THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PREACHING
A. Jn. 16:13 tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. He will help illuminate, interpret, and reveal things about Christ to us and to our congregation. Help the people know that the Holy Spirit is the chief teacher!
B. Jn. 14:26 teaches us that the Holy Spirit’s role is to teach us all things and to remind us of the truth. The Spirit seeks to instruct, reinforce, review, and help us transfer truth to practice.
C. Jn. 16:8 shows us that the Holy Spirit convicts people of guilt in regard to their sin (anything done contrary to the nature of God’s character or His word). The Spirit also convicts people of their need to be righteous and the consequential judgment awaiting them for unbelief, sin, and disobedience to God.
D. Psa. 32:8 helps us see that the Spirit of God instructs us in the ways we are to live. This is a priestly word of instruction that we must watch the Lord closely for intimate directions. It also assures us that He will watch over us and protect us from evil.
E. Prov. 2:6 says, ``The Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.’’ The Holy Spirit gives wisdom beyond our natural abilities as we listen to Him.
F. The Spirit of God can correct us when we go astray from the Scripture’s teaching provided that we are open for instruction. Isa. 30:21 says, ``Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ``This is the way, walk in it.’’
G. Jesus assured us in Acts 1:8 that the Spirit would come upon us and empower us to be His witnesses in our Jerusalem, Judeas, Samarias, and to the uttermost parts of the earth!
H. Rom. 8:26 teaches us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Do not think that effective preaching is entirely up to you.
I. The Spirit prays for us with far deeper insights because He knows the mind of God perfectly.
J. The Spirit helps us see problems in their proper perspective. (Rm. 9:1)
K. The Spirit multiplies our message in ways that we cannot understand. (Isa. 55:11) He makes the word of God accomplish its purposes.
L. The Spirit battles against the forces of darkness for us. (Eph. 6:12)
M. The Spirit gives wisdom that is very different then worldly wisdom (selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice). Jm. 3:17 says His wisdom is pure, than peace-loving, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Those who sow in this peaceful wisdom are promised to raise a harvest of righteousness.
N. People must have the Holy Spirit living in them before they can be expected to understand the full word of God. (I Cor. 2:14-16)
O. I Cor. 2:10-13 promises us that the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. If your sermons lack depth, you need to ask God to allow His Spirit to reveal the deeper truths of God.
P. Acts 16:6 says that sometimes the Holy Spirit can inhibit some people from speaking for certain reasons. Realize that where, what, and to whom we speak is still God’s prerogative if our lives are yielded to Him.
Q. Acts 19:15 gives us a good example of how we should discern the true Spirit from false spirits. We should not try to manipulate the Holy Spirit for our selfish purposes.
R. Acts 28:25 helps us see that the highest compliment a preacher can receive is to be told, ``The Holy Spirit spoke through you!’’
S. Rom. 8:6-8 contrasts the effects of setting our minds on the Spirit (Life & peace) as opposed to the flesh (death). We must practice righteous thinking throughout the week if our sermons are going to reflect the Spirit’s mind on Sunday!
T. The Spirit gives gifts to whomever He will for the purpose of giving glory to God. (I Cor. 12:1- 31)
