We may preach with great eloquence, we may have unanswerable arguments, but if we are preaching to the lost, we must remember that they are people whose minds have been blinded by the god of this age. Our most eloquent appeals will make no impact unless a Sovereign God causes His light to dawn upon their hearts. Our approach in preaching should not be to say merely that we are offering something beneficial that you our hearer can and should take up at any time. We have a more disquieting message. We are to tell the lost, 'You are slaves. You are blind. You cannot even understand what we are saying unless God in His mercy enables you.' The Lord must illumine. Our preaching can succeed only “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor. 2:4). That must be the starting point for preaching the Lord God will honor.
Alwyn York

Bible – English_World – Ecclesiastes Chapter 12:1-14.

Index: World English Bible

 

Ecclesiastes 12

[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the evil days come, and the years draw near, When you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;”

12:2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, And the clouds return after the rain;

12:3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, And the strong men shall bow themselves, And the grinders cease because they are few, And those who look out of the windows are darkened,

12:4 And the doors shall be shut in the street; When the sound of the grinding is low, And one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, And all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

12:5 Yes, they shall be afraid of heights, And terrors will be in the way; And the almond tree shall blossom, And the grasshopper shall be a burden, And desire shall fail; Because man goes to his everlasting home, And the mourners go about the streets:

12:6 Before the silver cord is severed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher is broken at the spring, Or the wheel broken at the cistern,

12:7 And the dust returns to the earth as it was, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.

12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; All is vanity!

12:9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12:12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.