Prophetic Preaching
The Church needs a new type of preacher, one who is a man of God, with a heart for Christ and a willingness to stand for truth, even in the face of opposition.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for a new type of preacher in Christianity, one who embodies the qualities of the old prophet rather than the conventional roles of the ruler, priest, or smooth-talking pastor. This new preacher must have a profound vision of God and be willing to stand against societal norms, even at the cost of facing opposition from within the Church. Tozer argues that such leaders will be passionate, blunt, and fearless, driven by a deep love for Christ and a commitment to the salvation of souls. He calls for a restoration of the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the gift of prophecy, to rejuvenate the Church and guide it through its challenges.
Text
If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.
Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.
This is only to say that we need to have the gifts of the Spirit restored again to the Church. And it is my belief that the one gift we need most now is the gift of prophecy.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Need for a New Type of Preacher - The Failure of Traditional Preaching Styles
- II points: - The Characteristics of a New Type of Preacher - The Importance of Spiritual Gifts in the Church
- III points: - The Need for the Gift of Prophecy in the Church Today
Key Quotes
“He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne.” — A.W. Tozer
“He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We need to pray for a new type of preacher to arise in our midst, one who is empowered by the Holy Spirit and willing to stand for truth.
- We need to seek the gift of prophecy in our lives and in the lives of our churches, in order to experience true revival and spiritual renewal.
- We need to be willing to stand for truth, even in the face of opposition, and to be willing to die for the glory of Christ and the salvation of souls.