Preach the Word

Preach the Word

2 Tim. 4:2

“Preach the word ! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

      “Preach the word” Paul charges Timothy- his trusted son in the faith. Timothy had spent some time with Paul. He went on journeys with him and learned the way to be a good minister. Timothy at a young age had been urged by Paul to remain in Ephesus. We seen in both letters  to Timothy what Timothy was to do there in Ephesus. We also learn about the church and how to minister. We see a strong loving connection between Paul and Timothy. Yet, Paul did not let that bond skew the need for the letters. Paul simply stated it like it is. This simple command sums up Paul’s work and Timothy’s work. No matter what, preach the word. The first century church understood this. They took the weight on their shoulders (Acts 8:1-4). Why? Because it was a command from Jesus.

  “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

(Mathew 28:18-20)

 

 

      This is why we are here today. The preaching of the first century church was done by all. They suffered and bore the persecutions of such a life style. Their life was not about them but about Christ. The question was not “What will Christ do for me?” Instead they asked “What will I do for Christ?” They sought after such service daily. Christianity was not a robe to be put on when entering the assembly and took off when it’s time to go eat. It was putting on Christ (Gal. 3:27). They never backed away from preaching and teaching, it was life and death for the world. They understood that, do you?

   The first century church preaches the word fearlessly. Every time any growth was mentioned it is mentioned in the context of preaching the word (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 4:33; 6:7; 11:21). Why then do we seek a different avenue to grow in maturity and in number in the body today? Its plain to see the word alone has the power to do so.



   Perhaps Acts 5:17-32 will shed some light on this fearless preaching. We see the indignant high priest and those who were with them lay hands on the apostles and imprisoned them. Oh well they halted all preaching. Not! An angle of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out. The angle said “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of life.” (Acts 5:20) Early that morning they went and did what they had been told. The council, on  the other hand, meets and sends for them.  The officers came back to the council and said

“Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

 (Acts 5:23) 

All who hard these things wondered what the outcome would be. Someone came saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” (Acts 5:25)



     Here is the moment  we have been waiting for. The conversation between the opposing sides shows the fearless preaching of Christians. We see the response of high priest after they apostles had been brought in again.

“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!””

(Acts 5:27-28)

They did not want any one teaching Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23).   Peter simply replied,

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

(Acts 5:29-32)

What a fearless statement made by Peter and the apostles!



     Christians understood that it was God whom they were to obey. They were not to obey men or this world. No matter what the popular demand was or what religious idea was on top of the charts that week. They, simply, preached the word.   Peter’s reply summed it all up. They were there for God, not men. They did not back down, even though it could have meant prison or death. Another point to note here is that when they did go to prison for doing what Christ commanded and  He delivered them putting them back on track. Will Go help us do what He wants us to do? Yes. I can do all things, the things Christ commands, through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13; Joshua 1: 6-9).



     The church was born in the atmosphere of preaching (Acts 2:1-41). There is power in preaching the word! We must keep it up and not lose sight of that power. Paul expresses the necessity,

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”

(1 Cor. 9:16)

    Jesus makes it clear that we must be taught in order to come to Him,

“ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”

(John 6:44-45)

 

 

    Paul expressly says that God manifested His word through preaching,

“ but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior”

(Tit. 1:3).

   The word is the message preached to save those whom will believe,

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

(1 Cor. 1:21)

    Jesus makes it very clear that those who believe and are baptized will be saved (Mark. 16:15-16). Our faith can only come by hearing the word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17).


   Jesus preached, “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17).


    We know that  we abide in Him when we walk just has He walked (1 John 2:6). If Jesus preached the word so must we. If we want maturity and growth in our selves and the body we must sow the seed. It has to be the seed of the kingdom to get the kingdom to grow. The seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23).

 Are you fearlessly preaching the word?


[See "The Zealous Evangelists"]
http://stevelynnjohnson.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-zealous-evangelists.html