10 Things I Have Learned About Preaching

As a young boy of 14, God called me into the ministry. I was told all my life, “he'll be a preacher just like his daddy”. I remember “playing church” with other kids and they always made me the preacher. At 14, I really didn't understand what God was getting me ready for. I love childrens' ministry and that was the direction I was headed. It was easy to stand behind a puppet stage and speak through a hand puppet. I could say what I wanted but didn't have to see the people. Then I was pushed into singing. That was another chore at first. I remember visiting churches and my Dad urging me to sing everywhere we went. Eventually, I left preaching behind. My focus as a teenager was to continue broadening the childrens' ministry. (It was easy to talk to kids.) I was headed in my own direction. I wanted to be a childrens' evangelist and a gospel quartet singer. Then it really happened, the preacher who did the nursing home ministry left our church. Dad dropped it into my lap. I was 16 years old, and had to speak each week. I wasn't looking forward to it. Honestly though, it was my preaching boot camp. Now, after 20 plus years of preaching. I am .still learning new things about preaching everyday. I want to share with you ten of the most important things I have learned in preaching. Think outside of the box. Just because you are called, don't think God is going to give you a pulpit each week to preach. Look for new avenues for preaching. Be willing to do unorthodox preaching. Preach at a nursing home. Preach to kids in children'shurch. Realize you must relate to your audience. Honestly though, if you are called you should be willing to take every “outside of the box” opportunity. Preaching is not just in a pulpit, but look for opportunities for personal evangelism. True “preaching” is one on one. Pray for a greater anointing. When I began preaching, one of the greatest pieces of advice I received was from my Dad. He was a great preacher. He knew how to relate to his audience. Yet, he preached always with a great anointing. He told me time after time “keep praying for a greater anointing”. He told me this not so I would become “super-spiritual” but more effective. Please remember, some of the greatest preachers are not always demonstrative or emotional. Every one preaches differently, just let God anoint you. This will make you more effective. Preach Jesus. Dr. Ray H. Hughes, has been called the prince of pentecostal preachers. One piece of advice he always gave preachers was preach Jesus. No matter what topic we choose, we must always relate the good news of the gospel. Jesus is that good news. If we leave him out, we might as well quit. He must be the centerpiece of our message. It's a message A spiritual grandfather, Kenneth Perkins, told me to never think of preaching just a sermon. Look at it as a message to the church. The prophet brings a message from the Lord. The word preacher means to herald a message from a King. That's what we do, bring a message from the King of Kings. If you lose your audience you only hurt yourself. I was blessed to have a great spiritual father in Pastor John Sprouse. I probably learned more about pastoring through him than anyone else. I was very long-winded when I started being his assistant pastor. I had been in a church where all the preachers, exhorted for over an hour. East Bank was not that kind of church. He told me, preach as long as you want, but if you lose the audience your only hurting yourself. As a preacher, you know if you are connecting or not. You also know when you have lost your audience. If you go too long, or over people's heads all the time, they will turn a deaf ear to you or may not come at all if they know you are preaching. I know preaching is spiritual, but remember even in the pulpit we are not perfect. Preach doctrinally correct. Know the Bible. This should be a given, but I have heard so many preachers preach doctrinally incorrect. Know what you believe. Don't take scripture out of context. Even if you are preaching topically, make sure your supporting scriptures are used in proper context. I have seen many manipulate scripture for their own agenda. Don't make yourself look foolish. We are called to rightly divide the truth of scripture. Take one thing that you are i interested in and study it in-depth. I have just recently adopted this one. Dr. Hollis Gause, is an elder and pentecostal theologian in the Church of God. He tells preachers to find something they feel God is drawing them to. Take that and become the best expert you can be with it. Preachers can't be experts on everything, but you can be well studied on one or two things. Little prayer, little power. More prayer, More power. Howard Harris, was an old time preacher. He always told me to pray. The more you pray the more power you have with God. He also told me that prayer is hard, but praying in the Holy Ghost is easy. He said you have to battle in prayer sometimes until you get to praying in the Holy Ghost. He told me that praying in the Holy Ghost is so important in preaching. If you don't pray it first you can't preach it. The Holy Ghost knows what you are going to preach, so when you pray in the Spirit, He is getting you personally ready for the message. If you don't communicate with God through prayer, how can God communicate through you to the people. Don't give into hype. Follow the leading of the Holy Ghost. It's so easy to get caught up in emotional fervor. Being Pentecostal, can make it easy to yield to hype. The work of the Holy Ghost is not hype. Hype is man made. The Holy Ghost directs worship. Many don't think worship has anything to do with preaching. Yet, if we can worship with the Word of God then is it true worship. Let the Holy Ghost lead, not man made emotion. Emotion does not equal anointing. Remember it is not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord. Don't worry about the results, that's God's job. There was a time, when I was going to quit preaching. I wasn't getting the results I wanted. I was going to join a quartet and leave my preaching ministry. I received a call to preach at a church, I never thought I would be asked to preach at. I went to prayer and said “God this is my last preaching engagement.” I fasted, prayed, and sought God for a message. I went to preach, it was a mediocre message at best. However, by the time I was finished the pastors apologized to the congregation. Three people were saved. God spoke to me like I had never heard him before that night. “You preach out of obedience, I take care of the results.”

