Page 8 - August 2026 - Truth & Tidings

The Absolute Preacher have heard … but I say unto you,” the
Without doubt, God has graced certain conscience tingling as new truths were
dispensed for the first time to human ears.
men in the history of the Church with an The absolute Preacher had arrived.
extraordinary ability to preach. For de-
cades Christians have scanned the pages The Authoritative Preacher
of Spurgeon’s sermons, wondering what
it must have been like to actually hear the Concluding his record of Christ’s teach-
man termed the Prince of Preachers. Then ing on the Mount, Matthew details that
the people were utterly “astonished at
there’s the preaching of John Wesley and his doctrine: For he taught them as one
George Whitfield, where thousands fell on having authority, and [absolutely] not as
their faces weeping and trembling under 1
the deep conviction of sin. Going further the scribes” (Mat 7:28-29). In his Gospel
into history we find John Bunyan, whose record, Luke documents for us “of all
that Jesus began both to do and to teach,”
fame is not restricted to being the author setting forth the only Man ever to grace
of Pilgrim’s Progress but one whom people this planet who perfectly did what He
thronged to hear preach. Spurgeon once preached and guiltlessly preached what
described him as “a living Bible” whose
blood was “Bibline,” noting that he could He did.
not speak without quoting Scripture. Such You may remember the words of the
was the man’s spiritual character that on Lord Jesus in His final public preaching
one occasion, having been complimented to the people in Matthew chapter 23.
for his powerful preaching, Bunyan re- He warned them of some exceedingly
plied, “You’re late; the devil told me that important lessons that we, too, would
before I left the pulpit.” Returning to the do well to heed. Having instructed His
first century, how many of us would love listeners to ensure they observe whatever
to have been on Mars Hill to hear the the scribes and Pharisees bid them from
masterly apostle Paul at work, his speech the Word of God, He emphatically stated,
and preaching a demonstration of Holy “Do not ye after their works” (Mat 23:3).
Spirit power. They, He said, do “their works … to be
seen of men” (v5), attempting to impress
However, we unanimously agree that
towering above every mortal who’s ever the people with their particular clothing,
prominent seating and preeminent titles.
had the honour of speaking for God stands Second, they “bind heavy burdens and
our blessed Saviour! Pause for a moment grievous to be borne, and lay them on
to visualise what it must have been to wit- men’s shoulders” (v4), forcing the people
ness God incarnate preaching truth into to keep religious traditions, implying that
this world of darkness. His eyes, though any refusal to do so was tantamount to di-
at times filled with grief-stricken tears or vine irreverence. Further, they subtracted
flaming with righteous indignation, never from the Word in an attempt to suit their
concealed a countenance that radiated
the joy of the Lord. Imagine listening to 1 Bible quotations in this article are from the
the voice of inescapable authority, “Ye KJV.

232 TRUTH kTidings August 2026