Authority in Preaching
A preacher should have divine authority in their ministry, reigning by moral ascendancy and conveying God's Word to listeners who are accountable to Him.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of divine authority in preaching, asserting that preachers must embody the authority of God to hold their congregations accountable to the Word. He critiques the lack of moral ascendancy in many pulpits, suggesting that some preachers have been dulled by seminary training, failing to challenge their congregations effectively. Tozer argues that a preacher should reign from the pulpit with the same authority as a king, relying on the Holy Spirit to empower their message. The call is for preachers to deliver the whole counsel of God with conviction, ensuring that their words resonate with divine power.
Text
Because we are Christians who believe the inspired Word of God and because we believe that the Holy Spirit is the abiding third person of the Trinity, there should be more divine authority in our preaching ministries. A preacher of this gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ should have the authority of God upon him, so that he makes the people responsible to listen to him. When they will not listen to him, they are accountable to God for turning away from the divine Word. A preacher under God's unction should reign from his pulpit as a king from his throne. He should not reign by law or by regulation or by man's authority. He ought to reign by moral ascendancy!
The divine authority is missing from many pulpits.
We have "tabby cats" with their claws carefully trimmed in the seminary, so they can paw over the congregations and never scratch them at all! The Holy Spirit will sharpen the arrows of the man of God who preaches the whole counsel of God!
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Divine Authority in Preaching
- The Characteristics of a Preacher Under God's Unection
- Reigning from the pulpit with moral ascendancy
- Not relying on law, regulation, or human authority
Key Quotes
“A preacher under God's unction should reign from his pulpit as a king from his throne.” — A.W. Tozer
“The Holy Spirit will sharpen the arrows of the man of God who preaches the whole counsel of God!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Preachers should strive to convey God's Word with authority and responsibility.
- Listeners are accountable to God for turning away from the divine Word.
- A preacher's authority should be based on moral ascendancy, not human authority.