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be "understood" by the natural mind of man. ( 1 Cor. 14:2. ) It is precisely because of this intrinsic mystical element that we must allow the Holy Spirit room to move. We should always preach with a clear awareness of our total dependency on the Spirit. Don't feel that everything depends on your sermon. Do not imagine that if you do not preach a "good sermon", nothing will happen.
It is NOT your sermon that converts people. It is the power of the Holy Spirit. So endeavor to be a channel for Him. Surrender your mind to Him every time you preach. Endeavor to "sense" what He wants you to say and allow His thoughts to flow through your words. Have faith that He will do His work. I still remember the first time I heard Billy Graham preach in one of his great Crusades. The meetings had been running for several weeks and reports told of hundreds receiving Christ each night. I was a very young believer and extremely keen to see such a phenomena. Dr. Graham preached a very simple sermon. His manner was controlled and rather unemotional. The crowd listened attentively but I was not aware of any obvious crowd response. At the conclusion of his message, he gave a gracious, yet controlled appeal and then quietly stood back from the pulpit in what I later discovered was a characteristic stance. For what seemed liked an eternity nobody moved. In my heart I was willing him to step to the pulpit again and deliver a more impassioned appeal. I was beginning to think, "There will certainly not be hundreds flocking forward tonight." And then, quietly, a trickle of people began to come forward. They came, and kept on coming. From every part of the building they flowed towards the front until several hundred people stood across the front of the platform, joining in the sinner's prayer, and committing their lives to Christ. What happened? I quietly asked God, "What happened? What was that?" The response came clearly, "It was the Holy Spirit." Each subsequent time that I heard him preach, I recognized his quiet dependency on the Spirit. There are obviously many reasons why the "Billy Graham Ministry" has been so powerfully effective over the years. The Crusades are well organized. His publicity is good. He has excellent co-workers with him. His preaching is extremely acceptable. But above every other reason I believe the main one is that Billy Graham humbly depends on the Holy Spirit and leaves ample room and opportunity for Him to move and work, and the Holy Spirit makes the ministry effective and fruitful.
“Build My Church!� Vol 2, Page 133 http://www.servantofmessiah.org