In ancient times it was often customary to have individuals whose appointed task was to announce the arrival of the king, or the reading of his decrees. These men were known as “heralds”. They could be likened to an announcer at some great event. These announcers or heralds had no power of their own nor was their task in any sense to draw attention to themselves, but rather to bring into focus, the glory of the king and the solemnity of his decrees.
The term, “preacher”, refers to just such a herald. Solomon describes himself as a “Preacher”, a “son of David”, and a “King”. Yet we see much more in this scripture than a simple reference to Solomon, though he was a king as well as the wisest man on earth at the time. For “behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” (Mat 12:42) Solomon is here announcing that PREACHER who said of HIMSELF “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
The LORD JESUS CHRIST is the SOURCE of all knowledge, wisdom, and truth. As Micah said, HE is the “ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Mic 5:2) HE is that ONE who is the KING of Kings and who has hidden things from the wise and prudent and yet revealed them unto babes. HIS declaration of the gospel is not simply in words but in the demonstration of the purpose of ALMIGHTY GOD to redeem HIS beloved Bride.
Though HE thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD, (since HE is GOD,) “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30), yet, as a PREACHER, HE “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Php 2:7) HE fully identified HIMSELF as a MAN who was “in all points tempted like as we are” (Heb 4:15) and “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Heb 5:8) As this obedient SON, and faithful PREACHER who walked among men, HE sought not glory for HIMSELF but declared the glory of HIS FATHER. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)
In HIS purpose to fulfill the will of the FATHER to provide a complete salvation for HIS elect, HE sent HIS SPIRIT into the world to be their COMFORTER. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7) HE is sent to “teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)
Though the LORD JESUS laid aside HIS glory (i.e.; “made HIMSELF of no reputation.”) for a season HE is now glorified and seated upon the throne of HIS Kingdom as an absolute POTENTATE who is without rival. In the meantime, HE has vouchsafed HIS role as PREACHER unto HIS SPIRIT who “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13-15) No man can receive any knowledge of truth, apart from the direct application of it by the HOLY SPIRIT who is sent for this purpose to the sons of GOD.
This is what Paul meant when he said, “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1Cor 12:3) Spiritual truth can only be conveyed by the ONE who is the AUTHOR of that truth. So, the work of the SPIRIT is absolutely vital in order for men to be able to “hear the gospel”.
Part of the work of the SPIRIT in this present world is to equip and send forth “preachers” who are born of Adam’s race. None of them have any knowledge or comprehension of those things which they are sent into the world to preach apart from the same work which must be performed in those that hear them. When the early disciples received the outpouring of the gift of “tongues” on the day of Pentecost, the glory of what occurred was not in the fact that they understood what they “spoke” in many languages but that men “heard” what was said by the SPIRIT. “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:7-8)
Peter “preached” unto them, yet it was not the “preaching” of Peter that caused them to believe it, rather it was the work of the SPIRIT that caused them to “hear” it. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Act 2:37) Many “preachers” consider themselves to be far more important than they are. If GOD is able to raise up stones to praise HIM, HE is surely able to cause HIS sheep to hear what HE wants them to “hear” in spite of the error of the preacher.
All preachers born of Adam’s race and sent by the HOLY GHOST are corruptible and error prone. As Paul said, “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” (1Cor 8:2) While we desire to be precise and accurate in whatever we set forth, we also know that we all “see through a glass darkly”. Yet GOD is in no wise hindered in causing men to “hear” whatever HE determines them to “hear” regardless of the messenger HE may be pleased to use. I have sometimes heard presumptuous preachers tell men that it is impossible for them to “hear” the gospel unless it falls from their lips or someone else who says exactly what they do. Faith cometh by “hearing” which the SPIRIT of GOD, alone, can impart.
The PREACHER was anointed to :
“Preach the gospel to the poor.” The LORD JESUS CHRIST declared HIMSELF to be the PHYSICIAN of the sick and diseased. The preaching of the gospel, while declared in the presence of all men, is specifically addressed to the poor, the halt, the lame, and the blind. This is in keeping with the LORD’s declaration, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)
“Preach deliverance to the captives,” The LORD JESUS CHRIST has set HIS people free having obtained eternal redemption for them. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:14-15) The preaching of the gospel cannot be complete apart from a declaration of HIS utter triumph and success in accomplishing the full salvation of HIS people
“Preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” The LORD JESUS CHRIST came into the world at the appointed time. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” (Gal 4:4) “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2Cor 6:2) The preaching of the gospel declares the manifestation of HIS kingdom. We look for no other. GOD, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb 1:2)
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