We are called to preach and are commissioned by God to be a herald. A herald is one who stands in the presence of God to first receive the message before delivering to others. This call to preach comes from God himself. We have to be sure of our calling because only a deep sense of conviction will sustain us through difficult times of discouragement, difficulties, and even depression (see Amos 7:14, 15; Jer. 1:6, 9). It is essential that we know what we have been called to do. Peter tells us that we should “speak as one who utters God’s oracles” (1 Pet. 4:11).

As preachers, we are God’s mouthpiece to proclaim “the oracles of God” (1 Pet 4:11). When we preach, we are actually speaking on behalf of God. What an awesome and yet solemn responsibility. Hence, we seek to discharge our duty, responsibly, faithfully and diligently. Matthew Simpson sums up best the awesome task of the preacher when he said,

Your throne is the pulpit; you stand in Christ’s stead; your message is the word of God; around you are immortal souls; the Savior, unseen is beside you; the Holy Spirit broods over the congregation; angels gaze upon the scene, and heaven and hell await the issue. What associations, and what vast responsibility. (Matthew Simpson).

I hold a high view of preaching. A high view of preaching will restrain us from the fleshly rhetoric and trivial chatters, and inspire us to preach better and above all drive us to our knees. It will also humble us and remind us of our inadequacy and our need for the Holy Spirit. We feel privileged to serve yet so unworthy. As preachers we stand before others as sinners saved by grace. Even our best insights are fragmentary.

We can all agree that the preaching of the Word of God in today’s church is sine qua non and non-negotiable. We proclaim the Word to reclaim this world. John R. W. Stott asserted,

If today’s pastors were to take seriously the New Testament emphasis on the priority of preaching and teaching, not only would they find it extremely fulfilling themselves, but also it would undoubtedly have a very wholesome effect on the church. . . . If we were to establish “the ministry of the word and prayer” as our priority, as the apostles did (Acts 6:4), it would involve for most of us a radical restructuring of our program and timetable, including a considerable delegation of other responsibilities to lay leaders, but it would express a truly New Testament conviction about the essential nature of the pastorate.

At the same time, we must recognize that the Word of the Sovereign and the work of the Spirit must go hand in hand in preaching like hand and glove. Without the work of the Holy Spirit there can be no conviction of sin, conversion of sinners, or consecration of the saints. It was Jesus who said, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh can achieve nothing” (John 6:33; cf. John 3:6). Hence, there is an integral relationship between the work of the Holy Spirit and our preaching. Have we forgotten that it was Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God) that was at work in creation (Gen. 1:2)? Ruach (breath) that opened the Red Sea (sea of Reeds) and closed it again (Exod. 15:8; 2 Sam. 22:16)? Ruach (wind) that made dry bones live/brought dead people to life (Ezek. 37:1–14)?

I believe in the primacy of preaching and the efficacy of preaching with unction. In our preaching there must be truth and eloquence, reason and passion, light and fire. These should never be divorced. When combined they become irresistible in their power namely theology on fire, passionate truth, eloquent reason. (John Stott).

 “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: ‘It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Zech. 4:6). The context of this verse has to do with the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586/587 BC. During this period, the Persians were the super powers having defeated the Babylonians. The Jewish people were given permission to rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel (returnees from exile) who later laid the foundations of the temple (Ezra 5) was the political appointee of the Persian government to supervise the reconstruction of the rebuilding of the temple. The angel conveyed a message through Zechariah to Zerubabel that the successful rebuilding of the temple was not dependent on the military or the economic or political might of the Persians who were the superpowers or on human power but with God’s Spirit, they will accomplish what they set out to do.

If you read the other texts you realise that, accompanied by the Spirit of God, no mountain of obstacles or opposition of men will stand in the way (v. 7). The Spirit of God guaranteed the success of the project—he will finish it (v. 9). The day of small things must not be despised (v. 10) because what begins small will one day become large. It has been said that the second temple was magnificent and awesome. Indeed, God’s work done in God’s way (Spirit empowerment) produces results and glorifies God.

Analogically speaking, if the rebuilding of the temple required God’s Spirit, how much more do we, who are preachers and pastors, urgently need Gods’ Spirit to build up the body of Christ. The bell of this pointed and pregnant text, “Not by might nor by power but by my [God’s] Spirit” needs to be ringing in our churches today. The reverberation of this text needs to be felt by all preachers, pastors, and teachers of God’s Word. For preaching to produce results, to be life-transforming, and to be effective, we need the empowerment of the Spirit of God. Any preaching however eloquent or brilliant may impress and even inspire others but it will not touch or change lives without the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Ezek. 37:1–14, the Lord showed Ezekiel a plain covered with dry bones. When the Lord asked Ezekiel whether the bones could live, he replied, “Only you, Lord God, know that” (v. 3). The Lord told Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones that God was going to put breath into them and they shall come to life again. God would also put flesh and muscle on them and cover them with skin so that they would know that he is God (vv. 4–6).

As Ezekiel began to prophesy, he heard a rattling sound and saw the bones all fitted themselves together. Then as he watched, he saw dry bones were clothed with muscles and flesh but there was no life. Only when the wind entered their bodies, they began to breathe and they came to life (v. 9). What an instructive message! There are some Sundays (if not many) where we feel we are preaching to a sea of dry bones. But things change when the wind (Spirit) of God quickens them from the dead. “But as for me, I am filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and strength to boldly declare Israel’s sin and rebellion” (Micah 3:8).