Preaching Is No Oratory

Focus: Acts 4:13 - KJV

13. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Matthew 10:16-20

It is a good thing to have the command of the language with which we seek to evangelize. However, no matter how fluent a speaker may be, since he is barely a messenger sent to deliver a message, unless he has the understanding of the message himself, he is not likely to pass any message no matter his oration. When the message is empty, the impact is little. But where the messenger is loaded with the true message, the boldness and confidence with which he delivers will marvel his audience.

The Lord Jesus was a carpenter and therefore, not so lettered. But He was found teaching and many were surprised at that because of His literacy issues. Meanwhile, because He carried a message from the father, He was not lacking in delivery. Peter and John, His disciples, having imbibed the culture of the Master replicated the same. They preached with boldness that which the Holy Spirit delivered to them to say. Meanwhile, they were fishermen and illiterates also. Nonetheless, their message was weighty and impactful as they delivered it with boldness and not necessarily with good oration.

The Lord is saying to us today that as much as it behoves us to make bullets of the points in the message we have from the Lord for the world, it is always better to allow the Spirit to flow by Himself so that as we open our mouths, He fills them. Then are we true vessels of the Lord in delivering His message. Scripted messages are more often than not, diluted with our own human thoughts and intents. It dilutes the true message from the throne of grace. Let us therefore, be intentional in allowing the Lord use us and fill our mouths by Himself. Nonetheless, we need to equip ourselves with the knowledge of His word so that there is a store from where the Spirit would draw.

Please pray:

Father, I thank you for your Spirit that dwells in me and guides me always in my doings. Please equip me the more and sufficiently, such that whenever I appear before men to deliver your message unto them, I will never be found wanting in what to say, in Jesus’ name. By your Spirit, make my mouth the pen of a ready writer in Jesus’ name. Let not my words ever fall to the ground or miss your target in the audience, in Jesus’ name.

Please share with others. God bless you.