Memorable Moments (written May 13, 2013)

Saturday, was a very emotional day. It was Isaiah's 14 birthday and my family and I went to WV. Many know Isaiah's story. He is a miracle. He was born at 24 weeks, weighing just a little over a pound. Spent almost 5 months in Neonatal ICU. God is so good. He can turn the bleakest situation around. Isaiah weighs over 120 pounds and hasn't had any major health problems since he was 2 years old. I know what God can do!!!!!! Saturday, my kids help me mount Paula's' headstone for her grave. This was something we wanted and needed to do for her. It was a special moment. Cricket even helped spread the concrete. I have great kids and they truly loved their mother. Each time I go to her grave, it still seems so impossible she is gone. Thank God, he gives us all the strength, to keep pressing on. I have the blessed assurance and hope I will see my sweet Babydoll again on Heaven's shore. I spent some time with Paula's family, getting caught up on how everyone's doing. Yet, I enjoyed the time Cricket, Ian, Kassie, Isaiah, and myself just making some new memories. I have some precious kids. Sunday was Mother's Day and I am blessed with a great mom. She has been a prayer warrior for me my whole life. She is the epitome of Proverbs 31 virtuous women. She has always been there for me and I thank God each day for my Mom. I also have a great mother-in law. She is another prayer warrior and has always been there to listen to me when I couldn't talk to anybody. I am truly blessed. They have made great memories in my life. Tomorrow, my son Robert, leaves for the Army reserves. Another memorable moment. I have seen Robert grow from being my little bubby to a father of his precious baby girl Lilly. I am proud of Robert. I know tomorrow will be emotional day for us all, but I am sure it will be another one of those memorable moments, I am thank God for all the memorable moments that I hold dear. I am so blessed with such a great bunch of kids and family. I am looking forward to new memories everyday.

Change (written April 22, 2013)

Change is inevitable. Just as we have the four season of the year, we know that life is full of seasons of change. Kassie, my baby girl, turned 11 last week. Ian turns 17 this Wednesday. Isaiah will be 14 next month, and Robert will be leaving for the National guard on May 14. Cricket will turn 24 in June. Sometimes it is hard to believe it has been so long since they first became a part of my life. My life didn't have much change in it, until my Dad passed away. Ultimately, that change brought more frequent changes. Going into full-time ministry, moving to WV, pastoring, getting married, children, etc. I thank God everyday for all the changes. Everyone of the changes I have encountered has made me a better person. I can now identify with so much, I never understood before. That what change does, it teaches us about life. We should then, in turn, assist others in the life changes they are met with. My pastor preached yesterday on grace. It reminded me how I changed from being very judgmental to accepting and loving people no matter what. There is an old quote that says “I catch them, God cleans them.” There was a time I tried to do both and wanted everyone to change into my “image” of Christian. I have come to realize that though God cleans and changes our old nature, he uses our distinct personality to reach people. He doesn't want you to lose your identity. He saved you and wants you to become a saved version of who you are Yet he still wants you to remain YOU. Life is full of changes, and we have to adjusted and change ourselves. Through it all though God is our never changing God. He is the one constant we can totally depend on. He will help us be true to ourselves and Him through all the changes we encounter. I'm so glad that the Psalms wrote the promise and comforting words of Psalm 91. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the Fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 1 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

My Miracle born April 17, 2002 (written April 15, 2013)

