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among whom I have a natural heritage.
Whilst this is helpful for many reasons, it
is not what empowers my most effective
preaching. I need power from above to
fulfil my God given call. For this power I
wait patiently on the Lord, the one who
does not fail. Sometimes messages
come well in advance, other times in the
quiet night hours, often they are only
fully formed in urgent moments before
a meeting. Whatever way they come,
hallelujah, when that quickening comes.
The unction is there to preach, the fire
of the Word burns within, or in the words
of the hymnist, my heart is “filled with
messages from thee.”
Since the Azusa Street revival early
last century, nearly a billion people have
come to Christ or have entered a Spirit
enriched relationship with God through
the anointed preaching of pentecostal
and charismatic preachers. Sadly, the
flowery words of public oration and
motivational hype will not build God’s
kingdom. The hardened hearts of men
will not give their obedience to our
supreme and ruling sovereign Lord
without the drawing of the Spirit and, at
times, the hammer blow of convicting
preaching.

I believe this is why throughout the
last century of Pentecostalism, again and
again we find profiled the words of the
prophet;

“…Not by might, nor by
power, but by my Spirit,’ says
the Lord Almighty,
- Zechariah 4:6

How often have
we seen these
words printed in
vision statements,
included in
slogans and
bannered at
conferences?
It is of significance, however, that
Jesus instructed the disciples to wait for
the Holy Spirit’s power. What is the point
of trying to do the work of God without His
vision, His strength and His directives? I
believe there is a need for less doing and

more waiting in ministry; if there is much
to do, let’s do it in the Spirit’s power!
There is so much talk around about
methods, great ideas, correct thinking
and the like. We need to hear more about
how to actively wait on God and get the
essential empowerment first. For surely
this is God’s work. He will not fail to give
seed to the sower and strength to the
reaper, for he supplies all that is needed
for every season of ministry. So keep
lifting up your eyes to the harvest, but;

“Wait…, until you are endued
(clothed) with power from on
high.”
- Luke 24:49
As we learn to draw on the
Spirit’s empowerment, in maturity and
partnership, we will find ourselves with
Paul’s doxology on our lips;

“For of him, and through
him, and to him, are all things:
to whom  be  glory for ever.
Amen”
- Romans 11:35

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