Preacher criteria

### The Power of an Uncompromising Message

There’s an irony in the compliments that are sometimes exchanged about a true man of God. One pastor might remark to another, “That preacher—he’s too intense,” and one man might say, “That preacher—he’s just too much.” A preacher who stirs such intense reactions is fulfilling his God-given mandate. In fact, Jesus warned:

> **Luke 6:26 (KJV)**

> *"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets."*

This scripture reminds us that if every word a preacher utters is met with universal praise, then his voice may be lacking the fire necessary to convict and call sinners to repentance. Just as the fathers of false prophets were commended for their pleasing words, so too would it be if our modern-day messengers were merely comforting rather than convicting.

When men rise up in defiance to criticize and cast judgment upon a strong preacher, it is only because they are intimidated—afraid, perhaps, of what his message reveals or of how it unsettles the comfortable. True preaching is not meant to be a gentle murmur but a clarion call that disturbs complacency. The very fact that a message incites criticism from those who prefer their lies wrapped in comfort is evidence that it carries the power and authority of God. As the prophet exhorts us, let every true preacher "lift up his voice like a trumpet" (see Isaiah 58:1, KJV):

> **Isaiah 58:1 (KJV)**

> *"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins."*

This is a call to be bold—to cry aloud the truth, even if it means disturbing the security of the status quo. When the comfortable recoil and the complacent become disturbed, it demonstrates that the message is not tailored to entice but to awaken. Let us then encourage and empower those true men of God who, regardless of their manner of speech, dare to proclaim the unadulterated Word of God with unyielding conviction.

May God grant function and power to these faithful servants—to those who might seem “too intense” or “just too much” by worldly standards—so that they may continue to lift up their voices, warn of the dangers of sin, and lead the lost to repentance. For if a preacher does not provoke the enemy’s defiance, then he is not preaching as the prophets and apostles once did. Let the transformative, stirring power of true preaching disturb every comfortable complacency and bring forth revival.

# The Prerequisites of a True Preacher: A Manifesto for Bold, Spirit-Filled Proclamation

In an era when doctrine is diluted for the sake of comfort and entertainment, I set before you the clear criteria for the preachers whose voices I will lend my ear. A true preacher is not measured by polished rhetoric or higher education; rather, his credentials are found in an uncompromising commitment to the Gospel and the manifest power of the Holy Ghost. Below are the key points along with the full King James Version scriptures that prove and underscore these claims.

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## 1. Biblical Essentials

A preacher must adhere strictly to the one true doctrine concerning salvation. His message must be rooted in the full gospel:

### **a. A Call to Repentance and Baptism**

He must preach a strong message of repentance and declare that water baptism is to be administered only in the name of Jesus Christ—the one valid baptism that Scripture commands. This is powerfully stated in Acts 2:38:

> **Acts 2:38 (KJV)**

> "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

### **b. The Evident Reception of the Holy Ghost**

Not only must a true preacher affirm the power of the Holy Ghost, but he must have received it himself—evidenced by the manifestation of speaking in tongues as promised by our Lord. In addition, Mark records a similar promise:

> **Mark 16:17 (KJV)**

> "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues:"

### **c. A Lifestyle of Holiness and Separation**

The preacher’s life must be one of holiness and distinct separation from worldly compromises. The apostle Peter urges us to mirror the holiness of God:

> **1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV)**

> "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

> For it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

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## 2. Anointing Over Eloquence

I care not if a man has a third-grade vocabulary, stutters, or struggles to place his words in order. What matters is the undeniable power of the Holy Ghost within him. True preaching is not defined by human eloquence but by the power of God manifesting through simple, Spirit-filled utterances. The apostle Paul reminds us:

> **1 Corinthians 2:4 (KJV)**

> "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

A man filled with the Holy Ghost—with a voice that thunders with conviction—is far more effective than an eloquent theologian who has never tasted the fire of the Spirit.

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## 3. The Cost of Bold Proclamation

The history of God’s people testifies that when one preaches with unwavering truth and Spirit-fire, the cost is high. The responses of the world to His true messengers are clear evidence that these messages are not mere human musings.

### **a. The Persecuted Prophets**

- **Jeremiah:**

The prophet Jeremiah was rejected and even cast into a pit (cistern) because he faithfully proclaimed God’s truth—even to the point of being disowned by his own people. As recorded:

> **Jeremiah 38:6 (KJV)**

> "Then said they unto Jeremiah, Thou shalt surely die: for thou art a reproach in the midst of all the people."

