The most pleasant encouraging words to a pastor might be these. There is a longing in every true pastor's heart to encounter people who hear. This is a miracle of the sovereign God. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. (Prov. 20:12).
Believing as we do, that we as men are impotent to cause anyone to hear the Word of God, we pray, "Oh, Lord, open the ear and the understanding." Even the free-will preachers pray thusly, and then destroy the truth in their preaching.
I want to publicly testify that of late our gracious Lord has given of His grace in the ears of men. Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures Luke 24:45). Precious souls have come and said, "We will go with you: for we have heard thar God is with you." And this has happened without trickery, fleshly promises, or any aisle-walking, gum chewing, hip de do.
Thanks be unto His Holy Name, the blood of Christ is still effectual. May we preach His blood; and God, at His good pleasure, causes hearing.