"Unction"

by Clyde Martin

     

What is unction?  A great preacher; of the not too long ago, Robert G. Lee, once said to me after I inquired as to the outcome of his Preaching of the past Sunday,  "I preached… but without unction", he said.  In all of the years in which I was associated with this great preacher, I had never heard him preach without effectiveness.  His statement launched me on a study to know what unction is and why preachers must have it.

Richard Cecil wrote, "All the minister's efforts will be vanity or worse than vanity if he have not unction.  Unction must come down from Heaven and spread a savor and feeling and relish over his ministry; and among the other means of qualifying himself for his office, the Bible must hold the first place, and the last also must be given to the Word of God and prayer."

E. M. Bounds wrote: "In the Christian system unction is the anointing of the Holy Ghost, separating unto God's work and qualifying for it.  This unction is the one divine enablement by which the preacher accomplishes the peculiar and saving ends of preaching.  Without this unction there are no true spiritual results accomplished; the results and forces in preaching do not rise above the results of unsanctified speech.  Without unction the former is as potent as the pulpit."

As a preacher of 63 years, I know when my message is of little or no effect.  Truth delivered "in the flesh" is still truth; the gospel within itself is powerful, yet when delivered without unction the results are not guaranteed.  Unction is the healing balm that brings wrenching conviction of sin and curing deliverance to the soul. Unction separates true gospel preaching from all other methods of presenting truth.    

BACK TO