God Speaks Through His Ministers
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Corinthians 5:16).
It’s important to have the right attitude to God’s Word and His ministers. Sometimes, people make the mistake of seeing God’s ministers from a natural standpoint. They go to church because they want to hear “what the preacher has to say,” Don’t go to church to hear “what the preacher has to say”; for the preacher is God’s oracle, with the Word of God in his mouth. So your attitude should be “I’m going to church to hear and receive the Word of God.”
The man of God—your pastor speaks under the anointing and inspiration of the Holy Spirit; he’s sent of God to bless you. Thus, if you went to church thinking you’re listening to a man’s ideas then you’ll never hear God’s voice. That explains why two people may go for a church service and one person says “Wow! God spoke to me!” But the other person wonders to himself at what point during the service God spoke.
Don’t ever forget that preachers didn’t send themselves to do the work of the ministry; they’re God’s instruments or vessels for passing His message across to the world. The Bible says, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
So when next you’re in church, and the man of God is preaching and teaching, don’t say, “I just want to hear what this man has to say….” No, say, “I want to hear what God has in store for me in this message.” That’s the way to position yourself to receive the blessings of the Word of God into your spirit and be transformed.
Further Study:
2 Corinthians 5:20;
1 Peter 4:11