Summary
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This article, “The Spirit and the Word,” underscores “the biblical emphasis on the necessity of both the gospel and the sovereign work of the Spirit in preaching.” It states, “It is not the Word alone that claims and transforms…But neither is it the Spirit alone. It is ‘the Word and the Spirit’—the Spirit working by the Word.” Paul’s ministry exemplified this, as “His preaching, successful as it was, was not marked by self-confidence but by conscious dependence on the Spirit of God.”
Preachers must realize, “Apart from the Spirit’s blessing, our preaching accomplishes nothing at all.” This recognition leads to “a sober and more accurate estimate of ourselves,” fostering “a profound sense of humility” and driving us “to petition Him for His aid.” Ultimately, “Spirit-empowered preaching…is the means by which God sets us apart,” ensuring listeners’ “faith…does ‘not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God’.”