I sit in the pew and each Sunday submit to the authority of the Pastor who brings the sermon . God has called him to this vocation and it is a sacred call. They are to open the word and feed sheep . Plus as a Shepherd under the great Shepherd Jesus.
So what is the task of the Pastor? They are to preach the whole counsel of God .Not avoiding the tough spots of the word by dancing around it by doing sermon series . They should preach Christ and Him crucified clearly without being ashamed . To proclaim the gospel of grace without hesitation.
[4:1] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
(2 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV)
This charge by Paul to Timothy is to all who climb up into that Pulpit.It should not be taken lightly.For when you preach , the words you are speaking are as if you are speaking for God . The great truths of heaven and hell , salvation, the cross,God's love and wrath against sin are on your lips . The sheep in your care need to be fed. That is your primary task.
As a one of your sheep I need to hear the word preached . For through it the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of the sinner to repent , it will awaken the backslider to come home , it will bring peace to the broken and it will put fuel to the fire of the saints to grow in grace. We don't need fancy power points , a cool backdrop , props or clever sermon series.What we need is the unadulterated word of God ,the Bible plainly preached with passion and reason .As the great Dr.Martyn LLoyd Jones rightly said preaching is logic on fire.
Do not be afraid to preach the tough things . We need to grow in truth . When I come weary and broken I do not need to hear about living a better life , but need to hear the grace of the gospel preached to heal my weary soul. Preach about God's sovereignty in salvation ,His holiness,His wrath ,His glory . Ground us so deep in doctrine that when life assails us or temptation from the world ,the devil or our sinful nature tries to ensnare us ,we are so steeped in the word , we will wield it like a sword and do a battle without fear. Let us see the all beautiful,amazing,supremacy of Jesus .
Pastors , please preach ,preach ,PREACH. Amen.
Verse Of The Day : [15] So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
(Romans 1:15-17 ESV)
1 comment:
My Grandpa Sutherland was not a learned man. He could, however, read and write. He was, at different times, a cook in a lumber camp, a barber and a farmer. Before I was born, he was also an alcoholic and a verbally mean drunk.
My Mom was his youngest (of 13 children, 9 survived infancy). One day, he hurt himself in the barn and had to crawl back to the house. He was laid up for quite a while.
He picked up my Grandma's Bible and started to read it. The Lord spoke to him, through His word. He softened his heart and my Grandpa became a Christian. The man I knew was such a sweet man and I adored him.
I can tell this story for him, he did not keep it a secret. He told it to everyone he met. He asked them if they knew where they stood with the Lord. Tough, if they didn't want to hear it.
Preach the word, indeed. Love you, Mrs Reg
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