COURAGEOUS COMMUNICATION

“Evan-jellyfish,” is a term I have heard used to describe evangelicals without a spine.  To such, Christianity is about being nice—just like Jesus.  After all, “He gets us,” as the multi-million dollar TV campaign nicely presents. Of course Jesus was nice, except when He was flipping over tables, cracking a whip, demanding repentance or you perish in hell, calling people vipers, and prophesying wrath to come!  

Yet, Jesus spoke the truth in love. He neglected neither. Christ was “full of grace and truth,” (John 1:14). Our message is not one of condemnation, but compassion. Yet, the way out of condemnation is not human goodness (however we define it), but heavenly grace. To promote love without truth is liberalism that has no saving power.  If we are already nice, then we can have this very nice Jesus whomever we imagine Him to be, and think all is well for the afterlife—whatever we conceive that to mean.

Paul is contrasting the ministry of the Old Covenant with the message of the New Covenant in chapter three of 2 Corinthians. There was a glory in the law given to Moses, for it came from Holy God. It set forth God’s standard, but gave no means to keep it. Moses’ face reflected the glory for a time, but it faded. In opposing liberalism, we are not promoting legalism. That is a ministry of the letter that kills. 

Rather, we have a ministry of righteousness—that very righteousness which comes by faith in Christ and gives us grace to change from the inside out. The Apostle would later state in this letter, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (‭5‬:‭17‬‬). It is the ministry of the Spirit that gives eternal life.  Our focus is on courageous communication that Paul commends in 2 Corinthians 3:12, “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—”. 

This conveys THE BASIS OF COURAGEOUS COMMUNICATION, “Therefore, since we have such hope…”.  The unshakeable hope we have rests in the finished work of Christ. It is a not the “hope so” of legalism or liberalism, but the concrete assurance of justification from Christ’s work in the past that saves us from sin’s penalty, sanctification in His ongoing work in the present that saves us from sin’s power, and glorification at His return that saves us from sin’s presence. There is no hope to be found in a message that declares we are good already as liberalism does, or demands that we be good in our own ability as legalism does. Rather, it is about Jesus who is, “the Way, the Truth, and the LIfe.”  The only hope, for none come to the Father but by Him, (John 14:6). 

This means we can have THE BOLDNESS OF COURAGEOUS COMMUNICATION, “we use great boldness of speech—”.  Paul did not say, “I’m OK; you’re Ok” but confronted us with the reality of our sin and the gravity of the sentence upon us. Nether did he tell us to pray to Mary, confess to a priest, keep some ritual, be nice and so forth—hoping that in the scales of justice, the good may outweigh the bad.  False religion—whether of a cult or some perverted Christianity—has the works of bad people put in the scales and so our religiosity and ritual on the other side tip the balance in our favor. The problem with that it is actually the holiness of God in one side of the balance, and whatever we put into the other side will not even move the scale. Only one human ever equaled the perfect righteousness of God—the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, we boldly proclaim the Gospel. 

This is the good and glorious work that Christ does in us by His Spirit who regenerates and sanctifies. In HIs abiding presence and our pursuing an abiding relationship with Him that transformation occurs: 

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬‬). 

Our courageous communication is of freedom in Christ—free to be all that God wants me to be, realizing it in increasing measure, as I grow and glow from the glory of Christ in and with me. “He gets us,”—yes, if you mean Christ gets us by reaching into the pit of sin and pulling us out of the muck and mire, cleaning us up, and clothing us in His righteousness, fitting us for glory. 

Hallelujah, what a Savior we preach!  May His Gospel be our courageous communication!

A SACRED STEWARDSHIP

Pastors have a sacred stewardship. Paul underscores this by his personal example and pointed exhortation in 1 Timothy 1. He speaks of “the stewardship from God that is by faith,” (v. 4). A steward was one who was “entrusted,” (v. 11) with his master’s riches as a household manager. This was his “charge,” (v. 5, 18)—the “appointing…to his service,” (v. 12). In this case, Paul was entrusted with the glorious Gospel. Paul testifies that His Master, “Christ Jesus our Lord…judged me faithful,” (v. 12). Now, he will say to his young protege, “This charge I entrust to you Timothy,” (v. 18). This is the sacred stewardship of every God-called preacher.

