01/28/2024
The divine anointing to preach is once again the subject of our devotional message this morning. I find affirmation in the words of E.M. Bounds' when he says. "Growth, fullness of thought, and simplicity of preaching are the fruits of this anointing." Jesus could debate the scripture in the synagogue... and yet his message remained simple. Jesus could be tempted by Satan and not be deceived, yet his approach to overcoming sin was a simple one. Love thy God... Love they neighbor... Believe in me... Obey my commandments... these are all such simple concepts. He most certainly contained the boundless intellect of God, but our salvation depends upon very simple guidelines. These things are the message of anointed preachers.
Complex sermons from the pulpit are interesting on occasion, but they are best saved for bible studies and Seminary classes. The pulpit should help bring souls to Christ and solidify the beliefs of the faithful as they maneuver life's traps and temptations. They should espouse simply stated truths that can be understood by all who would hear them, and are the fruit of the anointed, because God desires that all be saved.
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
Being saved is really quite simple, and God tells us about the simplicity of our salvation directly and in very few words; He gives us eternity in three words… “Turn to me”:
““Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
Isaiah 45:22
And Jesus speaks of being saved as well by repeating what is said in John 3:16 by reiterating that it is as simple as having faith in him. Listen for the key to salvation in both verses:
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9 ESV
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.””
John 3:16 ESV
If salvation, the greatest message of all, is this simple, and direct, then why are some sermons so complex that those who hear them leave the sanctuary scratching their heads?
If you are like me, you have left church on occasion wondering what the sermon was really about. It sounded like a Seminary dissertation being delivered for a doctorate in theology... But the questions we have regarding righteousness or how to live our lives still remain; how do I forgive that guy at work who stabbed me in the back? Or, how do I not take credit for a prayer answered by God? Or, how do I love my wife as Jesus loved the church? These are the things that solidify our belief and keep us in the faith each day. I have found that proclaiming my faith in Jesus was just the beginning and I needed daily help from scripture, my brothers in Christ, and yes; easily understood Sunday morning Sermons to help me when I am in the desert or standing atop the temple with Satan challenging me to jump.
The anointing to preach leads pastors to speak to what their congregations are needing to hear at that moment. Sometimes an entire sermon might be directed towards one person and a crossroads they are at in their life; but it never leaves them wondering. When those heart felt messages are delivered we know immediately that the Word was for us... It wasn't mysterious or vague; it touched our soul in a simple straight forward manner, and we knew it!
Sermons aren't meant to impress folks with our knowledge of the bible; sermons are meant to utilize our knowledge of the bible to impress spiritual truths upon those who need them most, and to do so in a manner that they can be understood. The anointing allows God to speak through us to a world that longs for a divine touch, and a way to receive it that they can understand and relate to. Jesus said "go and sin no more" He didn't deliver this news in a long detailed account of the law and His commandments as they related to societal influences of modern day human/God interaction in 30AD Jerusalem... Go and sin no more. Simple, direct, and anointed.
The Anointed don't hold out their two closed fists and ask those in their congregation to guess which one contains the treasure... No, they hold out open hands and beckon us to take freely the gift of truth that is revealed.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the simple and straight forward gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. I thank you for making it easy for me to understand by giving it to me in three short words “turn to me”, and again when I hear your Word say: “believe in Him”. Help me Lord as I seek out my own salvation in fear and trembling, but relieve my fears, and steady my trembling by strengthening me in your one simple request… that I believe in you and your Son Jesus. Walk with me all the days of my life Father, and take every one of my hard problems as your own to solve. Help me as I pick up my cross and follow Jesus, and teach me to faithfully give Him the burdens that are so difficult for me to bear, because to Him they are easy. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who has redeemed me with the blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and made my part in this salvation so understandable, and attainable. Your Holy Spirit prays for me when I don’t have the words, and gives me understanding and remembrance of your Holy Word, and I thank you for him. He is yet another way that you have simplified my salvation, and my relationship with you. Now Lord, I pray for the pastors who preach your Word and the gospel of Jesus. I pray that they lean into your anointing and the guidance of the Spirit as they deliver the messages you have asked them to preach in ways that are easily understood, and most useful to your children. It is not your desire to confound your children, but to lead every soul to you. Help those you have called to preach Lord so that when they end each day in prayer they can give you the glory for every word that has flowed from their mouths, and in this way they will not have changed your desires for their own, and your words for theirs. Praised be your name Abba, for allowing us to be your children, and to find our salvation and an eternity with you through the eyes, mouths, and understanding of children.
“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,”
Matthew 18:2-5 ESV
Rich Forbes