Both people and preacher must look to God for daily supplies if He is to be truly served, praised and glorified.  And this does not mean looking to Him merely for the care and blessings of this life, but in all things, ---even for the power and the spirit to worship Him.  Jesus said, "Without me ye can do nothing."  The minister cannot preach acceptably, nor can the people hear aright without divine help, the Spirit must lead and direct and apply in order for the service to be spiritual, God-honoring and soul-comforting

This reminds me of a remark made in my presence many years ago by Elder P. D. Gold, a very able minister who was educated and trained in theology and in preaching before he united with our people.  Walking with him to church one Sunday morning, his son said, "Father, are you going to preach today?" Brother Gold replied: "Yes, if the preacher comes."

I did not; at that time as fully understand his meaning as I have since learned it by experience.  Jesus, the real preacher, must come, must be in the effort, or we cannot preach effectively to the spiritually minded, and Brother Gold knew this.

Here is another case regarding preaching that I remember hearing when young and which interested me:  Elder C. B. Hassell, in his day the leading minister in North Carolina, was one time "shut up" at Wilson Church where he was visiting.  The brethren had well advertised his coming as a great preacher.  A large crowd assembled to hear him.  But his "advertisers" had evidently forgotten the Lord, forgotten that "He shuts and none can open, and opens and none can shut."  And so when Elder Hassell got up to read his text he forgot where it was.  Someone found it for him, but when he undertook to read it his vision became so dim that he could not see to read, and he sat down and refused to try to preach.

The next day he preached a wonderful discourse, and the brethren who witnessed this incident felt that it was a rebuke given to the church rather than a rebuke given the preacher.  Brethren, do not forget to pray for God's servant.   ---Elder R. H. Pittman Memories of Long Ago, 1930