I am not a person to brag, but I am proud of my kids; all 9 of those precious lives God entrusted me with. I have tried my best to instruct them correctly and be there for them. I was aided by the most precious lady who ever walked, my beloved Paula. We tried to instill in them the Godly heritage and let them know they were special in God's eyes as well as our own. Wednesday, my baby girl will turn 11 years old. She was our miracle baby. Paula was told after Isaiah, she would probably never be able to have another baby. Doctors don't know everything because my God is able to do far above whatever we ask, think or imagine. We prayed for over 2 years for a child. We had a lot of false positives, but it always turned out no baby. Finally I just gave up; Paula wouldn't. She wanted another baby and kept her faith. I remember the day she told me she was expecting, with so many previous let downs I wouldn't believe it. She had to go out that day, and it had been hours since I heard from her. I contemplated she was at the hospital, so I began calling every hospital in the area. I finally found her, she told me I was too smart, but she also told me I was going to be a daddy again. We were told we were having twins. We were so excited. Then it happened. Paula miscarried one of the twins. Fear set in, but so did faith. We held on to God and all our family and friends shadowed us in prayer. It was eight o'clock one night, and Paula received a phone call from her doctor's office. They told Paula they felt the child was not viable, to come in for a DNC to terminate the pregnancy. Paula was bold in her faith; she told them “you mean an abortion”....NO WAY!!!! She told them God allowed that child to be conceived and she would not give up and that if it miscarried then it would happen naturally. She finished her conversation, by telling them they would no longer be her doctors, and when the baby was born she would send them a birth announcement. That was my Paula. Then Paula was also determined it was going to be a little girl. She told me she asked God for a little girl and that's what God was giving us. We never even picked out a boy’s name. Needless to say, Kassie was born on April 17. It was unreal. Words cannot explain the way I felt that day. Kassie was 100% healthy. No complications at all during the c-section for Kassie to be born. After Kassie was born, the lead doctor asked us her name, we said Kassondra Grace. He looked at us, and said Kassondra was a prophetess. He said that's a great name for a preacher's kid. Another doctor who had known Paula a long time came to me privately. She told me I have never seen a miracle before today. I'll never forget what she said to me that day. “Mr. Farrell, I don't know what has happened with Paula, but I would have never believed this would happen. I have been working with her through her last two c-sections. I never thought she would have this baby; that either she or the baby would be in trauma. I don't know if it's your God or if it is you.” I stopped her and said “IT'S GOD!” Her next response I couldn't believe…“I guess I'll have to try your God.” We had a friend who worked as a nurse at the hospital, and she told me and Paula, that Kassie’s birth was the talk of the hospital. Everyone knew Paula and all the complications she had with previous births and the loss of her son Dakota. It caused many to search out the God of this miracle. Our church called Kassie the miracle baby. People came to see the miracle baby. Since Paula's passing I know life has become hard for her. I have had to hold her and wipe all her tears away. The day will come when we all will be reunited in heaven. Until that day we press on. Kassie is still my miracle, and I love her deeply. Every time I look at her I see a part of her mother. I pray she has the happiest birthday every this year. I just wanted to share with you some of the miracle testimony surrounding her birth. What a great God we serve.

It the Emphasis (written April 4, 2013)

It's dangerous when I get to thinking sometimes. I have been doing some thinking about the “church” scene. I've been in the “mix” of church my whole life, and sometimes think I have seen it all. We now have put labels on our worship and church styles. We have traditional, contemporary, and progressive churches. We have every genre of music from hymns to hip-hop, rock, rap, pop, southern gospel and many more. Many churches have adapted there traditional services to attract a younger audience. There was a day, when I was too narrow minded, and didn't want things to be different than what I thought. Honestly, that was the same way the Pharisees thought in Christ day. They thought he had come to tear down traditions. Christ didn't conform to what the “model” of a rabbi was. John the Baptist surely didn't, coming in camel's hair and living in the desert. They were accepted by people because they spoke in to the common people's culture. Culture and generational changes are going to happen, and we as a church must and need to adapt. I was raised very reserved and rejected a lot of the newer style of “church worship and music” because of my traditional, conservative upbringing. Now, I have adjusted to thinking outside of the box. One thing that helped me adjust was getting married and having children. You begin to see things differently. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I have found that I can enjoy the nonconformity of others. It all comes down to one thing. Where the emphasis is placed at. If with all the changes in our culture, we place the emphasis on “stuff” and not Christ we need to throw it all away. Including our “old-school” way of doing things. We must present Christ in all we do. He has to have the emphasis. If we do things for only the pure gimmick sense, then we need to change our emphasis. Many in our pentecostal churches, put the emphasis on speaking in tongues and outward manifestations of the Spirit. Though I believe and practice these in my own walk with God, my emphasis is not on the manifestations it is on Christ. I don't go to church for the outward manifestations. I attend church because of my love and devotion to the eternal, loving God. I live a Godly life of obedience for only one reason, I love God. My emphasis is not “church” or my own agenda it is living for and serving my God. It is for going into all the world and telling the good news of Jesus Christ. Now, that I have adapted myself to a proper emphasis, I can enjoy the differences of our culture. I am willing to support any Biblical sound ministry that has the emphasis in the right place. It many not be my favorite style, but if it is ministering to people and the emphasis is Christ, I should have the ability to worship. If I feel I can't worship with something different and the emphasis is correctly placed, then its my fault. I am taking the emphasis off Christ and placing it on myself. If I put the emphasis on me, then I am not in harmony with the Holy Spirit. I then could hinder the move of the spirit and souls being ministered to. I am limiting God. Keep the emphasis in the right place and we can see a tremendous revival in the church.

