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Spirit-Filled Ministers and Spirit-Filled Sermons

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 9.

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Spirit-Filled Ministers and Spirit-Filled Sermons

By O. A. Johnson

O. A. JOHNSON
It is possible for a learned man or an educated preacher to preach with the eloquence of angels, and yet lack the essential element to make the sermon effective. He may present a doctrinal sermon in a logical and forceful manner, and yet lack the very element that will convince the mind of the congregation of the real essence of the truth he is trying to teach.
A minister may present the steps necessary to take in conversion, and yet never have experienced the transforming power of the Holy Spirit upon his heart; hence the sermon will be cold and lifeless, and consequently result in no awakening or conversion of sinners. All such preaching will be like “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
There are, on the other hand, some who are less eloquent and less logical in their sermons; but there is a Spirit attending the words spoken which goes to the heart and convicts the hearer, and leads sinners to conversion. But such spiritual sermons cannot be preached unless the preacher has experienced the power of the Holy Spirit upon his heart. There is a power that will attend the preaching of the Word of God, if the heart of the preacher is in harmony with the Word of God, and if he has the mind of Jesus.
Paul was a successful missionary. Sinners, Jews, and Gentiles were melted under his preaching. His “preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith,” said he, “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
The Spirit-filled prophets of old proclaimed the messages from God. “I am,” said Micah, “full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” Micah 3: 8. Peter and the other apostles could readily have told the people many of the good things that Jesus had taught them, and they could also have related all about the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus, and his ascension, before they were filled by the Holy Spirit; and so can many in our day, and most eloquently, too, but with little or no effect, because the Holy Spirit is not with them.
Jesus knew that neither Peter nor any of the other apostles were prepared to preach the gospel effectively until they were baptized by the Spirit of God, hence he advised them to remain in Jerusalem until they received this baptism. And the Spirit came and filled them, and thereafter Peter preached the plain gospel truth about Jesus Christ. He further pointed out to the Jews their sin in condemning Jesus. The Spirit of God was in Peter, hence this Spirit sent conviction to those who listened to his Spirit-filled words, and they were convicted, and said, “What shall we do?” That Spirit-filled sermon led to the conversion of three thousand souls that day. Acts 2.
Such Spirit-filled sermons as those of Micah and other prophets of old, were preached by the apostles, and produced a mighty stir among the listeners. The honest in heart were converted, but on the other hand the hearts of the obdurate were often irritated. At times persecution followed such powerful preaching. This was the experience of the apostles in Jerusalem and Judea after the day of Pentecost.
What we need today is more Spirit-filled ministers; for then and only then will they be able to preach the gospel “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” The promise of the fulness of the Spirit is to us as well as to them. The Spirit and power will come to us if we will but seek for it as they did. Is it not sad that we should go on lacking that essential preparation so abundantly and freely promised us, if we will but seek in harmony with God’s will? Some will seek and obtain this divine power. May God help us all to get it, and then more real spiritual fruit will be seen as the result of our labors. O for the latter rain, for the outpouring and filling of the Spirit to come upon us ministers! Then will there be a revival attending the preaching of the truth such as has not been seen in many a day. Would that that day might soon come!
College Place, Wash.