Learn To Preach at Seminary?

   Where did you learn to preach ? This question is often asked of ministers. A lot of people decide to go to Bible college to learn to be a preacher. They put in their years there and upon graduating get their ministers license to preach. They never receive a divine word from God telling them to preach they just decide they want to. Some do it because they have been a good Christian for years, love serving God, can witness to anyone, and is an excellent speaker, so they are encouraged to go to seminary to be a preacher.
   Romans11:29 says, "For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance." meaning we can't change what God has called us to do. If he has not told you to preach then you are not supposed to be preaching. This knocks out both these people.
   Some people when called to preach think "I need to go to college so I can learn more first", or maybe to learn how to speak in public better. In 1Cor.2:1-5 Paul says "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power:That your faith should not stand in wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Here we see one of the greatest preachers ever, and he had no need of fancy words or making his sermons sound polished, he said it would be putting man's praises above God's to do such. This is also seen in 1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." We can also get from this the need to rely on the Holy Spirit for what we are going to say instead of relying on a sermon outline.The Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when we need them. This is evidenced in Matt.10:19-20,"But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." This is called yielding to the spirit, and it is awesome to be preaching and have no idea what is coming out of your mouth next. It's almost like your sitting listening to someone else preach and actually you are, (the Holy Spirit is preaching). Some of the old timey churches near here would not accept a lot of the modern preachers. If a guest preacher got up and pulled out a sermon outline , they would quickly be set down.
2Timothy 4:2 says "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season" When God says do something or say something we are supposed to do it, not go prepare for it unless he tells us too. Going to school to learn to preach is not only unnecessary but is dishonoring to God. Let him teach you how he wants you to preach not some man's ideas. 1 John2:27 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things,and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

Blessings to all.
Charlie Hale