The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-01-08

God-called preachers are those who
have experienced the new birth. With
out such an experience no one. though
he have all the equipment the schools,
colleges and seminarles can give. Is
ready to preach The gospel. We fear
that the new birth. which is so funda-
mental TO a call TO preach. has not
been the experience Of some who oc-
cupy our pulpits. and as a result we
have from these men the preaching of
that which Is not the gospel. Pitiably
blind themselves To the glorious Cos
pei Of the grace OF God they are lead
ers Of the blind and both leaders and
ted have fallen into the ditch.
The second fundamental requisite
TO preaching II a knowledge of the
gospel. No one Is ready to preach the
gospel who does not know H. The
gospel Is constituted Of facts. These
facts must be- known by the preach
cr II he is 10 make them known. Paul
sets them forth In Cor. 1884. They
are that Christ died for our sins ac-
cordlng to the Scriptures" How
much preaching there IL today that
leaves out these great fundamental
facts OF the gospel. and. as a result.
how few people, comparatively are
being saved Is not this because many
preachers do not know the constitu-
ent facts OF the gospel. or, II they do
know them. have lost faith In them as
the power Of God unto salvatlonf
This leads me TO say In the next
place that the third fundamental
requisite to preaching the gospel is
faith in II. Paul gives ringing testi-
mony along this line. He says OF the
gospel that 10 is the power OF God
unto salvation. Do we lack such a
falth1 II so, we are not ready 10
preach the gospel. for faith In Its ef-
fectiveness Is essential 20 preaching.
An audience quickly discovers a
preachers lack OF faith. His utter
ance. tone OF voice, face and manner
VIII betray him. He cannot speak
with burning enthusiasm that carries
conviction II he himself lacks conf
dence in his message. II Is this very
lack that has driven some ministers
10 preaching that which Is not the
gospel They have taken up some
thing else and with II hope To do that
which only the gospel can accomplish.
How such preachers. II they know the
gospel. need our prayers that their
faith In II may be restoredl
Another fundamental requisite "a
preaching the gospel Is the endue-
ment OF power. Though preacher
be born again. know the gospel and
believe II to be the power OF God unto
salvation. he II not ready IN preach
II until the power OF God rests upon
him. That which does more harm In
pulpits. next TO heresy. Is poweriess
orthodoxy that Is pharisaical In It's
exactness hut dead spiritually. Verify
In such cases the letter killeth. What
Is needed Is power to rest upon the
preacher. that the words he speaks
may indeed be spirit and lire.
God never purposed the gospel 10
be preached with enticing words Of
mans wisdom. but In demonstration
OF the spirit and power. II Is far
more interesting TO hear q lively
herctic hold forth than 10 hear a pow
erless orthodox mouth over the tcaets
OF the faith. No wonder people, who
know not the gospel. 20 where they
can be entertained by the heretie
rather than 10 place where they will
be put 10 sleep by the dronings Of u
dry orthodox.
May God give US preachers today
who know the gospel Theoretically and
experimsntally, and who believe n 10
be the power Of God unto salvation
And. o God. endue them with power
from on high, that their preaehins be
..s a.. x.aln As.s a.. shA S..lltaos. and