PREACHING:
WITH AUTHORITY

You will notice that throughout the four Gospels the disciples were asking questions—while in the book of Acts and after Pentecost they were answering questions. That is the difference between the man who is Spirit-filled and the man who is not. The preacher who is not filled with the Spirit uses many phrases like, “And now, let us ask ourselves this question.” I know you have heard that from the pulpit—“Now let us ask ourselves …” I have often wondered why the reverend wanted to ask himself a question. Why didn’t he settle that in his study before he came into the pulpit? “What shall we say?” and “What should we think?” God never puts a preacher in the pulpit to ask questions. He puts the preacher in the pulpit to answer questions. He puts him there with authority to stand up in the name of God and speak and answer questions.

Haggai 1:5, 7; Acts 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:2–4

The Counselor, 143.