Preach Unashamedly
The Bible has clear instructions for all who proclaim to be teachers of God’s Word. Pastors are given a charge (2 Timothy 4:2) before God and Christ Jesus, of which they will give a full accounting of their ministries. (Romans 14:12) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:1-3)
We live in times where it is popular for religious writers and speakers to proclaim their visions and ministry views using church language rather than give healthy teaching of Scripture. Much of church literature and teaching today has religious sounding tones, indicating a lack of knowledge of the Bible and as well as lacking concern for the Apostle Paul’s instructions given in the “Pastoral Epistles (Letters).” Paul writes, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) To not to be “ashamed” (ἀνεπαίσχυντος anepaíschuntos) in one’s teaching of the Bible – is to be a teacher who is not lazy, unskilled or unfaithful to lead readers or hearers too what God’s Word says about what is being taught. Much of the religious writings received in the mail today or heard on religious broadcasts are full of wonderful sounding slogans. Literally, at some church conventions, leaders of their churches are told, “Do not preach, but share your opinion from the heart.” Constantly, while being interviewed by the worldly media, men and women viewed as religious leaders are allowing their teachings to be reduced to mere opinion.
Men and woman with the gift to teach God’s Word do not want people who read or hear their message to agree with them, but agree with the Word of the Lord as originally written in the Bible. Serious ministries have overseers who are appointed by Christ (Ephesians 4:11); they spend long hours in prayerful study of the Scriptures so they write or speak as teaching the “very words of God.” (1 Peter 4:11)
Dr. Billy Graham preached unashamedly; he will always be remembered as saying, “The Bible says!” Preacher/Teacher David Wilkerson, preached unashamedly; all his teachings showed straightforward exegesis of Scripture. Even his cover letters to introduce his written messages started with the Word of God, filled with Scripture and closed with encouraging writings from the Bible.
When you present truth, is it birthed from God’s Word? Is it substantiated with the whole counsel of Scripture? Are you skillful with the Sword of the Holy Spirit? Are you faithful to preach His truth unashamedly? Do you lead your readers or hearers to the teachings in the Bible? In the day of accountability, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, will you be rewarded as one who preached unashamedly?”
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