Articles for 07/08/2003: THE POWER OF PREACHING (Part Four) by Barry M. Grider Archived articles. THE POWER OF PREACHING (Part Four) Barry M. Grider Third, the purpose of preaching is to prepare hearts and lives for the judgment. Peter preached so that his listeners might one day enjoy a home in heaven. They first must be warned of the danger of being lost. Paul, when he stood before Felix, "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" (Acts 24:25). Felix could smell the smoke of hell when Paul finished his sermon. One preacher observed his purpose in preaching was to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Often, as a boy, I heard preachers expound on the judgment and say to those lost and erring in the audience, "I hope you can’t sleep tonight because of the weight of the judgment and eternity on your mind." Paul, speaking to the young evangelist, said,   I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Tim. 4:1-2). The constant theme throughout the Bible is "Jesus is coming-get ready!" Passionate When I hear some preach, I am not sure they really believe what they are teaching; to say the least, they are not excited about the good news of the gospel. Peter and the rest of the apostles preached with passion on the day of Pentecost. They were filled with enthusiasm and emotion. The only way they could preach in such a manner was to be convinced that their message was true. One of the greatest proofs of the genuineness of Christianity was the willingness of these apostles to put their very lives on the line for the cause of Christ. Those who heard and obeyed their message, likewise, were willing to die for the sake of the gospel (Acts 8:1ff). Jesus said, "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). What is the Lord teaching? A Christian must be faithful to the very point of death if he desires to be saved. The apostles had not always preached with such passion. Often times their faith faltered. Peter even denied the Lord shortly before the Savior died. However, on the day of Pentecost, Peter would not deny Him. He had seen the risen Lord. He had talked with Him. Remember, Jesus said,   Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not (John 21:18).

Peter was willing to die for the Lord, and he did die for Him. Some individuals may live for a lie, but very few will die for a lie. The apostles knew their message was true and they were passionate about it. When we consider our message is the greatest news the world could ever receive, we will respond in the same manner.
 

Let us not be afraid of being passionate about the gospel. While emotions cannot produce faith, faith will produce emotions. Our sermons will not be effective if we are not convinced of our subject. Let us bring passion back to our pulpits. Jeremiah said, "...but his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jer. 20:9). As brother Richard Curry taught my classmates and me, "If you can’t put fire in your sermon, put your sermon in the fire."

When a preacher stands before an audience, he must be perceptive of their needs. Peter knew those who gathered on Pentecost needed to hear how they might receive deliverance from sin. His was a Jewish audience, and therefore, he took them through the many prophecies which culminated in the death, resurrection and glorification of Jesus Christ. When they cried out, "What shall we do?", he did not say, "Figure it out for yourselves" or "Ask your ‘pastor’ about it." He told them what to do.
 

As brother Andrew M. Connally once stated, "Peter did not give the Pentecostians a pep talk on religion like you could get down at the Methodist Church." He told them what they needed to hear.

Preacher, the Bible is the Book of the ages. It must be taught in every generation. Those who proclaim God’s truth must make the necessary application and show how it is relevant for us today. When we fail to make our sermons practical, they have lost the power to transform lives.

(To be continued)