Fresh Bread!

I heard a preacher last night. He was contemporary, but he was also relevant!
OK, I admit I worded that last sentence to catch your attention. It is my way of pointing out the foolishness of assuming that because something is contemporary that it is also relevant.
Contemporary is descriptive of a method, appearance, or presentation. Many have come to the false conclusion that if the method is contemporary the message must be relevant. The only thing a method can accomplish is to help or hinder the receiving of the message.
Like most people, I like bread. I especially like whole-wheat bread. But most of all, I like fresh bread. When it is still warm from the oven, it is heavenly. I will eat it no matter who serves it or what they are wearing. I will eat it no matter where they serve it and or what they serve it on! Why? Because it is fresh!
Bread that is stale is still bread. It has all the ingredients of fresh bread, but it does not taste the same. And moldy bread … well, forget it. But what if stale or even moldy bread is served in the most contemporary of surroundings in the most contemporary of platters? What if it is served by the most contemporary of waiters dressed in the most contemporary of clothing? The method does not make the bread fresh. Do you get my point?
Fresh revelation, however, is always relevant! By fresh revelation I am referring to the “Bread of Life” that has just been taken from the “oven” of the Spirit-filled Preacher’s soul. It is relevant because it is the specific Word that the Holy Spirit has for a specific people at a specific moment! Fresh revelation is not a Word that has been left on the shelf or packaged in a factory and then offered in a “contemporary” presentation.
Fresh revelation takes time to prepare. It is best prepared when the baker is on his knees listening to the voice of the Master Baker Who made all the ingredients and wrote the recipes. And because it is fresh revelation, it is desirable, powerful, and effective!
The “Bread” was fresh last night!