The Apostle begins with THE GREETING, (v. 1-2). This is more than a formality, but sets the context for this pastoral letter. Paul immediately identifies himself as the author, speaking with authority as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope,” (v. 1). He is fulfilling his calling by enlisting and equipping “Timothy, my true child in the faith,” (v. 2). It is vital to the church’s continued witness to raise up future leaders. As an apostle, Paul is not offering good suggestions about what might work in a local church, but demanding God’s essentials as imperatives. 

God is our Savior—the Father who has ordained salvation’s plan, and Christ Jesus is our hope—the One who is the object of faith who has brought redemption. Our only hope is in a relationship with Him by faith in Him. Now, we have the responsibility to carry that message to the ends of the earth. Through the preaching of the Gospel, we are regenerated as Timothy, “a true child in the faith,” (v. 2a). 

The Gospel is one of “grace.”  We receive what we could never deserve—heaven. It is one of “mercy.”  We do not receive what we do deserve—hell. The Gospel is one of “peace.”  God is no longer at war with us, as we have surrendered to Him. Peace with God flows from the grace and mercy we have experienced. This is the Gospel we are to faithfully proclaim.

Next, Paul warns of THE GODLESS, (v. 3-10). Timothy is warned of those who would dilute the truth with liberalism or distort the truth with legalism—but, either way, godless messengers preach a perverse message and promote godlessness in their hearers.  False teachers will either subtract from the Gospel or add to the Gospel—and, thus, subvert the Gospel.

Satan does not always undermine the church by direct confrontation, but often through subtle infiltration. They “teach…different doctrine,” of “myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations,” (v. 3-4). The faithful preacher must found his message and fortify the members on the pure Gospel of Christ. This means he will not only speak the truth, but confront its twisting by false teachers. 

Older pastors have the duty to the church to raise up younger men who are throughly vetted, solidly instructed, and consistently monitored as to their faithfulness to the Gospel. The results will be “love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith,” (v. 5). 

“Swerving,” from the truth, (v. 6) is to wind up in a wreck.  Satan does not care which ditch he diverts the pastor into—liberalism or legalism—the church is off the straight and narrow road of truth.  The opposite effect of the Gospel is experienced: schism instead of “love,” a perverse heart instead of “a pure heart,” a guilty conscience instead of “a good conscience,” and fraudulent faith instead of “a sincere faith.”  False teachers may speak eloquently and carry an air of authority, but they have “wandered away into vain discussion…without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions,” (v. 6-7). 

Paul hits the matter of legalism head on in verses 8-10. The law of God is good for it is of God who is only good. It is an expression of His holiness. The problem is not in the law, but in us. We cannot keep it. An external code can condemn us, but cannot change us. That can only be accomplished by the Gospel which internally transforms us. The proper preaching of the law is meant to convict us of sin and call us to salvation in Christ alone. It is meant to drive us in despair to Him.

This brings us to THE GOSPEL, (v. 11-20). Our preaching is to be “in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which [we] have been entrusted,” (v. 11). This is the sacred stewardship of the preacher. The law is only bad news as it condemns us, but this message is good news—the literal meaning of “gospel,” in that is converts us. It is glorious for it is all of God’s grace and thus for His glory. We are accountable to Him for faithfulness in preaching it, (v. 12).

Paul bears testimony to the power of the Gospel that transformed him. He had been “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent,” of Christ, (v. 13a). But the Lord had extended “mercy,” in his ignorance and unbelief, (v. 13b). Overflowing grace washed him as he came to faith in Christ and love for Christ, (v. 14). It was a radical change from a man who saw himself as the foremost of sinners, (v. 15). He is an example of the difference the Gospel makes, (v. 16). How grateful we should be for God’s “patience,” in bringing us to Himself and exclaim with the Apostle, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (v.17). 

Paul concludes by driving home the seriousness of our stewardship, (v. 18-20). We are on a battleground not a playground, (v. 18). We must be tenacious in holding onto faith and a good conscience. The church is a Gospel battleship, and to fail to chart a straight course is to make “shipwreck of…faith.” Paul pointedly presents Hymenaeus and Alexander as false teachers. They had been excommunicated from the church—where Satan would hurt them, in hopes that the discipline would bring them to repentance and restoration, (cf. 1 Cor. 5).  We had best take the stewardship of the Gospel seriously, for it is evident that God does!

A CHOSEN VESSEL

God informed Ananias that Saul of Tarsus—better known as Paul the Apostle—would be “a chosen vessel.”  In His sovereign grace, the Lord Jesus saved him and would set him apart to serve Him. Christ made the choice to reveal Himself and Saul chose to respond to His call. Those who are set apart for God’s use have no reason to boast of their worthiness, but only to glory in the grace of God. We are mere vessels that He pours into that we may pour out His Word.

