In my life I have preached over 10,000 sermons, and sometimes I may lose sight of the purpose of preaching. We are told to preach the word, to teach and use those precious moments to convince, rebuke and exhort with a longsuffering heart (2 Tim. 4:2). God describes the focus of preaching as being edification, exhortation and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3).
The pulpit must never center on favorable acceptance by those who hear, but on men being brought into the presence of God as He uses preachers to accomplish His results. The prophets of old often used the word “tremble” as they described their place in His work. Joel said, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming” (Joel 2:1). Isaiah gives even more insight as to what to preach and the desired response. “Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word” (Isa. 66:5).
If my purpose in preaching is to cause the ungodly to tremble, how is this to be accomplished? Perhaps the clearest answer is found on that occasion when Paul’s preaching caused some in his audience to tremble. With his destiny at stake, he stood before Felix, the Roman governor. Drusilla, his wife, sat beside him. It was her second or third marriage and Felix had used a magician to persuade her to leave her husband to marry him. What would you have said in this situation? Paul did not seek to gain favor and thereby to waste such an opportunity. His sermon had three major points and at the end of that sermon the arrogant, sinful ruler trembled.
Felix trembled because Paul preached about righteousness. Paul knew of the life of this ruler and how ungodly he was. Even governors do not have the authority to define and decide what is right and what is wrong. Paul’s sermon began by teaching this truth to that king.
Felix trembled because Paul talked about self-control and temperance. The history of this governor is of one exercised by a lack of self-control. The evidence sat beside him, and this was precisely what the ruler needed to hear. Nothing else, even his release from prison, mattered to the apostle.
Felix trembled because Paul talked about the coming judgment. It is God who defines righteousness; it is man who must let God control his life; it is God who holds us accountable. Every man will eventually stand before God to be judged. Only this kind of preaching can cause men to tremble!
Felix wanted to hear more. Both God and Paul accomplished what happened that day. Preachers, think about this. Preach the word. Use every opportunity. Let God and his word decide the outcome!