- **Elijah:**

Consider Elijah, chased down by Jezebel for his uncompromising message. His example shows that God’s anointed will face relentless opposition. In 1 Kings we read:

> **1 Kings 19:1 (KJV)**

> "And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah did, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword."

>

> **1 Kings 19:2 (KJV)**

> "Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, 'So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by to-day.'"

- **John the Baptist:**

John the Baptist, who boldly preached an uncensored message, paid the ultimate price with his life. His martyrdom is recorded in full detail:

> **Matthew 14:1-12 (KJV)**

> 1 Now Herod the tetrarch heard the report of Jesus,

> 2 And said unto his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore these mighty works are done by him."

> 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother’s wife,

> 4 For John had said unto him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

> 5 And when Herod should have minded to kill John, he feared the people: for they counted John as a prophet.

> 6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before the king, and the king's heart was merry with it,

> 7 And he bade with a solemn oath that whosoever should give him the maiden, he would give him a kingdom.

> 8 Whereupon the king's servants said, "We have the maiden."

> 9 And the king, for the oath's sake, sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

> 10 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the maid; and the maid went and told her mother.

> 11 And his disciples came and took away his body, and buried it, and went and told no man.

> 12 Now his death was the beginning of the witness, which when he had borne, he signified, "He shall come after me, who is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose."

### **b. The Martyrdom of Stephen and the Apostles**

- **Stephen:**

Stephen’s fervent preaching stirred such opposition that, when his message could not be tolerated, the crowds gnashed their teeth and stoned him—his martyrdom a testament to the power of uncompromised truth:

> **Acts 7:54-60 (KJV)**

> 54 And when they heard these things, they were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.

> 55 But when they heard these things, they were full of wrath, and they cast their garments at his feet.

> 56 And they led him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at a little distance from him.

> 57 And they mourned deeply, as at the death of a dearly beloved son.

> 58 And as they led him out, he cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

> 59 And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

> 60 And the men smote him with a mean count, and ran, and departed, according to the will of their hearts.

- **The Apostles:**

Even when threatened with imprisonment and death, the Apostles stood firm. When questioned about their fearless testimony, they declared:

> **Acts 5:29 (KJV)**

> "Then Peter and the apostles answered and said, 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'"

If you think for one moment about these examples—Jeremiah, Elijah, John the Baptist, Stephen, and the Apostles—you see that it is not merely what they preached but *how* they preached that stirred such vehement opposition. Their bold, Spirit-driven delivery was its own proof of anointing.

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## 4. The Command to Raise One’s Voice

The prophets commanded not a meek whisper, but an unmistakable, powerful proclamation. As the Lord declared through the prophet Isaiah:

> **Isaiah 58:1 (KJV)**

> "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins."

A true preacher is compelled to lift his voice—to declare the truth with such force that even the enemy is provoked to rise up. If what is preached fails to stir opposition, then it is not preaching as the prophets and apostles did.

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## 5. Rejecting the Watered-Down, Compromised Message

Today’s church is often seduced by soft, entertaining preaching—polished words that comfort rather than convict. There is a grave danger in tolerating preachers who hide behind refined language or academic prowess yet lack the raw, vital power of the Holy Ghost.

I repeat: do not lend your ear to the soft, watered-down messages of modern-day religion. Instead, attune your heart to the voices of those who, like the prophets of old and the apostles of the New Testament, manifest true anointing through bold, uncompromising declarations of righteousness. Their preaching challenges sin, sparks conviction, and incites the kind of opposition that proves the truth of God’s Word.

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## Final Exhortation

A preacher who meets these criteria is not measured by academic accolades or refined speech. Whether he stutters with a third-grade vocabulary or proclaims with the simple ardor of a country preacher, if he has been anointed by the Holy Ghost and his words carry the weight of divine truth, then God can and will use him mightily. Let us follow the example of those biblical truth-bearers who faced pits, persecution, and death—all for proclaiming the uncompromised Word of God.

Believe this: if what you preach does not set the enemy at defiance, then you are not preaching as the great prophets and apostles did. The call is clear—lift up your voice like a trumpet and declare the truth with power and authority