Early in my preaching ministry, there was an elderly saint who often led us in prayer during a service. Whatever else he might have prayed for, he never failed to conclude without asking God to grant me "unction from on high." I wasn't sure what unction was, but it sure sounded like something I needed.
Lee Eclov defines unction as "the anointing of the Holy Spirit on a sermon so that something holy and powerful is added to the message that no preacher can generate." While unction seems to defy analysis, we know it when we feel it. Certainly, God's Word never fails to accomplish the purpose for which it was given, even when it is proclaimed without obvious evidence of divine power. But when a message or messenger is anointed by God's Spirit, the fruit of that ministry of the Word is abundant, dramatic, and lasting.
Unction is what Paul experienced in his ministry at Thessalonica. He writes, "Our gospel came to you not only with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction." Clearly, a force was at work that transcended anything he and his associates could have accomplished in their own strength.
Having sought the Spirit's anointing for twenty years, I've come to the conclusion that unction is like romance: it can't be forced, but it can be fanned into flame. A suitor cannot command a woman's affection, but he can court her, creating opportunities for her to fall in love with him. Likewise, preachers cannot command unction, but they can cultivate a relationship with God that allows the Spirit to operate freely and fully in accordance with God's will.
I have discovered a real and predictable correlation between the condition of my soul and my sense of the Spirit's empowering activity in my preaching. For that reason, I cannot afford to let my devotional connection with God become routine or inconsistent. Scripture Union's online Bible reading guide has been the foundation of my daily time with God, seasonally enriched with Advent and Lenten materials. A one-page, handwritten prayer allows me to respond to what I've heard from God that morning. Sunday mornings, I'm often feeling pressure to make those final sermon touch-ups, but a few moments with God tunes my heart to speak his grace.
Anointing is also related to holy living, as God's Spirit is grieved by unrepentant sin, contentious relationships, and careless stewardship of our bodies, minds, and resources. I have to maintain a zero-tolerance for known sin in my life. When temptations arise, I remind myself that Sunday's coming, and I don't dare step into the pulpit without the Spirit. When I do stumble, I can't allow much time to pass before coming to God in repentance. More than once I've had to make a phone call on a Saturday to seek reconciliation with a brother or sister, or make amends with my wife or children, lest anything hinder the work of God's Spirit the next day.
Perhaps my most treasured and fruitful spiritual pursuit has been the practice of taking a seasonal prayer and study retreat three or four times a year. Generally it's an overnight stay in a retreat center or borrowed vacation home that allows me to pray, fast, study, rest, and enjoy companionship with God. Inevitably, events at church and home consistently conspire to keep me from getting away. But I know that if too many months pass without a retreat, my preaching feels forced, my vision becomes cloudy, and my soul begins to shrivel.
Jesus reminds us that there's something mysterious and wonderful about the work of the Spirit. Like the wind, it blows wherever it pleases. Devotions, holiness, and retreat can't guarantee the Spirit's anointing. But when attended to and practiced faithfully, they allow us to be continually available to the Spirit.
"God, grant him unction from on high." I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I needed it and wanted it. And ultimately, wanting it may be the most critical factor. Calvin Miller suggests that "the Spirit never comes as a result of sermon preparation; He comes as a result of the soul's desire." Miller would be the first to call preachers to diligent preparation, but he reminds us that there is a dimension to preaching that is beyond our control. Unction can't be worked; it can only be wanted. Effective preachers want it every week.
Bryan Wilkerson is pastor of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts.
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