RIP: The Neutralizing of Preaching Personalities

[Felicity]

Some of the pioneers were real "characters". They had no mentors and nobody much to pattern themselves or their ministry after. They were true blue originals.

So many of the men in ministry today in these 4th/5th generation organizations have gone through Bible School, pattern themselves after others so you have a lot of guys that are all kind of cookie cutter imitations.

Some of the guys who come in out of the world and don't get to our Bible Schools have an individuality of sorts.

J. Arnold comes immediately to mind. He was definitely original.

Originally Posted by rrford

Had an interesting conversation with a Texas District Presbyter today. He had the same conclusion that I have. Many of those letting go of the things you are speaking of are not young men, but older men. That is seriously hurting our movement.

If the elders do not preach it, the younger will not hear it nor will they preach it. Spiritual pablum will not engender revival nor nourish an anemic church.

I am inclined to believe the Presbyter's view completely. I find that it's not so much the young men as it is the older men who let things 'slip'. If they do then we have no hope of a younger generation picking up the mantle and running with it.

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Only my lowly opinion.

When we ministers become hungry enough that nothing else matters, that we would rather walk away from the pulpit than preach "another message". When we become driven into our wilderness of solitude to pray until we find that hidden life in Christ, that secret place of the most high. When our "occupation" becomes the prayer chambers.


But the sad thing thing is that I really find no Prophet in Israel. Many want the title, but few live the title. Without a prophet this nation will continue to plummet, and the church of America will continue to sleep. We have been set on an exceeding high mountain, and have seen the glory of this world's goods, and have desired them.

I believe it was Verbal bean that in the message "Which way went the Spirit from you", talked about those living next to the train tracks, and that they had become so used to the train coming through that they hardly noticed it anymore. America, and the Apostolic church specifically, has heard some of the best of the best preaching. Yet we are not moved to greater depths in God. We still place our tents around the foundation, and do not even realize that there is a temple that is not yet built. I fear that the words of the preacher have become to common that we, like the train track people, no longer hear the voice of the Spirit.

just my ramblings

And wonderful ramblings they are... great post.

[The Dean]

There is a lot of good information in this thread. Maybe we should look back to a Bible story that proves what so many of you have said.

It was God alone that heard the prayers of his people and God alone that handpicked Saul to be their King. What was I that God saw in him that day? What is that great trait that God saw that nobody else could recognize?

We don't see it when the anointing oil flowed over his head. We don’t see any clues when the people start chanting through the streets that Saul was the King of Israel.

Could it be that our greatest hint was found at his coronation? Not only could we not find the qualifying factor for which God chose him but we can’t even find Saul himself!

Scripture says “when they sought him, he could not be found.” At some point someone inquired of the Lord saying, “Where is he that you’ve chosen with your own hand, Lord?” The Lord answered, "He’s hidden himself among the stuff.”

He was no doubt trembling at the thought of being chosen of God for such a mighty purpose. My question? Could it be that his ability to tremble was the very reason God chose him? I suspect, too, that this is why God elevated him to thrones, leading armies and leading God's favored nation.

But don't forget that this same man later became comfortable, even casual, about the things of God.

He became so casual with the things of God that he didn’t even tremble when he disobeyed God’s order to utterly slay the Amalekites and decided to what his flesh wanted was more important than what God wanted.

He became so comfortable with the things of God that there was no trembling as he thumbed his nose at the need for a Man of God in his own life and decided that he could offer his own sacrifices.

He became so indifferent with the presence of God that he could prophecy with the prophets and without trembling just verses later goes to a witch at Endor.

This would give new understanding to the scripture that told Saul "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?"

When he was small he became mighty. When he thought himself mighty he became insignificant to God's plan.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by The Dean

There is a lot of good information in this thread. Maybe we should look back to a Bible story that proves what so many of you have said.

It was God alone that heard the prayers of his people and God alone that handpicked Saul to be their King. What was I that God saw in him that day? What is that great trait that God saw that nobody else could recognize?

We don't see it when the anointing oil flowed over his head. We don’t see any clues when the people start chanting through the streets that Saul was the King of Israel.

Could it be that our greatest hint was found at his coronation? Not only could we not find the qualifying factor for which God chose him but we can’t even find Saul himself!

Scripture says “when they sought him, he could not be found.” At some point someone inquired of the Lord saying, “Where is he that you’ve chosen with your own hand, Lord?” The Lord answered, "He’s hidden himself among the stuff.”

He was no doubt trembling at the thought of being chosen of God for such a mighty purpose. My question? Could it be that his ability to tremble was the very reason God chose him? I suspect, too, that this is why God elevated him to thrones, leading armies and leading God's favored nation.

But don't forget that this same man later became comfortable, even casual, about the things of God.

