Every preacher baptised with the Holy Ghost can say with Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.”
Seldom is there a congregation in which there are only those who need to be convicted. There will also be meek and gentle ones to whom should be brought a message of joy and good tidings; broken-hearted ones to be bound up; wounded ones to heal; tempted ones to be delivered; and those whom Satan has bound by some fear or habit to be set free; and the Holy Spirit who knows all hearts will inspire the word that shall bless these needy ones.
The preacher filled with the Holy Spirit, who is instant in prayer, constant in the study of God’s word, and steadfast and active in faith, will surely be so helped that he can say with Isaiah: “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary” (Isaiah i. 4). And as with little Samuel, the Lord will “let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel iii. 19).
He will expect results, and God will make them follow his preaching as surely as corn follows the planting and cultivating of the farmer.
“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”
XVIII.
The Holy Spirit’s Call to the Work
“Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”
“THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me” (Isaiah lxi. 1), is the testimony of the workman God sends.