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Praying-up the invisible and visible Church

April 22, 2005

Jollyblogger says in his post The Power of Spirit-Less Preaching:

In my last post on preaching a couple of commenters mentioned the importance of spirit filled preaching where the preacher is full of unction from on high. I agree that there are those whom God moves on in a powerful way and through whom He speaks in a special way. Yet, I don't think that what we often mean by "spirit-filled" preaching is as important as we think it is. I am not saying that it is ok for a preacher to preach while in rebellion to the Spirit of God. But I am saying that even such a preacher, if he faithfully brings the Word, can see the spirit move through his preaching. The notion of the primacy of the spirit filled preacher misses a very important fact. It is the Word of God that has power, not the one who delivers it.

As I look to Rome the last several weeks, and as I look to our own churches I see the importance of his statement, the Word of God has power. Reading Charles Hodge he talks about the constant testimony of the Spirit.

The Scriptures teach that the Spirit operates through the truth; that we have no right to expect his influence (as far as adults are concerned) where the truth is not known, and that where it is known, he never fails to give it more or less effect; that wherever the Spirit is, there is the church, since it is by receiving the spirit, men become members of the true church; and wherever the true or invisible church is, there is the church visible, because profession of faith; and, therefore, where these true believers are united in the profession of that truth by which they are saved, with a society or community-- then such society is within the limits of the visible church.

When Christ is preached, when the doctrines essential to salvation are proclaimed - the Spirit is giving testimony - God is glorified. No matter that the vessel of that preaching is clay, sinful, full of envy and rivalry (Phil. 1:15-18).

Reformed churches proclaim loudly the purity of doctrine and the orthodoxy of our teachings. True - this is our standard. But, God has chosen men to deliver his message through the divinely inspired Word of God. We are weak and God is strong - as long as the Word is proclaimed, we have reason to rejoice and enjoy worship in our churches.

Let me offer one more quote from Jollyblogger that nails it, whether Rome or our own church:

It is true that preachers need to be prayed up and Spirit-filled, but I think the reason for this is not so much to make the preacher more effective in and of himself, but simply to make him more effective as a conduit for the clear proclamation of the Word of God.  If a preacher's message is powerful, its not because he himself is so powerful and Spirit-filled, it is because the Word of God came through loud and clear. 

The good news of this is that no preacher ever comes to the pulpit without carrying a heavy weight of sin with him.  Even on his best day, the most Spirit and unction-filled preacher has enough sin in his heart to disqualify him from the Spirit's blessing.  But, if it is the Word of God he is preaching, if it is Christ he is preaching, the Spirit will attend that Word about Christ, even in spite of the preacher's sinful heart.

So let's pray up the invisible church, the visible church and the men and women who proclaim the Gospel.