This sermon emphasizes the importance of not trivializing God's word or reducing preaching to mere entertainment. It draws insights from Nehemiah 6, highlighting how distractions and desires for prominence can hinder the work of God. The message stresses the need for humility, contrition, and trembling at God's word, rather than relying solely on talent or seeking recognition.

Never make light of God's word. Never reduce preaching to someone tickling or entertaining your ear. Let us turn to Nehemiah 6. Let us turn to Nehemiah 6. And the first verse. Now it came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall. And that there was no breach left therein. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them saying, I am doing a great work. So that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease whilst I leave it and come down to you? Anything to distract our attention. You know, it can even be an emotion. On one occasion, my father saw that the revival spirit and the revival movement was hindered. In those days, there were just a very small team of three people around my father. But they prayed together, fasted and prayed. And it became a very common experience to see God sweeping everything before the revival. But when my father saw that in that particular place, there was no such movement forthcoming, he said, What is the hindrance? One of them spoke up. I was desiring the platform, I felt deprived. And my father said, you have grieved the Holy Spirit. And on another occasion, when a man had that kind of spirit, he suddenly took healing. My father said, go and ask God why you got so ill. And he said, God told me, God showed me that I was seeking prominence. I was feeling deprived of the platform. God showed me that I was seeking prominence. Such was the spirit that ruled in our midst. I have already told you what Dr. M.D. Paul said to me. A man with 700 degrees. When I said, brother, I think it's time for you to preach. He said, am I worthy? So I found him to be one of the humblest people that I have ever met. So we only want people who tremble to appear on our platform. Others we do not want. Some of you, don't you do the devil's work. Going to someone and saying, hey, why are you not asked to appear on the platform? Going to someone and saying, hey, why are you not asked to appear on the platform? Listen. Even to this man will I look, says God. Even to him who is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Now listen. A man who trembles at God's word, he is putting himself as clay in the hands of the potter. Now don't you imagine that God needs all our wonderful talent. Now don't you imagine that God needs all our wonderful talent. Someone said to Mr. Moody, that great man preacher, oh, your grammar is atrocious. Oh, your grammar is atrocious. And he said, brother, I will use my little grammar, and you use your plentiful grammar, or excellent grammar. So I noticed that some of those great preachers preached very simple language.