a Jewish child. The relevance of those Scriptures became a present truth to the listeners. Anointed preaching can take historical scripture, under the spirit of revelation, making it a present reality with present practical application to the life of the listener. Scripture then is no longer just a history book but a Living Sword.
God has always been faithful to raise up preachers in each generation. When I dedicated my life to Christ at the age of 19 I became acquainted with the preaching of Charles Spurgeon. I had heard of him in my childhood but when I started reading his messages, I was captured. Even though they were only on printed pages, they carried an authoritative sound as a trumpet. In his years of preaching, people would come from different nations to hear him preach. Eventually his team around him convinced him to build a 6000 seat auditorium in London, England. When he went home to be with the Lord, his church membership was over 5300 people. It was primarily his preaching that grew his church. Yes, he got his members actively involved in outreach and programs but the newcomers stayed for the spiritual bread and meat they knew they would be fed with from Spurgeon's pulpit. He became known as the Prince of Preachers. He had a God given ability to hold his listeners spellbound.
Our generation had and has Billy Graham. John Arnott was saved at a Billy Graham crusade. In the late 1940's he led a evangelistic crusade in Los Angeles. The anointing of God came upon his preaching in an unusual way and the famous publisher William Hearst sent out a bulletin to all his newspaper editors: "Puff Graham", which was meant to put him on the front pages and make him famous. It was exactly what the world needed after the devastation of WW2. Billy Graham went on to fill stadiums. I remember living in New York City as a child and going to Shea stadium which was famous for where the New York Mets baseball team played. But this time God filled Shea stadium with the gift of his son and servant Billy Graham. His simple, anointed preaching brought millions to Jesus and eternal life.
“For in the wisdom of God, since the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe.” -1 Corinthians 1:21
Lord, raise up preachers in our day. Amen.
Dan Slade