Paul’s task would be to take the saving name of Jesus to all the world—Gentiles, Jews, even kings. It is such a privilege to represent the King of kings—to be His ambassador, (cf. 2 Cor. 4:20-21). 

While it is a privilege, it comes with a price.  Paul was to be told upfront that he would suffer much for the cause of Christ. As His ambassadors, we travel into hostile territory, and our message while welcomed by some, will bring the wrath of many. The world has a measure of tolerance—at least indifference—to religion. It is the exclusivity of the Gospel—the name of Jesus as the only means where one must be saved—that is the demand that ignites the world’s fury. 

There are several characteristics of a chosen vessel suggested in Acts 9:10-25. 

First, we see PRAYER.  Ananias was told of Saul of Tarsus, “behold, he is praying,” (v. 11). As natural as an infant who is born, crying out at his or her arrival, this is indicative of a spiritual birth into the family of God. Instinctively, we know we must pray. Yet, too often as we get busy in public work, we may neglect private worship. We will never be a choice vessel that God can use apart from a consistent prayer life. Paul was a productive worker, because he was a prayer warrior. 

Then, consider PERCEPTION. Ananias was to lay hands on him and pray, “so that he might receive his sight,” (v. 12). Paul had been blinded by the glorious light radiating from the Risen Christ—a light brighter than the noonday sun. Now, physically the scales would fall from his eyes so he could see, but spiritually his eyes would be opened also to see God’s purpose for his life. God gives vision to those He uses in His service. We can lead others because we have seen the path to travel.

Also, we must have POWER.  Paul would, “be filled with the Holy Spirit,” (v. 17). The assignment God has for us is too great for us. It is spiritual work and demands supernatural power. When we are saved, we have the Spirit residing in us, but when we are serving, we need the Spirit presiding over us. As we die to sin and become empty of self, the risen life of Christ fills us and makes us fruitful.  God fills the chosen vessel with His Spirit and pours out His power through us. 

This enables PERSISTENCE. We are told that Paul ate and, “was strengthened,” (v. 19). Just as his physical healing gave him sight, this literal food gave him strength. Metaphorically, this would be true in the spiritual dimension. Feeding upon the Bread of Life, he would be able to persist in service despite the opposition he would face. This might for ministry is mentioned in verse 22, “But Saul increased all the more in strength.”  God supported and sustained him as the Jews sought to kill him, (v. 24). J. Vernon McGee noted, “That all of God’s men are immortal until God is through with them.”

There will also be PROCLAMATION. “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God,” (v. 20). God called this chosen vessel to be a preacher. His proclamation pointed to a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ. What a privilege it is to open the Bible, preach it, and point people to the Savior!  While it is true that every child of God is called to confess Christ—to bear witness to the world—there are those selected to stand in the pulpit and preach. Spurgeon put it, “If God calls you to be a minister, don’t stoop to becoming a king.”

HE LIVES—AND WE ARE WITNESSES!

We are in the season of STRESSING the Gospel message of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Yet, we must ever be SHARING that redemption story, “In season and out of season,” as Paul told Timothy (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2b). That is, every season is “in season”, even if it is considered by some to be “out of season”!  

The central truth of the Christian faith is that Christ is risen from the dead, for without it we have no hope. Apart from it, we have no message.  Should Christ not be risen, then the preacher should close his Bible, walk out of the pulpit, turn off the lights, lock the doors, and never waste his time, or that of anyone else ever again. Indeed, life itself would be “futile,” as Paul puts it, (cf. 1 Cor. 15:17). 

Yet, as the hymn says, “I serve a risen Savior!”  Every Lord’s Day is a reminder of the reason we gather as the saints of God. That is the day Christ rose from the tomb. We meet not just because of a commandment to do so, but for a celebration in doing so. 

The story never gets old. It must never fail to be told and retold. As witnesses we must be bold!

If the preacher is not faithful to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ consistently, then He is guilty of sermonic malpractice.

