THE POWER TO PREACH
by Steve Pegram

Do you know what has amazed me throughout 36+ years of preaching the Gospel? It is the power of the Word of God, and the anointing that the Holy Spirit gives to mere mortal man in order to share this glorious news.

The power to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most awesome thing that I could ever think of encountering. Sometimes when I have been before congregations, I am speaking the words out of my mouth as fast as He speaks them into my mind. Sometimes, while I have been preaching, I have just stopped and told the people, "You know, that is amazing. I never knew that before. I never thought of that before." Sometimes I am hearing revelatory things just like the congregation is. After all, isn't that what I am supposed to be any way, a mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit to speak through me?

The most amazing time of my whole ministry though was the time that God instructed me to not prepare another sermon until He told me to. He then told me that He would give me the Word for each service DURING the service before I was called up to preach! For almost a year, each and every time I entered a service, I never knew what I was going to be speaking on. Most of the time I didn't know what I was going to say until I had stepped behind pulpits all across this nation and I opened my mouth. Now, THAT amazes me!

But, you know what else my friend? The power to preach the Gospel is not just for pulpit preachers. It is for every born again child of God who wants the power to witness to others about Jesus Christ! You can have the same anointing and power to share the Gospel on your job or in your school. You too can open your mouth and speak the anointed words of the Most High God. Maybe you have been afraid to share the Gospel because you didn't know what to say. Well, let me tell you from real experience, that if you will just step by faith God will use your voice, just like He used mine, and will speak into people's lives the wonder-working, all-powerful, living Word Of God!

I pray today, even as you read these words, that God will mightily anoint you so that you will be able to have the power to preach!