This is the on preaching podcast with H.B. Charles Jr. The podcast dedicated to helping you preach

faithfully, clearly, and better. Good day and thanks for listening to the podcast.

In this episode, I want to talk to you about what I use in the pulpit.

The faithful preacher must strive to be at his best in his prayer closet, his study, and his pulpit.

I want to say that again.

The faithful preacher must strive to be at his best in his prayer closet, his study,

and his pulpit.

First of all, you must strive to be at your best in your prayer closet.

As I like to say, it happens after prayer.

We are to continue, Galatians 4 verse 2, steadfastly in prayer, being vigilant or watchful in it with all

Thanksgiving. This is an exhortation to all of the body of Christ, but there is a specific

and unique duty to prayer that those who would shepherd God's people have.

In Acts chapter 6 verse 4, the apostles famously said in the midst of potential racial division, in the midst of growing pains, in the church, in the midst of organizational challenges, we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

You must strive to be at your best in your prayer closet.

Indeed, we are devoted to the ministry of the word, but it is by prayer that we are empowered

to do God's work. It is by prayer that we are empowered to do God's work.

It is by prayer that we get direction from God.

It is by prayer that we ourselves are sanctified so that we're clean vessels in the Lord's hand when we get to the pulpit.

So you must be at your best in the prayer closet. You must also be at your best in your study. I often say that I don't want the Lord to talk to me

in the pulpit. I drew that conclusion after hearing about the preacher who was lazy and had not prepared

and got to the pulpit on Sunday and asked the Lord, please, Lord, speak to me.

And the Lord spoke to him and said, you should have studied.

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