Preaching in the Holy Spirit

by Albert N. Martin

Good pastors pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in preparing biblical sermons that will adequately feed God’s sheep. They also hope for the Spirit’s work in the hearts of the hearers so that they effectively receive the preached Word. But are these the only ways that preachers must depend on the Spirit in their preaching? In this book, Albert N. Martin reminds gospel ministers of their need to rely on the Holy Spirit as they proclaim God’s Word. He explains the necessity of the agency and operations of the Holy Spirit, describes its specific manifestations, and discusses ways it is restrained or diminished. Here is a prophetic call to reliance on God in the very act of proclaiming His Word.

Genres: Theology

67 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2011

About the author

Pastor Albert N. Martin shepherded the people of Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey for 46 years. He was a Reformed Baptist at least a quarter-century before anyone considered it to be cool. Now retired from ministry, he has written this book for Cruciform Press to recount what he learned from the death of his wife, Marilyn, at age 73. Grieving, Hope, and Solace is his second book, and his first for a lay audience. To offer a sense of the depth of Pastor Martin’s ministry, the late John Murray, Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and author of several classic books, including Redemption Accomplished and Applied, once said regarding an upcoming conference,“If Al Martin is to be there I really think he should be asked to take the three evening services proposed for me. He is one of the ablest and most moving preachers I have ever heard…I have not heard his equal.”

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fine little booklet. I commend it to all preachers -- really good stuff here.

[Elijah Hoyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting book that I think all Preachers, especially Presbyterian ministers, should read. Our study is good, but let’s not replace the ministry of the Holy Spirit in preaching with our study. Our confidence is not in our knowledge and ability but in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

[Henry Holmberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopefully going to be a yearly read for me. Important and neglected topic for preachers.

[Josh Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I concur with Doug's review, but rated it 5 stars instead of 4. Mainly because it touches a topic that many modern books on preaching are not handling, or if they are touching on it, they're certainly not handling it as well as Martin does. Al writes as a
Reformed and Confessional Pastor of many years. This book is challenging and should be required reading for every pastor stepping into the pulpit, especially in our current age.

[Coleson White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful corrective for an often neglected facet of Reformed preaching. As much as I want to complain about the attempt to write like a Puritan it was effective at points.

[Kirby Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

this might belong in the regularly-reread category

[David Smithey · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, what a humbling book,

This is a book that needs to be reread periodically as a reminder. I'm so grateful that this was put in print and published!

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally got around to reading this classic! It has been many years I have heard of this book, maybe even over ten years and as a testament to how good the book is, it did not disappoint! If you are looking for something on the topic of preaching Holy Spirit in a way that is biblical and powerful and convicting, this is it! The author Albert Martin is a Reformed Baptist pastor for many decades and this book is based upon his two part sermon series in October 2002 titled “Preaching in the Holy Spirit.”
After the preface as an opening the book consists of five chapters with the first one explaining what the author means by “the agency and operation of the Spirit in preaching” where Al Martin gives his definition for terms as well as his presuppositions. Here he also tells us this book focuses on the Spirit on the Preacher not with the preparation and studying to preach but in the actual preaching itself. The second chapter is on the indispensable necessity of the Spirit in preaching and he proves this thesis with three points. Chapter three then is on “Specific manifestations of the Spirit in Preaching” in which the author laid out what ways the Spirit is working through a preacher. Next is a chapter on what restrain and diminishes the measure of the Spirit in preaching; here I really appreciate the author’s nuances, and yet also very careful and practical points for considerations. Chapter five is the conclusion.
There’s so much that lifted my soul reading this; but it also was convicting. The fourth chapter for me was the best; I really thought the careful category and distinction between diminishing the Spirit and restraining the Spirit. Yet there were somethings that I didn’t think I heard others say about limiting the Spirit’s work through a preacher that was mentioned here, specifically with the problem of insufficient measure of careless and lazy and disorganized presentation of the truth; we can easily hear about the Spirit as a “rescue device” (my word) as an excuse of not being a workman approved with handling the Scripture. Also if one does not preach Christ or enough of Christ, that can also mean the Spirit is hindered from blessing a heralding of God’s Word. I thought it was good Martin also talk about the lack of effort to improve on the gift of preaching as something that hinder the work of the Spirit through a preacher; 2 Timothy 1:6 talks about stirring the gift of God which was given to Timothy and 1 Timothy 4:14 Paul wrote to Timothy to not neglect the gift that God has given him, these verses are drawn by the author to make the point to fan the flame in growing as a preacher (53).
I am so glad this book is in print!

[Peter Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Pastor needs to get a copy of Preaching in the Holy Spirit! I absolutely loved this little book!

It is not an overstatement to say that Albert Martin has hit the nail on the head. What does it mean to preach in the Holy Spirit? Martin captures it beautifully. Most books on preaching do not even attempt to discuss this topic, and yet it is absolutely vital to the task of preaching. You know when a sermon has what the Puritans used to call, "Unction!" There is a sense that the Spirt has come upon the preacher in a unique way to grant a heightened liberty and power and soul-gripping authority to the proclamation of God's word. And that is the mark of all great preaching! You know it when a sermon has it, and you know it when it does not.

