Time With God
True power in preaching comes from a deep fellowship with God and a willingness to seek His love and blessing.
Andrew Bonar emphasizes the significance of spending time with God to cultivate joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit. He reflects on his own weariness and the lack of prayer that hinders his ability to preach with power. Bonar stresses that true joy comes from fellowship with God, and that even in times of sorrow, experiencing God's love can uplift the spirit. He acknowledges the dual role of being an intercessor and a preacher, highlighting the importance of prayer in ministry.
Text
"The fruit of the Spirit is. . .joy. . ." (Gal. 5:22).
Preached with little freedom. Weariness of body is against me; but still more want of much prayer through the previous week. God will not let me preach with power when I am not much with Him. More than ever do I feel that I should be as much an intercessor as a preacher of the word. Also I have been taught that joy in the Spirit is the frame in which God blesses us to others. Joy arises from fellowship with Him--I find that whatever sorrow or humiliation of spirit presses on us, that should give way in some measure to a fresh taste of God's love when going forth to preach.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Fellowship with God
- The Need for Prayer and Intercession
- The Relationship Between Joy and Sorrow
- Sorrow should give way to a fresh taste of God's love
- This is especially true when going forth to preach
Key Quotes
“God will not let me preach with power when I am not much with Him.” — Andrew Bonar
“Joy arises from fellowship with Him--I find that whatever sorrow or humiliation of spirit presses on us, that should give way in some measure to a fresh taste of God's love when going forth to preach.” — Andrew Bonar
Application Points
- Make time for prayer and fellowship with God in order to experience His power in your life and ministry.
- Let God's love shine through in your life by seeking a fresh taste of His love and letting it give way to joy.
- Recognize the importance of intercession in your ministry and seek to be an intercessor as well as a preacher of the word.