I was born to preach, which means I was created to preach. I don’t mean that I’m a good or great preacher. Time and history will tell that (maybe). But I mean something like what Eric Liddell said about his running: “I believe God made me for a purpose – but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
When I preach, I feel God’s pleasure.
Over the years, I’ve found myself in the seconds before I preach praying and asking Jesus for 4 things:.
Clarity of mind
Simplicity of speech
Purity of heart
Humility of spirit
1. CLARITY OF MIND
“Lord, give me clarity of mind. A clear line of sight, a clear line of thought.” I am not in the end preaching my own thoughts about what God says. I am thinking and preaching God’s thoughts after Him. I want to think clearly about his Word and I want to think clearly as I preach His Word. I want those listening to be able to easily follow my thoughts from beginning to end.
2. SIMPLICITY OF SPEECH
“Lord, give me simplicity of speech.” I want my words to be simple. I want both the youngest and oldest person present to understand what I’m saying. I’m not trying to impress anyone, I’m seeking to lead them to Jesus. So I want the non-believer, the new believer and the most mature believer listening to “get it”.
3. PURITY OF HEART
“Lord, give me purity of heart.” I want the thoughts and the desires of my heart to be pleasing in God’s sight. I want my attitude towards the people to be pure. I want my intent and my motive to be right. I want to be holy and set apart in that moment for the task. I don’t want to preach with a heart muddied by ungodly pride or unholy anger or unloving truth. I want to love Jesus and His people through my preaching.
4. HUMILITY OF SPIRIT
“Lord, give me humility of spirit, so that your Spirit can fill me.” I want the Holy Spirit to blow into my preaching like wind into a sail. I don’t want any impediments or obstacles to Him fully and freely pouring into me. To Him fully and freely pouring out of me. To Him fully and freely pouring me out through my sermon.
THERE ARE NO DESERVING PREACHERS
God’s Word through the preacher and their preaching can come like a gentle whisper. it can come like a mighty wind. It can come like a giant roar. It can come like a furious whirlwind. It can come like a consuming fire. It can come like a strong hammer. It can come like a sharp sword. it can come like a refreshing rain. But it comes from the mouth of God and “it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
The astounding thing is that He uses servants, preachers, to proclaim His word, His thoughts, His desires. Yet not a single one of us deserve to be called and sent as preachers. Yes, maybe we’re gifted. Yes, maybe we’re skilled. But to be a “mouthpiece” for the living God is an act of sheer mercy. We are what we are by the grace of God alone.
Like Paul I confess, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” But, also like Paul, I want to work as hard as I can, “though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) And so I pray, every time before I preach, “Lord, give me clarity of mind, simplicity of speech, purity of heart and humility of spirit.”