Weekly Devotional 5-28-18 Preaching/Teaching, With the Authority of God
And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” 2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse–for they are a rebellious house–yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. (Ezekiel 2:1-5 NKJB).
Even though these words of the Lord were to Ezekiel they have relevance to God’s messengers (preachers or teachers) of today, in that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (See 2nd Timothy 3:16). Thus, it would behoove any preacher or teacher of the grace of God to do at least three things: 1) affirm that what they say is the Word of God, 2) that they have thoroughly researched God’s meaning in any given message, and 3) that they teach, or preach, it boldly.
If these things are true of their deliverance, they will have the authority of God on them and He (God) will accomplish that what He has determined in the lives of the hearers. If the hearers will not listen, they are accountable to God for turning away from His word, the preacher/teacher has been faithful. A teacher or preacher should never be intimidated by his audience. He should instead be intimidated by the indwelling Holy Spirit who instructs and guides him in his pursuance of truth and who has empowered him.
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The preacher/teacher of today should and must take Paul’s instructions to Timothy to heart employing these instructions to his own ministry. We read; “1I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2nd Timothy 4:1-5 NKJB).
Certainly, the ministry of a faithful preacher/teacher today will be opposed by many as they do not want to listen to sound doctrine. They want a preacher/teacher who will excuse their sin, saying things that flatter them. But, what words of Jesus should continually ring in the ears of the faithful preacher/teacher of God’s word? Are they not these? “24If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:24-27 NKJB).
Lord help and empower each of us to be faithful servants.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man