THE THEOLOGY OF PREACHING (PT.4)
The Preacher’s Authority and the Role of the Holy Spirit
The great Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, took a homing pigeon with him when he discovered the magnetic north pole, and when he finally reached the top of the world, he opened the bird's cage and set it free. Imagine the delight of Amundsen's wife, back in Norway, when she looked up from the doorway of her home and saw the pigeon circling in the sky above. No doubt she exclaimed, "He's alive! My husband is still alive!" (Brownville)
Similarly, the heart of the Christian is often stirred when, in the process of reading and studying God's word, the Holy Spirit is manifested in such a powerful way, as to open our spiritual eyes to His truth. Jesus left this earth almost two thousand years ago now, but He promised to send back a faithful helper to communicate to us the veracity of His existence over and over again until He returns. In this unique relationship, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God... (Rom 8:16)", illuminating the eyes of our understanding and commissioning us to carry on His work. Every time this happens, the cry of our heart should be, "He's alive! My Savior is still alive!"
We talk a lot about the authority of Scripture and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in writing the Scriptures, but when it comes to preaching it, the Holy Spirit utilizes another form of divine influence called the ministry of illumination. The writers of the Old and New Testaments were but a few loyal followers of the Lord who yielded themselves to be inspired to pen the words of God. This was a very specific work of the Holy Spirit, for a limited dispensation of time, but all believers may be illuminated by the Holy Spirit now, in order to understand the spiritual meanings within the texts themselves. Paul explains why by saying that, “…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor 2:14)” Someone who’s spirit has not been brought to life by the power of God may understand the basic principles of Scripture on a natural level, but they cannot begin to comprehend the deeper things of God without the illumination of the Spirit.
Likewise, even those who have been ‘born again’ by the Spirit of God, require His continued illumination in order to mature in their faith in Christ. Helping people to mature in their faith is what the preacher’s job is all about, and so it is crucial that He is able to speak with authority concerning the things in God’s word, because he himself has been illuminated by the Holy Spirit to understand it. For the preacher, “God's Word is infallible, but [the preacher’s] understanding of it is not. Since the authority of the sermon is derived from the biblical text, the preacher's authority is also a function of hermeneutics… the science of biblical interpretation. The preacher's sermon has the authority of the text, but only to the degree that it agrees with the text. (Koessler)”
It is not just the preacher who receives this illumination while studying and preaching though, both he and the audience are influenced and enlightened by the Holy Spirit during this sacred act. We must look to the Holy Spirit to give us both, “… the words to say and the courage to say them. The Holy Spirit also works in the minds and the hearts of those who hear, as the preacher appeals to their reason and employs persuasive skill when delivering the message, but conviction and conversion are ultimately God's work. The preacher gives voice to the message, but is not the source of its power. (Koessler)” This is why the Apostle John could say with boldness that, “…you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. (1 John 2:20)” and “…the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (1 John 2:27)”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit empowers, emboldens, enlightens, and enables the preacher as well as the parishioner to walk in the authority and edification of God’s word, proving that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16)”
By Pastor Glen Mustian
Works Cited:
Brownville, Gordan. Symbols of the Holy Spirit. Print.
Koessler, John. Folly, Grace, and Power: The Mysterious Act of Preaching. Zondervan. Kindle.
NKJV New King James Version. Holy Bible. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN: 2000. Print.
