(To speak in the power of the spirit)

The renowned revival preacher Charles Finney describes how his sermons come together:

I do not confine myself to hours and days preparing my sermons; but my mind is always pondering the truths of the Gospel, and the best ways of using them. I go among the people and learn their needs. Then, in the light of the Holy Spirit, I take a subject that I think will meet their present necessities. I think intensely on it, and pray much over the subject, for example, and get my mind full of it, and then go and pour it out. Oftentimes, I went into the pulpit without knowing upon what text I should speak; the subject would open up to my mind in a manner that was surprising to myself. It is as if I have intuitive clearness just what I ought to say, and whole platoons of thoughts, words, and illustrations, come to me as fast as I could deliver them. From my own experience, no human eloquence can ever convert a soul, but only the Spirit of God; this enduement of power will be efficient in bringing souls to Christ, even though one is not particularly gifted with eloquence. And this power and anointing, endued from on high, is instantaneously received and may be enlarged or diminished, as the possessor of it uses it more or less faithfully and intensely for the purposes for which it was given. Human learning, culture and eloquence cannot take the place of this Divine enduement.