Instant

Instant in season and out of season. It always pays to be ready. I was pastoring a church in WV and a sister came in to the church and asked for prayer for her grandson. He was just 11 years old and had been diagnosed with a tumor on his brain and today had a had massive heart attack, She wanted special prayer and ask for a prayer cloth, and that I would go visit him. Little did I know that, this simple request would open my eyes to a bigger picture. I went to the hospital the next day, and prayed with this family. The parents of the boy were not Christians, but the grandmother was devout. The grandfather was a good man, but admitted even though he went to church, he had never accepted Christ in his life. I spent the longest part of that Monday counseling and consoling this family. I am glad that God helps us bear the burdens of others through loving eyes of compassion. The doctors came in and told us they scheduled the boy for emergency brain surgery the next morning. It was a late night already, and I could see a longer day tomorrow. I was ready to go home. I was tired so I set down in the Pediatric ICU waiting room, and starting joking with the grandfather trying to lift his spirit, before I left. I barely notice a young lady out of the corner of my eye looking at a magazine. I could tell something was wrong and she was flipping pages like she was aggravated. I continued my conversation with the grandfather. Ready to leave, I notice the young lady had gotten up and just walked back in. I now could tell she was pregnant, and she looked pale as she sat down. Something began to draw me to her. The grandfather looked at her and jokingly asked your not getting ready to have that baby now are you. She said no, she was just feeling bad. I asked her would she like prayer, she said no. I felt a change in my spirit. The Holy Ghost began to stir. I asked her why she was in the PICU waiting room. She told me her 2 year old son had RSV, pneumonia, and asthma and was very serious. Then she opened up a little, she proceeded to tell me she had been raised Pentecostal. I then received a word of knowledge from the Lord. I looked this twenty something lady in her eye and said....God said your mad at Him , why? Wow, did her demeanor toward me change. A rage of emotions flushed her face. She then began to tell me a horrible story of losing a 10 month old baby who had been premature and had a life full of sickness. She told me of sitting in that same PICU waiting room with her late son, Dakota. She then further explained that he died at home and her mother died 2 days later. You would of thought this , compassionate preacher would have looked at her and felt so sorry for her lost. Yet, that is not what God wanted. I told her well that’s terrible, but its not God's fault. Your blaming him for something, he did not do. I had never spoken to a total stranger like that. I was always loving and compassionate, way beyond the scope of normal. God was not allowing me to do so this time. I felt an unusual anointing. I had never seen God use me like this before. I was short, sharp and abrupt. Look, let me stress, this was way out of the ordinary for me. It was a supernatural move of the Spirit making me do this. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't mean or nasty, just very stern and straight forward. I had a minister colleague with me, and he had never seen me act like that. I think he thought I had done messed up big time. Then I made a bold statement under the anointing and authority of the Holy Ghost. I told this lady, God said He is going to heal your son tonight. I had not even seen the little boy yet, but God moved on me. I told her lets pray right now....she broke. I saw the tears of pain and hurt flow down her face. God was doing something. Once again, I felt that stern, sharpness of the Holy Ghost move on me. I told her, God said, He is going to heal your son tonight, but I can't pray for you. I thought to myself.....What am I saying. Yet, I knew this was the unction of the Holy Ghost. I continued on telling her...."God said, to many people have prayed you through and brought you to an altar. You have went back and forth on God so many times. God said this time if you want Him, you have to come for yourself. He will heal your son tonight, but you have to come on your own." I had never been used in such a manner. First, to make a bold statement for a 2 year old, born at 24 weeks gestation, with pneumonia, RSV, severe asmtha, on oxygen in PICU, would be healed tonight. This was way out of my line of work. Second, to tell a young lady who was hurting, that she had no right being mad at God and I couldn't pray for her. What was going on. My colleauge, thought I had lost all common sense. I could see it in his eyes, "Brother Farrell, what are you saying and doing." I then asked all those in the waiting room to come and pray and we encircled this young lady. I felt a mighty prescence of the Lord. I knew God had spoke and I knew God had healed that young boy. We finished praying and told the young lady I would be at the hospital in the morning. I would see her then. I left the hospital, my minister buddy read me the riot act for how I acted. I told him it was the Holy Ghost. He trusted me, but honestly I think he though I was tired and I had lost it with this lady. Even after I left, God kept working. The young lady stayed at the hospital all night. She was alone, in this room where she had been many times, while her late son, was suffering. She felt the convicting power of the Lord, while also feeling the pain of her life. She was facing a battle. She finally surrendered to the Lord about 3 in the morning as she gave her life to the Lord. She told God, "this time I need your help, because I want to do it right. " I got back to the hospital about 7AM the next morning. I went to check on the little boy, and he had been moved about 4AM to a regular room. I walked in the room, and saw this little boy. Wow, he was sitting up, being fed by a nurse. The mom wasn't there. I left my card, and wrote...."Glad to see his doing better...call me." It was certinally a long day, with the other family. It was before 10pm when we finally heard they got all the tumor of the boy, I orginally went to see. I went to check on the young lady and her son. I was told the boy was discharged. I was like.....WOW! Thank you God, for proving your word! It was three days later, when I recieved the phone call from the mother. She proceded to tell me, she accepted Christ in her life that night at the hospital. She told me her little boy was fine. She wanted to come to my church. Again, I thought....WOW! God you are so good! My preacher buddy, told me later that he knew it was God, once he saw the proof. Honestly, I had not spent hours in prayer that day. My church had just come out of revival. I was exhausted, but nevertheless I did what God told me to do. I was truly instant, out of season. Now for the rest of the story. The young boy who had the brain tumor, was pronounced cancer free and no brain damage from the surgery. I found out from this lady, she was going to kill herself that night. She was going to jump off the bridge, right by the hospital. She had been through so much her whole life. She felt she couldn't handle anymore, especially the thought of losing another child. God just sent a willing vessel to minister to her in the time of need. Several months later, this lady became my wife, Paula. The litle boy is my 16 year old son, Ian, who has had no lung problems or asthma since that day, over 13 years ago. My wife went to be with the Lord in November 2011. I cherish the time I had with her. I have come to realize, you never know what blessings may be in store for you, when you are instant in season and out.