PREACHING TO THE POOR

 

John the Baptist was struggling. He wanted assurance that Jesus wss the one and only Messiah to come, or was He a forerunner who would be followed by another. There was an interpretation among the religious scholars that the Messianic prophecies of a suffering Servant and those of a glorious King would be fulfilled by two distinct people. John is not denying that Jesus is the Lamb of God, as he had attested. He is wondering if he is to look for the King in another person. If Christ is both, then why does He not deliver His cousin from the dungeon?  We know what John did not—that there would not be two different people, but that Jesus would fulfill those roles in two different periods—a first and second advent. 

Jesus offers proof He is the One and Only. His power caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the lepers to be clean, the deaf to hear, and remarkably, even the dead to rise. Such power displayed was the proof. But, Jesus added one more thing: “the poor have the gospel preached to them.”  That is what I want to focus on in this meditation. 

The rich and powerful are the people of privilege. They are the first recognized, those given places of honor, the ones who have the most comfort and pleasure. Yet, Jesus did not rank people according to social status. He shattered these human norms. The most needy were given the greatest opportunity.

Did Jesus not care for the rich and powerful?  Of course He did, and we find a few who responded to His message. The truth is that the high and mighty typically did not see their need—and still do not. What could a peasant preacher offer them?  That was laughable to most. 

But, the poor—whose lives were continually marked by bad news—were most receptive to good news. They lived daily with the awareness of their need. This made them most receptive to the hope that Jesus offered these hopeless people. The transformation of their lives from spiritual paupers to heirs of the Kingdom of God was as miraculous—I would suggest more so—than any of the other miracles Christ wrought, including raising the dead!

We are still called to preach the Gospel to the poor. We will preach to any who will listen, for all are bankrupt spiritually, including those who live in luxury now. But, the fact is that those who have so much here are not usually concerned about the life hereafter.  The most receptive audience will be the broken and battered, the sick and sorrowful, the helpless and hopeless—these will listen to the good news. 

Paul put it this way:  “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”  ( ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭31‬‬)

Notice it does not say, “not any wise…mighty…noble are called,” for a few are. It says “not many,” as most will be less educated, influential, and wealthy.  So, let us preach to everyone—in the penthouse or the homeless shelter. But, let us rejoice in opportunity given in preaching to the poor, for there is fertile soul for the seed of the Gospel. 

I can attest to this reality in the five churches I have pastored in forty five years of ministry.  Those congregations have included a few business leaders, community leaders, educators, and such. Mostly they have been the poor, the unknown, the common people, lower to middle class economically.  The majority have been working families who lived paycheck to paycheck.  Such are most eager to embrace and treasure the unsearchable riches of Christ!

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”  (James‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬‬). 

JUST PREACH JESUS!

 

Paul said, “we preach Christ crucified,” (1 Cor.1:23a). The Sacred Text is filled with spiritual truth, but the unifying thread is the scarlet cord of redemption. Jesus is woven into the fabric of Scripture from start to finish. He is there in creation in Genesis and still there at the consummation in Revelation—and everywhere in between. Whether it be in types, symbols, prophecy, history, or exposition—in shadow and substance—the central figure is Jesus. 

CHRIST IS THE SUBJECT OF OUR SERMON. In the text in Mark, the people were not drawn to the disciples, but to Jesus.  They did not come seeking an explanation for how to be better fishermen, though Peter might have aided them in this, or how to get a job as a tax-collector, eve if Matthew might have shared that experience. Jesus was the subject of the people’s attraction and attention. 

The preacher must be cautious that his sermons do not become mere moralism. The carnal mind often seeks ear-tickling preachers that have an itch for “Five Ways to Enjoy Your Job,” or “How to be Successful in Life,” ad infinitum. It is not that the Bible does not speak to every dimension of life, but rather these are beams of truth that radiate from the Light of the World—Jesus Christ.  He is to be the focus of our preaching.

CHRIST IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR SERMON. Note how Jesus could not escape the multitudes. There was a magnetism about Him—an irresistible power that pulled the people to Him. While it is true that many sought Him for the wrong purpose—having self-centered motives and temporal passions to have their needs met—there were those who sincerely saw Him as Lord and Savior. They knew they were doomed as sinners without Him to save them. The true followers would hear Him beckon them to self-denial, taking up the cross, and following Him up the Calvary Road. The Apostle Paul’s missionary message concentrated on Christ crucified. The power in His preaching was not in human eloquence, personal charisma, or rational argumentation, but in preaching Christ crucified. He put it this way:

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”  (I Cor.‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭5‬‬).

