Here's something we usually don't talk about enough: Satan cares about your preaching. More specifically, he wants to take you out and shut you up. He wants to tie you—and your preaching—up in knots. I don't talk this way often, but last month I preached what I considered a significant message and the post-sermon fallout was intense. For the entire next week I kept thinking, "That was a worthless message. You didn't help anyone. You don't deserve to preach. You just need to shut up."

Has anyone else ever felt that way? I've grown into a semi-secure guy, but this had the marks of spiritual warfare—and Satan seemed to have the upper hand. Finally, after a week I went to my pastor who anointed me with oil and prayed over me. The prayers of a righteous man broke the demonic stronghold in my head and heart.

Satan wants to take you out of the preaching game, and he plays dirty. My advice: admit your weakness, ask for Christ's help, and then consistently ask others to pray for you before, during, and after the sermon. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers." So ask others to pray not just for the message and the hearers but also for the preacher.

This week to help you in your preaching efforts we offer the following:

• Featured Illustration: Our annual "News That Illustrates—Super Bowl Ad Edition"
• Featured Sermon: Fully Human, Fully Alive By Charles Price
• Skills Article: "Lights, Camera, Pulpit! (Part 2)" By Tommy Hinson
• Video: A Pinterest Valentine's Day

In Christ,

Matt Woodley
Managing Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

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Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.