"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." (1 Pet. 4:11) "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Tim. 4:2).

The story is told about an old American Indian who attended a church service one Sunday morning. The preacher's message lacked real spiritual food, so he did a lot of shouting and pulpit pounding to cover up his lack of preparation. In fact, as it is sometimes said, he "preached up quite a storm." After the service, someone asked the Indian, who was a Christian, what he thought of the minister's message. Thinking for a moment, he summed up his opinion in six words: "High wind. Big thunder. No rain."

Truly, when the Scriptures are neglected, though there might be high wind, and loud thunder, there is "no rain." Only when preaching consist of "thus saith the Lord" are God's people blessed and refreshed.