I wonder how many will be in hell because their faith rested in the wisdom of men rather than in the power of God?  Let us not despair if we have not the personality that wows the carnal with our charm, nor seek to employ such if we have it. Jesus is the power of God that  summons the dead to life, and all who have met Jesus have the capacity of introducing Him to others. Our aim is not to be a talented embalmer who makes corpses appear happy for a brief time, but rather to call them to come out of their grave as Christ did for Lazarus!  

CHRIST IS THE SUCCESS OF OUR SERMON.  Mark 7:24 tells us that Jesus, “could not be hidden.”  Hopefully, we do not want a crowd at church so as to boast of our numbers or gain the applause of our brethren. If we strive for such, we will be disappointed. Most preachers do not have the charisma and charm to build such a mega-ministry. You can buy the books and try their methods, but few will attain that level of “success.”  

Yet, what if we are one of the exceptional ones who has such a skill-set?  A few may get into heaven through incidental contact with the Gospel, but most of the celebrity preachers rarely share the Gospel. Many a sermon when put in the fire of Christ’s judgment will see the manuscript go up in smoke, reduced to ashes and blown away with no eternal value.  May we as preachers renew our commitment to labor to present that which is gold, silver, and jewels—the crowning glory of preaching Christ faithfully!  That is a successful sermon, and all we are capable of doing. We cannot save anyone; that is a supernatural work.  But, we must be convinced that if Christ is preached, the Spirit of God will succeed in drawing the elect unto Himself.  

Our conviction must correlate with the Apostle, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”  (Rom. ‭1‬:‭16‬‬). Too much preaching is healing people rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. We have hit the iceberg already!  The ship is sinking!  Morality, philosophy, politics, and such cannot fix what is wrong. Urgently, direct people into the Lifeboat of the Lord!

Preach Christ and the called crowd will come!

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

 

This world is not a playground, but a battleground. If we seek to be in God’s will, then we will run head on into the devil. The only perfect Man—the Lord Jesus—had to face and fight the devil. Yet, He was victorious each time. Hebrews 4:15, states Jesus was, “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  He sets the standard for successful spiritual warfare. He did not defeat the devil as God. Being fully God, He could have cast Satan into the abyss by a command. Yet, Jesus was also fully man, and overcame Satan as a man can—with the Word of God!  This displayed His flawless nature, qualifying Him as the spotless Lamb to die in our place. 

Further, by wielding the Spirit’s sword as a man, he showed us how we also may overcome the wicked one. That divine weapon is available to us!  Paul described the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6, and the one offensive weapon, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (v.17b).  Each time, Christ met the Tempter with, “it is written,” three times beating back the thrust of temptation and putting the devil to flight.

That Word must be committed to memory. The ingestion of God’s Word is essential. David underscored that winning the war depended on wielding the Word, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you,” (Ps.119:11). 

The Word must be communicated in ministry. The proclamation of God’s Word is non-negotiable. The teacher in the classroom and the preacher in the pulpit must believe in the Word as their authority and proclaim the Word with all clarity. This will enable those sitting under the Word to experience victory!

It is the power of the Gospel message that summons sinners to salvation (cf. Rom.1:16). It is the power of God’s Word that breaks strongholds and sets saints free. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬‬).

On Monday through Saturday, I will study God’s Word, store it in my heart, and submit to it with my life. Then, I can stand with a Bible in my hand on Sunday morning before God’s people and by that sword see lives transformed with truth. “It is written!” is my conviction and my communication!

THE URGENCY OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL

Six seals of the scroll have been opened by the Lamb, and under each a judgment was revealed. Now, before the seventh is opened, a silence comes—a sacred pause—for opening the seventh seal will bring seven trumpet judgments. As each angel sounds a trumpet, intensified horrors will be unleashed on the sinners of earth.

That is the future God has decreed. But, for now we cannot be silent. The trumpet of truth needs to be placed in our mouths and its message urgently announced. We must warn the lost of the doom that is coming. Should they die before this fire falls from heaven, they will not evade a worse fire into which they will fall!

Paul commanded us to “Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.” (2 Tim.4:2). Preach when people are responsive—in season—and when they reject it—out of season. The Word of God is in season even when some think it out of season. Stephen Olford described this as preaching where we, “take opportunities and make opportunities.”  Find a way to preach the Gospel.  It is imperative!

There will come a day when the Gospel will be out of season. A silence is coming. The trumpets that sound will not be an appeal to good news, but an announcement of bad news. This brings an urgency to our preaching. The witness you speak today or the sermon you share tomorrow might be the final opportunity for some soul to be saved. Their eternal destiny hangs in the balance!