The First Day.

I have decided to call this post the first day of the rest of my life. I have had so many heartaches and changes over the last 9 months. I have felt like my life was at a stand still while I waited on the situations around me to change or improve. When you go through major life changes, you begin reevaluating your own life. You realize how short life is. Then you must begin to reorganize your priorities in the great scheme of life. This I have had to do several times in the last few months. However I know my top priority is my relationship to God. When live has caused my comfortable world to turn upside down, God was the constant that kept me going. In the dark hours, when I felt all alone, God's hand and presence was there to give me the peace that I needed. I have always had strong faith in God, but somewhere along the way I let fear come in and strip me of the faith that I needed for myself. The fear is now gone, and faith is now enabled again. So I hold on to the one thing, I know is a constant----my eternal Heavenly Father. The second priority is my family. I am not the perfect Dad, but I try to give the best love and concern I can. Now that my immediate family has been downsized to just 3 children who live with me, that in no ways have quenched the love that I have for all my kids. Cricket and Bub are pretty much on there own now, and I am so proud of both of them. They beat some terrible odds that where against them when they were younger. Both have come to try to be a success in what they do. Both are God-fearing, and I hold out hope and faith that both we become great influential workers in God's kingdom. My three babies at home, even thought there not little any more. My son, Ian is a proud young man. He is proud of his country and works diligent to serve as he is in the ROTC program at his school. He has a heart for God, and a good nature. Honestly, out of all my kids he has my demeanor. Kassie is a vibrant, beautiful Daddy's girl and is doing her best to grow up to fast like all kids do. Isaiah is my miracle. He may have some issues, but when I look at that contiguous smile you can't help but feel better. To my four boys in WV, even though we don't live in the same household anymore; that in no way takes you our of my heart and life. I love them more than they know. They have some deep seated problems and I pray for their well being everyday of my life. Brandon is a true joy. Nathan is a free spirit. JJ is my little buddy, full of energy and love. Joseph is quiet, but my sweet, petite little man. Sometimes life forces your hand to accept things you are not completely happy with, but you must press on. So just as Christ was placed in the tomb and laid there till the first day of the week. I arise today with a resurrected outlook. I am victorious, and God is on my side. Paul said the old is past ant the new is come. Like Paul, I stand in the newness of today. A good friend reminded me that ALL things work together for GOOD to them that love the Lord who are CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE. How about it will you with me get a resurrected outlook. Seize the day. Today is truly the first day in the rest of your life. In HIS service, Steve