Acts 10:33 “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

What an invitation to preach! Anyone receiving such an invitation had better respond in humility rather than pride or presumption, but this is the sort of thing preachers dream about. There are actually three parties involved in true preaching: the one speaking, the one listening, and the Holy Spirit who supplies the content. If any of those is missing, the result is not good. Hitler, for example, was quite a preacher, but instead of the Holy Spirit, he received his inspiration from demonic spirits. In contrast, Billy Graham likewise preached to stadiums full of people, but the results were very different, because he was, and at this juncture is, submitted to the Holy Spirit as to what to say. God indeed desires people who will be available to proclaim His Word to this lost and hurting world. As Paul said in Romans 10:14, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” However, this verse is focused on the third element of effective preaching, and that is those who hear. Jesus famous parable of the soil and the seed, recorded in Matthew 13 as well as in Mark and Luke, applies here. Cornelius and his household were certainly good soil, well plowed and prepared, eager to receive the Word. As a preacher myself, I have repeatedly seen situations where some in the congregation would be greatly blessed by God through my words, and others would be untouched, even bored, or occasionally irritated. The one hearing makes a huge difference! If people listen to preaching desiring and expecting to hear from God, then He is going to be faithful, just as He was with Cornelius’ household. If they come to church strictly out of obligation, or out of social motives, God might still get through to them, but the probability is much less.

I cannot wave a hand and instantly prepare hearts to receive the Word, but I can and do pray for them to be able to do so. My job is to be faithful to speak, in full submission to the Holy Spirit. I am to speak with full assurance and authority, because I am not speaking my own words but those supplied by God. However, I’ve got to be in right relationship with Him for that to happen. I must never take any part of this for granted, but neither am I to be anxious about whether it will happen, because the power isn’t mine in the first place. God doesn’t speak through me because I am worthy, but because I am available, so that should be my focus.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of speaking Your Word. I pray that I would not hold back, but also that I would speak only what You want me to say in any given situation. I have a tendency to keep talking when I should shut up! May I be a clean and clear channel of Your Word, Your grace, to all with whom You bring me into contact, so that they may be drawn to You for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!