MAINTAINING THE MISSION

 

God has given His church one mission—what we call “The Great Commission.”  Part of our duty as leaders in the church is to keep the focus and fuel the fire in the local church for world evangelization.  It is easy to be diverted into many good things, and miss the great task. 

Jesus said that before His return to earth to reign, all nations would hear the Gospel (cf. Matt.24:14). In this passage, we see the fulfillment of the promise.  With or without us, the Good News will be proclaimed, but woe to the pastor and the church who fails in commitment to this assignment!  

A church with no passion for evangelism and missions will be a church that declines and dies. The lights will be turned out and the doors locked for a final time—picturing the spiritual reality that happened long before.  Such a church closed its doors to bringing in the lost. The members did not go into the highways and hedges, inviting people to the Bible banquet (cf. Lk.14:15-24). The house of God became empty, when He desired it full!  The call came ringing over the restless waves, “Send the Light!  The Blessed Gospel Light!”  The church folk were too busy arguing about trivial matters, instead of proclaiming Jesus. The light was turned out in that church.

Preacher, you cannot do all the evangelism needed in your community, but you can be a model. Our Gospel-driven lifestyle can inspire others. In our preaching, we must continually exhort the people to obedience. You can equip them by training them and taking them with you in soul-winning. Do not allow the Great Commission to become the grave omission!

OPPORTUNITY FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY

The church at Philadelphia was a church with an open door. Every church needs to be!  By that, it is not meant that the door is open to invite people in, but to send people out. Inviting people to attend an evangelistic, Biblically grounded fellowship is a good thing. Yet, this is not what is meant. Rather, God had given the Philadelphian saints opportunity for Gospel ministry. They were sharing their faith and people were being reached. Now it seems that most churches do not go and tell or even invite people to come and see.

Pastors are not to blame—exclusively. This is not meant to make church leadership feel guilty—unless we are!  In these seven letters where Christ shows His vital interest in the affairs of the local church, it is the preacher who is first addressed. He is the angelos—“angel”—the messenger, for so the word means. His eyes will be first to read Christ’s words and his mouth will be the one to proclaim them. The saints at Philadelphia were seizing the opportunity for missions, and doubtless the pastor was leading them to do so.

Three traits enabled them to be successful in soul-winning, and we can experience these.

1.  THEIR FORCEFULNESS, “for you have a little strength.”  The power of the Spirit was the driving force behind their accomplishment.  The church’s witness began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them, with nearly 3,000 saved.  When any church is successful in reaching people there is a supernatural forcefulness possessed by pastor and people. 

2.  THEIR FAITHFULNESS, “have kept My word.”  They did not compromise the message to tickle the ears of the world. They were not driven by pragmatic reasoning to seek to reach people by stealth. When people come to genuine faith they are not manipulated by carnal methodology, but by Biblical accuracy. God has promised to bless His Word; do not be ashamed of it (cf.Rom.1:16).

3. THEIR FEARLESSNESS“have not denied My name.”  Those were days of growing hostility to the church.  As John penned this letter, he was imprisoned on an island for preaching the Gospel.  In many places in our world, following Christ is dangerous. This may soon come to America. Will we be fearless in the face of opposition?  The Devil will always oppose a missionary church. In the face of the Dragon, we must be fearless, whatever the cost.

Jesus promises reward if we are forceful, faithful, and fearless.  “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Rev.3:11).  No one can shut the door of opportunity, unless the church itself does so—and in that case we are no longer truly a church, but a country club with a steeple on top!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,”(‭3:13).‬‬

THE REJECTION OF OUR MESSAGE

We might pray that all our preaching will be received—and we should. We may present the truth with sincerity, clarity, fervency, authority, and urgency—and we ought. We can do all that in our preaching and yet there will be those who will not, “receive the love of the truth.” 

It is possible, of course, that the preacher may fail to speak the truth in love—and there must be that balance of conviction and compassion.  We love the TRUTH and so cannot compromise the content. We LOVE the truth and so must demonstrate our care for the listener.

Yet, there will always be those—no matter how faithfully we discharge our duty—who will not receive the love of the truth. The failure is not in the speaker, in this case, but in the hearer.  

Why?  When by receiving and believing the truth of the Gospel, “that they might be saved,” why would they refuse?  The mind of man is darkened by deception. The heart of sinners is depraved in passion. The will of man is directed by rebellion.