He became so casual with the things of God that he didn’t even tremble when he disobeyed God’s order to utterly slay the Amalekites and decided to what his flesh wanted was more important than what God wanted.

He became so comfortable with the things of God that there was no trembling as he thumbed his nose at the need for a Man of God in his own life and decided that he could offer his own sacrifices.

He became so indifferent with the presence of God that he could prophecy with the prophets and without trembling just verses later goes to a witch at Endor.

This would give new understanding to the scripture that told Saul "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?"

When he was small he became mighty. When he thought himself mighty he became insignificant to God's plan.

Tremendous post, and very true and relevant.

[Malvaro]

Originally Posted by rrford

If the elders do not preach it, the younger will not hear it nor will they preach it. Spiritual pablum will not engender revival nor nourish an anemic church.

pablum:

• a brand of soft, bland cereal for infants. or
• trite, naive, or simplistic ideas or writings; intellectual pap.

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by The Dean

There is a lot of good information in this thread. Maybe we should look back to a Bible story that proves what so many of you have said.

It was God alone that heard the prayers of his people and God alone that handpicked Saul to be their King. What was I that God saw in him that day? What is that great trait that God saw that nobody else could recognize?

We don't see it when the anointing oil flowed over his head. We don’t see any clues when the people start chanting through the streets that Saul was the King of Israel.

Could it be that our greatest hint was found at his coronation? Not only could we not find the qualifying factor for which God chose him but we can’t even find Saul himself!

Scripture says “when they sought him, he could not be found.” At some point someone inquired of the Lord saying, “Where is he that you’ve chosen with your own hand, Lord?” The Lord answered, "He’s hidden himself among the stuff.”

He was no doubt trembling at the thought of being chosen of God for such a mighty purpose. My question? Could it be that his ability to tremble was the very reason God chose him? I suspect, too, that this is why God elevated him to thrones, leading armies and leading God's favored nation.

But don't forget that this same man later became comfortable, even casual, about the things of God.

He became so casual with the things of God that he didn’t even tremble when he disobeyed God’s order to utterly slay the Amalekites and decided to what his flesh wanted was more important than what God wanted.

He became so comfortable with the things of God that there was no trembling as he thumbed his nose at the need for a Man of God in his own life and decided that he could offer his own sacrifices.

He became so indifferent with the presence of God that he could prophecy with the prophets and without trembling just verses later goes to a witch at Endor.

This would give new understanding to the scripture that told Saul "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?"

When he was small he became mighty. When he thought himself mighty he became insignificant to God's plan.

Indeed!!!! Great Post!!!

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by The Dean

There is a lot of good information in this thread. Maybe we should look back to a Bible story that proves what so many of you have said.

It was God alone that heard the prayers of his people and God alone that handpicked Saul to be their King. What was I that God saw in him that day? What is that great trait that God saw that nobody else could recognize?

We don't see it when the anointing oil flowed over his head. We don’t see any clues when the people start chanting through the streets that Saul was the King of Israel.

Could it be that our greatest hint was found at his coronation? Not only could we not find the qualifying factor for which God chose him but we can’t even find Saul himself!

Scripture says “when they sought him, he could not be found.” At some point someone inquired of the Lord saying, “Where is he that you’ve chosen with your own hand, Lord?” The Lord answered, "He’s hidden himself among the stuff.”

He was no doubt trembling at the thought of being chosen of God for such a mighty purpose. My question? Could it be that his ability to tremble was the very reason God chose him? I suspect, too, that this is why God elevated him to thrones, leading armies and leading God's favored nation.

But don't forget that this same man later became comfortable, even casual, about the things of God.

He became so casual with the things of God that he didn’t even tremble when he disobeyed God’s order to utterly slay the Amalekites and decided to what his flesh wanted was more important than what God wanted.

He became so comfortable with the things of God that there was no trembling as he thumbed his nose at the need for a Man of God in his own life and decided that he could offer his own sacrifices.

He became so indifferent with the presence of God that he could prophecy with the prophets and without trembling just verses later goes to a witch at Endor.

This would give new understanding to the scripture that told Saul "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?"

When he was small he became mighty. When he thought himself mighty he became insignificant to God's plan.

Excellent post.

We are lost and undone when it becomes "all about me" instead of it being "all about Him".

Great posts by everyone.

I'd like to see you name....

(A) Some of the older established preachers with distinct personalities that we would be hard pressed to replace.

(B) Some of this generation of preachers that have a strong distinct personality to their preaching.

I think we might be surprised at how many of the older generation we can think of in relationship to how few of the present generation we can think of.

I may be wrong. I kind of hope I am....

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Excellent post.

We are lost and undone when it becomes "all about me" instead of it being "all about Him".

I strongly agree with you, by the way.