The Best Message Never Preached

Dan with Ralph Holland

Ralph was invited to preach by pastors who had seen his television program broadcast throughout Latin America. Two pastors met him at the airport and took him to the venue—an auditorium full of worshipers. As the service progressed, the host pastor asked Ralph to be finished preaching by 9:00 p.m. so people who required public transportation could make the last bus. Two groups provided music and even played some of the same songs.  An offering was taken, and the person facilitating it decided to preach a short message and then had one of the bands come up and play yet another song.  By the time Ralph was introduced to speak it was 8:55!  ​

​Meditation
1 Thessalonians 2:9--For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.
 
Preaching is not without sacrifice—Ralph spent hours of preparation, prayer, and time traveling to share.  He made himself available without burdening his hosts. Imagine their shock when he walked up to the platform and said, “Now, everyone, please stand, and we will be dismissed.” Many in the crowd responded, “Preach, preach!” But Ralph replied, “No, I will not be preaching tonight because:
1.  I’m tired from traveling all day to get here.
2.  I am upset and will not preach out of my anger.
3. The trios that dominated the service with songs that contributed little to the worship are outside on the street, drinking sodas, laughing, and talking.
4.  I respect the host’s word to finish at 9:00 p.m. 
I will return tomorrow in a better mood, and we will have a good time in the Word.  
            
The silence in the auditorium was incredible as Ralph closed the time in prayer.  Several pastors came up and apologized and told him that he had taught them a great lesson.  Ralph claims that the “best message he ever preached at a conference is the message he didn’t preach!” You can read more great accounts like this from Ralph and Donna Holland’s book, Relentless: Chronicles of Faith Love and Service.
            
Sometimes wisdom requires confronting people with their conduct to teach priceless life lessons. They were careless with time and, without intending to disrespect their guest, wasted an opportunity for him to serve. He graciously called them out for their action. Oswald Chambers once noted, “In other callings you have to work with men, but in this calling you work upon men; you come with the authority men crave for and yet resent.”[1]
 
Inspiration
 “Don’t preach out of natural discretion, but out of spiritual discretion that comes from intimacy with God.”—Oswald Chambers in The Servant as His Lord 81
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 

 
 


[1] Oswald Chambers in Approved Unto God, p. 41