No one can deny the truth of the promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). However, as Paul explains, this calling upon the Lord is only possible if God’s love is shared and proclaimed. The Bible contains many verses urging believers to be messengers of God’s love, spreading the Good News throughout the world. For instance, when Jesus spoke about the end times, He said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” In this powerful statement, the act of revealing God to the world is encapsulated in one essential mission—preaching.
Preaching
This raises an important question: through what kind of preaching can God’s love truly be spread? To answer this, we must consider that although the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Sanhedrin were also preaching from Scripture, there was something completely different about the words of Jesus. Unlike messages focused solely on enforcing the Law of Moses, Jesus’ message was radically inclusive and centred on love, grace, and salvation for all.
While we are enthusiastic about preaching the Good News, it’s important to reflect on the kind of preaching we are actually practising. Preaching isn’t limited to addressing large crowds from an extravagant stage. Unfortunately, many have begun to follow in the footsteps of modern-day ministers who draw attention through dazzling digital displays and vibrant stage lighting. With outwardly impressive gestures, they captivate audiences—yet often instil a fear that keeps believers dependent on them, rather than encouraging intimacy with God. As a result, believers may become more eager to do something remarkable for God than to simply be with Him.
Sadly, in the pursuit of a platform to preach, many chase after those who can offer them visibility. This craving opens a vulnerable door: some end up on the wrong platform, while others grow disheartened when opportunities don’t arise. Opportunists take advantage of this desire, using their ministries not only to solicit money from sincere believers but also to recruit others into the same exploitative system by offering them a stage.
Even in the New Testament, many religious leaders fell into a similar pattern. They neglected to truly teach the statutes of God, yet were quick to enforce them, making people feel guilty without providing understanding. It mirrors how legal systems can punish citizens for breaking laws they were never taught. Likewise, preaching of this kind cannot fully reveal the breadth of God’s love.
Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. – Luke 11:46(NIV)
True preaching takes many forms, as the Holy Spirit leads according to the need of the moment. It might be a preacher sitting quietly with someone who is brokenhearted, speaking only a few meaningful words. Or it may involve teaching Scripture in a way that helps reconnect a wounded soul with God. But it’s difficult to apply God’s Word to life when someone doesn’t understand what it means. This is why teaching is essential alongside preaching.
We see this clearly in Acts 8 when the Holy Spirit led Philip to an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Scripture but struggling to understand it.
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. – Acts 8:34–35 (NIV)
His experience mirrors that of many today who struggle to understand God’s Word. Their confusion highlights the essential role of teaching in bringing clarity to what is preached. In some cases, the Spirit leads individuals to begin with teaching, establishing a solid foundation for preaching to build upon. When the Holy Spirit guides in this way, it reaches the hearer’s mind and inevitably transforms their life. Ultimately, the central figure in this process is the Holy Spirit, not the preacher.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. – John 16:13 (NIV)
Can We Learn The Word Without Others’ Help?
Saul was born in the city of Tarsus but raised in Jerusalem. He was an exceptionally intelligent man who studied under the renowned teacher Gamaliel. Yet, despite this prestigious education, Saul—later also known as Paul—consistently reminded others that his understanding came directly from God, not from any human teacher.
From this, we discover an uncompromised truth: only God Himself can fully reveal the depth of His love and compassion. Even the most revered teachers may struggle to express the fullness of God’s heart. This invites a powerful question: can we learn God’s love directly from Him, beyond the limitations of human mentorship? The answer is a resounding yes.
What’s more, God doesn’t wait for us to achieve perfect understanding before He begins to use us. Even if we grasp just a glimpse of His love, He can still work through us, so long as we remain committed to growing in that love daily.
Interestingly, when we are aware of how little we know about God’s Word, we tend to approach our calling with humility, praying not to speak outside of His will. But when we become confident in our own knowledge, we risk drifting into teachings that may unknowingly contradict God’s principles. Humility keeps us aligned with His heart; pride, even unintentional, can lead us astray.
Unfortunately, some fall into the trap of thinking this grace of God means they’ve already reached the peak of spiritual maturity. They view themselves as fully qualified to serve God and, in doing so, stop growing in His love altogether. Many pastors, for example, focus only on preaching about baptism or tithing, missing the larger picture of God’s heart. Apollos, who knew only the baptism of John, still spoke boldly about Jesus and the truth. His example shows us that while knowledge may be limited, a heart set on truth and growth can still be powerfully used by God.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. – Acts 18:26
When Apollos preached with only the knowledge of John’s baptism, Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the Word of God more accurately, helping him understand the truth more completely. Sadly, many people today are unwilling to continue learning, convinced that they already know enough. But the truth of God is inexhaustible. Priscilla and Aquila’s guidance didn’t diminish Apollos’s zeal or shift the Christ-centred focus of his message—that passion was clearly a gift from the Holy Spirit.
Many believers today find it difficult to study the Word of God on their own. This is often because church elders and leaders have trained their followers to listen to sermons but not to engage with Scripture personally. Far too often, when a believer tries to understand the Bible for themselves, they are told their interpretation is wrong and are encouraged instead to rely on the pastor’s viewpoint. This discourages personal study and leads believers to become dependent on others rather than the Holy Spirit.
The Bible was written by around forty different people, across various times and places, many of whom never met. Yet their writings all align around a central theme: God, His love, and the plan of salvation. This spiritual unity, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is extraordinary. While we rightly admire the depth of insight these writers offer, God also desires that we know Him personally, not just through their experiences, but through our own. Their journeys might not match our unique struggles, and the answers we seek may only come through a direct relationship with God and personal revelation through His Word.
The Apostle John, who witnessed distortions of truth by false teachers, likely learned much through the guidance of the Holy Spirit while reading and meditating on Scripture. He later affirmed that the Holy Spirit, who authored the Word, is sufficient to teach us. John’s own experience encourages us to trust the Spirit to lead us into truth, as we read and grow in God’s Word ourselves.
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. – 1 John 2:27 (NIV)
What Stops Us Learning From The Holy Spirit
Beyond the discouragement that may come from certain elders, what truly holds us back from learning directly from God? Isn’t it often our own reluctance to engage deeply with His Word? One of the biggest obstacles is our traditional approach to worship, which limits our connection with the Holy Spirit. We’ve become used to devoting only a small portion of time to church services or Bible study groups, convincing ourselves that this limited engagement is enough to truly understand God’s Word.
Even in our homes, believers are often taught to spend just a few minutes in prayer in the morning and at night, as though that fulfils their spiritual duty. This mindset leads many to believe they’ve done something significant to please God when, in reality, they’ve only scratched the surface. Most cannot imagine living every moment in communion with God—Sunday becomes the highlight, and the church is the only place they expect to meet Him.
What many fail to realise is that God dwells within us. Like the psalmist who said he would rather spend one day in God’s house than a thousand elsewhere, believers find comfort in devoting Sunday to God and then spending the rest of the week living apart from Him. This cycle often leads to people seeking forgiveness for the sins committed during those six days apart, as if Sunday alone can reset everything. But no one seems to consider what it would be like to live every day in the presence of their Redeemer.
Instead of waiting for the right moment to share the Good News, let’s recognise that the opportunities are already here, though not always in the ways we expect. If we walk closely with God, revealing Him to the world becomes natural. But if we’re consumed by the world and only seek to represent Him when the spotlight is on, we’ll struggle. The key is not in finding the perfect moment, but learning from His Spirit to live every moment with Him.
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. – Isaiah 8:18 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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