Well October was so beautiful with the changing of the leaves here in New England, but now it is November, the leaves have fallen and winter will soon be on its way. I am preaching meetings out in the Midwest this whole month and we have already had some snow. I’m sorry, I forgot myself for a minute, back to our newsletter. This month I have such a great burden to write to all pastors young and old, but I want young pastors, who have only been in the ministry for a short time or just being trained in the ministry, to pay close attention.

The Power to Preach:
Please read (Romans 1:15 – 16)

 It is my honor and privilege to be mentoring five pastors at the present time. I only mention this because many young pastors have education but no previous training working under a pastor of a local church for a few years before pastoring.
 Paul says, “I am ready to preach the Gospel.” It takes some time for a preacher to be ready to preach.  Being in a church all your life doesn’t mean that you are ready to preach. The fact that you have attended Bible College or hold theological degrees is No Assurance that you are ready to preach. You don’t get ready to preach overnight. Paul says, NOW…. after my college training at the feet of Gamalliel…NOW…after a siege of temporary blindness on the road to Damascus…NOW…after having had my name changed and my identity altered…NOW…after having been given the thorn in the flesh, this agent of Satan to buffet me…NOW…after having been in jail and holding a prayer meeting with Silas that caused an earthquake in Philippi…NOW…after all this, after all my ups and downs, my trials and tribulations, my poverty and my plenty, my feasting and my famine…NOW…I AM READY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL…
 I assure you that I am painfully and personally aware that a preacher is not always ready to preach. It is only after the experiences you learn from being in the ministry for many years that you know that the Lord Himself, will get a preacher ready to preach. There is a difference between being WILLING and being READY to preach.
 It is interesting that when Paul says that he is ready to preach the Gospel, he does not use the Greek word usually translated to preach. He uses the word meaning not only to evangelize but to proclaim the Good News.  The Greek word Evangelos, is the soldier who comes from the field of battle, with garland on his head and races into the city with his hands raised and cries out “GREETINGS”…WE HAVE WON.  I am ready to Preach the Gospel. I am ready to be an Evangelist. I am ready to tell you that WE HAVE WON. What Good News from an imprisoned preacher sitting in a jail cell, sent to the church folks hiding out in caves and catacombs, a man whose condition and disposition are the very definition of doom and defeat.  What News…WE HAVE WON…What Good news from a limping, Jewish preacher on his way to Nero’s chopping block, who would soon write WE HAVE WON.
. What wonderful words from a nearly blind, shivering, lonely, forsaken, worn out, burned-out and stressed out preacher…Given to those who would soon make their way into the Roman Coliseum to become food for the Lions. WE HAVE WON…What wonderful words from someone who spent 23 years on three Missionary Journeys establishing churches all over Asia Minor. He had seen churches divided over Doctrine, fractured by jealousy, envy, pettiness and strife, set upon by Satan and Infiltrated by preachers who were imposters, rocked by sexual scandal of incest in the Church, and yet, could still declare The Good News…WE HAVE WON.
 Paul’s example is in fact the definition of authentic preaching. The Preacher, the Evangelist and the Missionary is here to tell those who have been dejected and deserted, deceived and deflated, defiled and degraded, demoralized and defeated …THERE IS GOOD NEWS…WE HAVE WON.
 So when we look at The Power of the Preacher and his Preaching, year after year, century after century, remember, preachers have been preaching the same sermons about the same Jesus, the same Crucifixion and the same Resurrection.  That is why men, women and young people keep coming back Sunday after Sunday, to hear it over and over again.

 The question is…What is This Power? Why This Power, and how is This Power manifested? There is Power in Preaching because the Gospel has the ability to tell us WHERE WE ARE.
 Can you identify with the woman with the issue of blood, maybe you too have been sick and not able to recover and you see the same condition in your life. You say that’s me.  It helps to know who you are…can you identify with the man born blind, and suddenly you realize there are some things That You Can’t See. When you become aware of the blindness that causes you to stumble in the darkness and then you realize that you are the man born blind. Can you identify with the Prodigal Son and come to realize that you have spent your inheritance, in riotous, unproductive and unredemptive living. Maybe you too can admit that you have let money run through your fingers like water. You may not like it but it helps to know WHERE YOU ARE…The Gospel will help you to know WHERE YOU ARE.  It is important to know when you have been lost. You cannot appreciate being found until first you have been lost. The Gospel has the Power to Create Whole Persons in a Broken World.
 The preaching of the Gospel is designed to take broken pieces and remake them according to the purpose of God. The preaching of the Gospel is designed to take ruined lives, subject and restore them to the Redemptive Power of the Holy Spirit. The preaching of the Gospel helps Creates Whole Persons, in a Broken World. The preaching of the Gospel has the ability and the power to make people complete and whole. The Scriptures affirm Wholeness, which comes through the Gospel, as manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ. Folks weren’t just healed but made whole.
 The gospel is God’s answer to a Bad Reputation. It always amazed me how most of the folks in the Bible had to deal with problems of a bad reputation. Don’t you find it strange that the book which points folks to righteousness uses examples of men and women noted for unrighteousness? Still the gospel is God’s answer to a Bad Reputation. The gospel is here to let us know that No One is too lost to be found; too low down to be lifted up, too far out to be brought in, too dirty to be washed clean, too hungry to be filled, too thirsty to be satisfied, too soiled to be saved, too repulsive to be redeemed or too endangered to be rescued.
 God Himself, knows what it’s like to live with a bad reputation (Phil. 2:7). Also Isaiah says, the Savior’s reputation was bad (Isaiah 53:3-5). God knows what it is like to live with the bad reputation. That’s why he sits in pig pens with Prodigals, sits on death row in Criminal cells, and you’ll also find him down on the Jericho road, where men have been beaten and left for dead. You’ll find him on Calvary where “he who knows No Sin”: became sin…All because, the Gospel is God’s answer to a bad reputation.
 Paul says, “I am now ready to preach the Gospel, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel, nor should we be…It is the power of God. [Not a Power] but the Power.
 My dear friends and brethren, I stand with Paul in search of that Power to Preach. In whatever church I am in, great or small; I seek the Power to Preach. It is with this Power that we should be obedient to His ultimate and final command.
 Sandy and I pray that you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And remember while we are feasting on all the turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, hot bread, potatoes and dessert that you remember He is the reason for us to be Thankful. 
 I pray that you have a great holiday and as you plan your meetings you will do so by seeking the Power to Preach. We love you and pray for you and appreciate your ministry so very much.
 
You are on my mind, in my heart and in my prayers.
Love and Prayers in Christ,
Bro. Randy Davis