Where does good solid preaching come from? The kind of 
preaching where the complete gospel is proclaimed? I would contend that kind of preaching comes from the Holy Spirit of God. This is obviously not something that I, a mere lay person, have thought seriously about until now. In a message delivered to those attending this year’s Resurgeance National Conference, Mark Driscoll (pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA) addresses how gospel-centered, Christ-centered preaching happens.
Driscol points out that one of most significant evidences of the working of the Holy Spirit is preaching. In the New Testament we read in Matthew 4 that right after the Holy Spirit descending upon Him, Jesus began His ministry. After being tempted in the wilderness He began to preach (Matt. 4:17) , saying:
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
At the beginning of the book of Acts Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. This promise we learn is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes in Acts 2, the disciples immediately began preaching about Jesus Christ. The same Spirit or Helper that Jesus told them about in John 15:35.
But when the Helper comes, who I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about me.
There are many more evidences of the working of the Holy Spirit, but I want to point out one more. This is found in Acts 9:17-20. Saul, who later called Paul, is wating on the Lord in Damascus, and the Lord sends Ananias to lay hands on him filling him with the Holy Spirit. In verse 20 it that immediately he (Saul) began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues.
I am not a genius, but my lovely wife is. She is a few points higher on the IQ scale than I. But I can think logically. When the The Holy Spirit fills men = preaching happens. Praise God!!
For a listen of the inspired sermon by Mark Driscoll click one of the links below.
Putting Preachers in Their Place to download the mp3,
or stream it here.
Soli Deo Gloria
Upon This Rawk 
Leo
March 22, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I’ll have to listen. Power and results follows Spirit led preaching! Yet not results that are immediately perceivable because He tends to work deliberately. He is in this for the long haul – Oh, how much we Christians need to learn about the Spirit’s working!
barrydean
March 22, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I totally agree Leo. I wonder how often folks get to hear Spirit led preaching. More often than not they hear man led, man-centered preaching. I thank God for pastors who obey the Spirit and preach from God’s word which in turn points to Christ.
Steve
March 24, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Thanks for the link to Mark’s sermon!
-Steve
Seth McBee
March 24, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Barry…
What up? Been a while brother…hopefully all is well.
I was at this conference and this was a great way to start the conference off.
barrydean
March 25, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Seth,
It’s nice to have you commenting again. About the conference, I can imagine it was a nice send off. Driscoll really sounds fired up. I read irishcalvinist’s review on Driscoll’s book “Vintage Jesus”.though I have not read the book it seems that Driscoll is going way over the top. Your thoughts?
Steve,
You are welcome brother.
Seth McBee
March 25, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Barry.
My review of the book was a bit more on the positive side. As you can imagine me and erik have had some good conversations “behind closed doors” through email. Nothing that has strained the friendship that we have built though.
If you want my review…here it is:
Vintage Jesus Review
By the way…also…since you are into music, you might like the topic that I brought up today at my blog…
O Holy Night vs Above All: Which is Worse?
Like usual…good talking to you…let’s not be strangers.