Sunday, January 4, 2015

LIVING TRUTH FOR A DYING WORLD

 


Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

Preaching may be Biblical, yet barren.  The letter of the law may be presented with accuracy, and bring only death—while the Spirit of Truth breathes life into the congregation by anointed preaching.

Luther put it this way, “I preach as though Christ were crucified yesterday, rose from the dead today, and were coming back tomorrow!”

Let there be REALITY in our preaching—having taken a trip to Calvary, we can lead others there.  May we ever gaze in awe at the cross and make it central in our sermons.

Let there be VITALITY in our preaching—experiencing the Living Christ in our hearts, that we may present Him from our pulpit.  A Living Lord is the antidote to dead preaching.

Let there be URGENCY in our preaching—sermons delivered in light of Eternity.  We are accountable for souls, and the Judgment is looming for them—and for us!  That will ignite passion in your preaching, or perhaps we are spiritually dead too!

God has given us living truth to expound to a dying world.  Orthodoxy alone—and it cannot be compromised—is insufficient.  We can bore a congregation to death with Greek terms, Hebrew roots and theological terminology that comes from a book and not a heart aflame with love for God.  May the Spirit come in power as His Word is both faithfully and fervently proclaimed!  Pray for unction, brother!  Let the truth move you in your study or it will not move the people in your sermon.

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