The Value of Preaching to Your Life

2 Chronicles 15:8

And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

Old fashioned preaching is an afterthought to many because they would rather have feel-good singing than convicting preaching. However, the value of preaching to one’s life far more valuable than a glorified concert of Christian music where people feel good on the inside, but nothing changes on the outside. One of the biggest reasons this generation of believers is so shallow is because they have lifted music over preaching, and God teaches that it is through the foolishness of preaching where lives are changed.

Asa’s life was changed when he heard the preaching of Oded the prophet. Asa would have gone on in his life to face the judgment of God had it not been for the preaching of Oded. Oded’s preaching brought a change in Asa’s life, which resulted in bringing God’s blessings to his life. There are several benefits that preaching brings to one’s life that we can glean from Asa’s encounter with preaching.

First, preaching brings conviction. Asa was convicted about what he was doing because he heard preaching. Old fashioned preaching always brings conviction. If you want a preacher who tells you what you want to hear, you will never know the value that conviction can bring to your life. Conviction is good because is brings you to a decision to change your life or continue going down the same road that will bring you to God’s chastening hand.

Second, preaching gives courage. Asa took courage because he heard preaching. Nothing will challenge you to do something courageous like preaching does. Preaching has a way of lighting a fire in the heart to stir a person to do something courageous for God by faith.

Third, preaching encourages one to clean up their life. Asa took the idols out of the land after he heard the preaching of Oded. Preaching brings conviction, and properly responding to the conviction will clean your life from the sin in your heart and life. It is of great benefit to an individual anytime they take sin out of their life; therefore, preaching is very valuable to one’s life if they want to enjoy a life of holy living.

Fourth, preaching makes the personal altar important again. Asa repaired the altar once he heard the preaching of Oded. You will find preaching will stir you to spend time with God in His Word and prayer, and it will also stir you to use the altar during the invitation. A person who uses the altar will find their life getting closer to God.

Fifth, preaching changes your mindset toward the wrong crowd. Asa removed the wrong crowd from his life after the preaching of Oded. The more you respond properly to the preaching, the more the lure of the wrong crowd will no longer draw you.

Preaching is of great benefit to your life; however, preaching cannot bring these benefits to your life if you are not present in the preaching service. Be faithful to church and open your heart to the preaching, and you will find these great benefits of preaching will impact your life for good.