1 Samuel 3:19-20 Thus Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fail. All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. (NASB)
What does it mean to be a preacher? In all honesty to be a preacher is not that hard. It is very simple if you are good at following directions. Samuel was known to be a prophet of God, because he did not withhold anything that God told him to say. Giving bad news is one of the hardest things to do, especially when we have a relationship with the person receiving the news. Samuel told Eli everything that God told him to say. Eli already knew that, but since this is the book of Samuel, it shows that Samuel even at a young age, had the courage to repeat ALL the message.
As preachers we have the same responsibility. We have to say everything that God has said in his word. Sometimes it may be unpleasant and unpopular, but we need to say the things that God has already said. We can’t change the message; our job is to repeat the message. Although sometimes for the sake of new Christians we can illustrate the message, but the message must remain the same. God is love. God is just. God gave us grace and also discipline. God wants us in heaven, but some will not make it. Our job is not to decide who makes it or who fails. Our job is to proclaim, to preach that there is only one way to heaven. I believe that we are all capable of doing that and if you can do that you are a preacher of God’s word.