How to Preach When Society is Going to Hell — E.A. Johnston

The Messenger and the Message in Powerful Preaching

Vance Avner used to say if we serve such a dynamite God Then why do so many of us live firecracker lives? Well, I believe there can be a wide array of answers to that burning question friends. Varying from the spectrum of a lack of faith to compromise in our personal lives.

But in regard to preaching there are only two reasons why some men have firecracker ministries and other men have dynamite Ministries. One is the messenger. The other is the message. That's what I'm going to talk about in this series friends how to preach with power and We will approach this subject from the two angles of the messenger and the message.

Preaching for Souls Rather Than Personal Approval

If you're a young preacher boy who wants more power in the pulpit, then this message is right up your alley friend. Two well-known preachers. Were walking down the street in Boston about a hundred and thirty years ago.

And the one who had a DD after his name said to the other. The sermon I gave today in my church was one. I really enjoyed. You see that one man was preaching for himself for his own enjoyment for his own acceptance with his people.

He loved it when his Congregation would approach him after the sermon and grab his hand and tell him how much they enjoyed his sermon. He lived for that. The other man was DL moody. Moody was no orator.

Moody had no formal education but moody had a Burden for souls and moody preached to win souls to Christ not to please himself. I believe it's possible to have a popular ministry and a powerful ministry at the same time like Charles Spurgeon did where thousands came to Christ under his ministry, and I believe you can have Uneventful in Uninfluential ministry that just passes time.

Entertainment, Popularity, and the Aim of Ministry

When you get up before your folks you aim to occupy them and entertain men. Entertain them and if that's all you're shooting for then that's all you'll have. So long as everybody's having a good time at your church.

That's all that matters. I'll never forget. Gonna hear a famous preacher and he had them rolling in the aisles with laughter. And he made the comment that at his church in California they rather laughed and cry.

That's what the old boy said. But he had in my opinion a pretty mediocre yet popular ministry. As a preacher, I guess you have to ask yourself a question. Do I want to be a Joel Osteen? Or do I want to be a Jonathan Edwards?

Edwards saw remarkable periods revival. But he was kicked out of his church that saw those revivals. We're gonna talk about the Messenger and the message in this series friends. I believe the two go hand in hand like biscuits and gravy.

Revival, Faith, and the Power of God

You can have one without the other but it's not as good. I'm an old man and I've been studying revival for over four decades. I've written about it. I've preached about it. I've prayed for it and bless God.

I've seen some sprinklings of revival here and there through the years. I know what revival is and I know what it is. Not. I know good preaching when I hear it and I know mediocre preaching when I hear it.

I've known some good men in ministry and I've known some bad men in ministry. But through it all I believe God is a dynamite God. Whose arm is not too short to save and he's still in the miracle working business, and there's nothing impossible with God and there's nothing impossible to those who believe in a big God.

The Cost of Fighting Spiritual Darkness

If you want change in your ministry friend. Then this series of messages is for you. If you want power in the pulpit if you long to see lies Transformed under your ministry then the following messages may help you get there.

I know this if you want to get into the battle with the devil and do some damage to his kingdom. It's gonna cost you. What cost counts and what counts costs if you start pushing back? Against the darkness in your community.

You will get some pushback from his Satanic majesty. There's a price for fighting on the front line of the battle and you will get your scars. I guess you need to decide how bad do you want it? How bad do you want to leave a mark on this generation for God in eternity?

Consecration, Sacrifice, and Spiritual Legacy

God gets serious with those who get serious with him. How serious are you? Talk is cheap. Sacrifice is real. Are you willing to go out on a limb for God? Like a CT stud and be remembered like a CT stud.

Moody’s Consecration and Studd’s Sacrifice

Do yo moody live by the following verse from 2nd Chronicles? 169 which reads for the eyes of the Lord. Run to and fro Throughout the whole earth. To show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Dio moody heard a man say once. The world is yet to see what God can do with the man fully consecrated to him. Moody walked away and muttered under his breath a vow. Oh God. Make me that man. And God did just that.

Moody did more than all of us put together. CT stud at the age of 53. Said goodbye to his wife family and friends and for the next 19 years. He planted himself in the heart of Africa for the salvation of souls.

For 16 years he and his wife never saw each other. Finally she had to travel to Africa alone just to see him one last time. Before she died. They both paid a huge price to spread the gospel in their generation.

But CT stud penned the following poem that has meant so much to me through the years only one life Will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last if we serve Such a dynamite God. Then what's our excuse for a firecracker life?