Revival! (3)

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5.20

Ministers of Scotland: Lectures on Revival III
The Rev. Alexander Moody Stuart, A. M., Minister of St. Luke’s Parish, Edinburgh
“A man may put words wisely together – he may utter them well and winningly – but he cannot therefore preach. When the Holy Spirit is given, every ambassador of Christ is another man; the same truths are far more clearly stated, and the same statements far more powerfully made.”

Effective preaching requires a variety of skills, each of which can be learned, developed, and mastered: careful exegesis, orderly presentation, plain but persuasive speaking, precise illustration and application, and so forth. But even the greatest master of such disciplines will fail in his preaching unless the Spirit of God attends to and anoints it with His power. For our parts, we must strive to do the best we can in bringing the Word of God to His people (2 Tim. 2.15). But, more than our mastery of skills, we need the Spirit to carry the words we preach into the souls of those who hear. And He will be more likely to do that if our sermons include not only Gospel explanation and instruction, but conviction, edification, and direction as well. Pray, brethren, that the Spirit of God will find your words agreeable to His purposes, objectives, and means.

Meditate on John 6.63. What are some other passages like this, that you might regularly pray in seeking the power of God’s Spirit to attend to your preaching?

Preparing for Revival
We’re looking for men who will commit to seeking the Lord for revival together. Our prayer groups meet online, and we’re open to more men joining us, or to starting new groups if existing times don’t work for you. If you’re interested, write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and I’ll give you a list of available times. Or we can discuss beginning a new group to pray for revival at a more suitable time.

The ministry of the Word is one of the areas we assess in our Pastoral Hope Initiative. This 14-week protocol gives you an opportunity for a comprehensive look at your walk with and work for the Lord. It’s free (the fee is permanently waived), so if you’re interested, watch this brief video, then drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

All quotations in this series are taken from Ministers of Scotland,Lectures on Revival, Richard Owen Roberts, ed. (Wheaton: Richard Owen Roberts, Publishers, 1980). Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.