We might as well preach to stone walls!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words-but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction!" 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
The gospel is preached in the ears of all men-but it only comes with power to some.
The power which is in the gospel, does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher-otherwise men would be converters of souls.
Nor does it lie in the preacher's learning-otherwise it could consists of the wisdom of men.
We might preach until our tongues rotted, until we should exhaust our lungs and die-but never a soul would be converted, unless there were mysterious power going with it-the Holy Spirit changing the will and heart of man.
O Sirs! We might as well preach to stone walls, as preach to men-unless the Holy Spirit is with the Word, to give it power to convert the soul.