Throughout these pages I found myself resonating with the descriptions of what it looks like and feels like to experience unction in the pulpit as a preacher of God's word. Martin is careful to avoid an unbiblical mysticism as he anchors the notion and the necessity of preaching in the Spirit in the text of Scripture. Far from being a small emphasis in the New Testament, Martin shows us that the Lord Jesus had such unction on his ministry, and so did the Apostles, but he goes further to anchor such preaching as being part and parcel of all true New Covenant proclamation. This is an indispensable element of truly great preaching, because it connects the preacher to the "presence and powerful agency and operation of the Spirit" in the proclamation of the word.

Martin concludes his treatise on Preaching in the Holy Spirit, saying, "I am still convinced that preachers who stand before men with minds and hearts aglow with the truth, men liberated and empowered by the Spirit, so that what they preach throbs and sings with heavenly life, light, and music - these men will be heard.... God's great weapon is preaching with the presence and powerful agency and operation of the Holy Spirit."

[Benjamin Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and worthwhile read. Thought provoking, and something I will need to meditate on and consider how these insights should affect my preaching, as I tend to rely very heavily on my manuscript work in my preaching. I don't plan on making any major changes too quickly, but praying that the Spirit will empower my preaching at the time of delivery, and seeking to allow Him more freedom of "adjustments" at that time seems reasonable. Not sure if that is giving too much allowance for mysticism; certainly the Spirit can and must be active in the work of sermon preparation as well, but I appreciate the emphasis on our need for the Spirit at the time of delivery also.

As always, Martin depends heavily upon the Bible, but he also quotes extensively from Spurgeon, even going so far as to "hide behind" Spurgeon's understanding of this topic multiple times. Perhaps a little more Biblical exegesis would have been helpful and more convincing than the repeated Spurgeon quotations. Nevertheless, a very good and helpful work.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good brief introduction to preaching, specifically on the role of the Holy Spirit in the act of preaching and dependency upon the Holy Spirit in prayer and preparation.

I agreed with most of the material, but the last chapter on grieving the Holy Spirit seems to lean towards a somewhat mystic position. Despite quoting a few authors in his defense, Albert Martin is critical of preachers using a manuscript to assist them in preaching and argues to let the Spirit guide them. He clarified his statement to not diminish the need of due diligence in sermon preparation, but argues to let the Spirit guide the preacher. Seems to be responsible and taking the office of preaching more seriously to have a manuscript prepared to attempt to preach and faithfully exegete the text to avoid doctrinal errors for the congregation. Although this doesn't mean the preacher has to read their manuscript verbatim, it can at least assist to guide the direction and structure of the sermon.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything written by Albert Martin is guaranteed to be edifying and educating. In this brief exposition Pastor Martin encourages the preacher to rely on the Holy Spirit to lift Christ up to a dying world. This may sound like basic advise, but the reality is that many in modern evangelical circles have grieved and muted Him through post modern concepts and oratory techniques, rendering our pulpits powerless and ineffective. I greatly enjoyed this work. Ps. If you haven't read his three volume set on Pastoral Theology get it and read it now! A modern day Lecture To My Students! Albert Martin is an amazing man of God with a love for pastors and the body of Christ, and it shows in his preaching and writing.

[P.J. Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Spirit Preaching

"God has chosen preaching as His grand weapon to dismantle the kingdom of darkness and to establish the kingdom of His dear Son. But not just any kind of preaching will serve. God’s grand weapon is preaching with the presence and powerful agency and operation of the Holy Spirit." This short little book was very convicting and very helpful. We need this kind of preaching more than ever in our postmodern age. May God be pleased to raise up many faithful men who preach Christ not in the strength of their own flesh, but with a wholehearted reliance on the Holy Spirit. SDG.

[Chrys Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book on the necessity of the Holy Spirit during the act of preaching. What older saints called "unction" is being vividly discussed in the powerful treatise on true, biblical preaching. Every preacher, young or old, should get their hands on this little book. It will prove beneficial and well worth the couple of dollars it costs to buy it.

[John Hayward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is "the kind of unction and freedom in preaching that churches need. The people of God desperately need and should expect fresh, potent words from the Lord, and such will be found in the careful exposition and penetrating application of biblical texts under the influence of the immediate agency of the Spirit's power on godly and gifted preachers."

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher, get this book. Read it in a day or two. Be blessed. Very highly recommended to the pastor and preacher.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick little read, but a simple and helpful presentation of what it looks like to lean on and be helped by the Spirit in preaching.

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look, I understand what he is saying. But can someone convince me of what he is saying?

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this brief book, Martin examines the role of the Holy Spirit in preaching, explaining that His power and presence are intrinsically necessary for the very act of proclaiming God’s Word. Martin shows how the Spirit’s work in Scripture is tied to bold statements of truth and contends that He does the same today. Preachers are admonished to work hard, study harder, and be prepared—but never to trust in their own intellect, devices, or presentation.

[Alan Rennê · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livreto precioso sobre a agência e as operações imediatas do Espírito Santo sobre o pregador no momento da pregação. Recomendo a leitura deste livro a todos os meus amigos que têm o privilégio e a responsabilidade de servirem como arautos do Rei à comunidade do Pacto.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful little book which encourages the Preacher to be dependant upon the working of the Holy Spirit in every part of the preaching process.

[Razvan Stoian]

This tiny book can help you greatly as a preacher. Here you will find crucial truths about the Holy Spirit's presence in the act of preaching that will inspire you to ask yourself if you're giving lectures in your creaturely strength on Sundays, or preaching with the power of the Holy Spirit. Though the book is not very thorough, I trust it will leave you on your knees praying to become the type of preacher God desires you to be, as it did for me.