Thankfully, there will be those who respond to the Gospel—as its power in the Holy Spirit’s activity—opens their blind eyes, unstops their deaf ears, and break their hard hearts. By God’s grace, they repent—turning from the world and to follow the Lord.

Sadly, there will be those who perish for rejecting the message. That is not our choice, but theirs. We will give an answer as to whether we spoke the truth in love, but they will be held accountable as “they did not receive the love of the truth.”  Such cannot be saved. That ought break our hearts now. Their weeping and wailing will be for eternity.

THE FARMER AND HIS FIELD

 

Perhaps the most common metaphor to describe the pastor’s role is that of the shepherd and his flock. In fact, that is the meaning behind the word, “pastor.”  Yet, there are others, and if not as frequently mentioned, no less significant. One of these would be the farmer and his field.  Jesus spoke often of those sowing the seeds of the Gospel and reaping the harvest that was grown.  Paul’s commendation of Timothy’s labor for the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 will illustrate this principle.

We examine first THE CONNECTION IN THE HARVEST. Paul calls Timothy, “our brother.”  It is a family farm. Our Father God is the Lord of the Harvest, and we who are His children are employed not first because of our farming capability but our family connection. Our labor is a labor of love. 

There is a connection with our Father. In the secular world, there are gifted communicators, skilled counselors, and effective leaders, yet having these abilities does not in itself qualify one for work in the Lord’s field. That takes a new birth and spiritual gifting—the anointing of the Holy Spirit which enables us to speak, lead, and counsel the saints.  We do not function as a hired hand, but a loving son. That relationship will sustain us when the field is hard and the fruit is scant.

There is also a connection with our family. Our love is for the Lord with all our being—the Great Commandment—but is also love for our brothers—the second commandment, like unto the first. The pastor is to love the people. It is not foremost about projects to finish but people to further.  Never forget that within the family, there are brothers and sisters who also have gifts, and our ministry is most effective when we equip them in their ministry. Recall also the extended family—that there are fellow pastors who are serving in the same harvest—for the field is the world. We are not in competition with our brother in a nearby acre, but in connection working alongside him. Our joy and not our jealousy is called for when their crops appear more lush; our encouragement and assistance are required when their corner is withering and weed infested.

Paul also speaks to Timothy of THE CALLING TO THE HARVEST. He calls him a “minister of God.”  We are reminded that the field is the Lord’s. He owns it—not us. It is His church and not ours. He treasures His church and we should view our labor as a sacred calling to fulfill.

This speaks of our Master. We are foremost serving the Lord. Whatever His assignment for this day—wherever field He would send us—our work is for God. He is God and we are not. He is the Lord of the Harvest and determines our duty. In His sovereignty He calls us to specific places for set periods for select purposes. Frankly, there will be seasons of productivity when the ministry is rewarding, but there may also be seasons of paucity when the ministry is discouraging.  That is not our call. Faithfulness is our work and fruitfulness is God’s.

It also speaks of our manner. To be a minister is to serve God by serving others. We are not to pursue vanity in wanting the people to serve us, but we are to display humility by stooping to serve them. No work is too menial and no task too trivial, if we are serving our members. The Lord of Glory set the standard with taking a basin and towel, washing feet!

Then, the Apostle points to THE COMMITMENT TO THE HARVEST.  This is indicated by Paul’s reference to the young pastor as, “our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ.”  It takes commitment because farming requires toil and time. You do not just wander into a field, dump out a bag of seed and expect a harvest the next day. It takes toil. This is labor. There is no room for laziness in the ministry!  It is work where you sweat and get dirt under the fingernails of calloused hands. It takes time. Farming is continual business. After a harvest is gathered, it is time to till up the soil and get it prepared for the next season of growth. There is no occasion for impatience in the ministry! You cannot tug on a tender plant to expect it to grow more quickly or burn it up with excessive fertilizer. All you will do is kill it.

We must be committed to plowing and planting. Paul sent Timothy to the church “to establish [them].”  The Word of God is used to plow up the fallow ground. The sharp spade of Scripture will often meet a hard, resistant soil.  What are we to do?  Keep plowing!  Yet that is not sufficient, for we must also take Gospel seed and plant it. There is power in the Seed of Scripture. It contains life.  In it is latent a great harvest. Do not pursue the carnal and the novel in an effort to get a crowd—it may be just a quick, abundant crop of weeds!  Keep plowing and planting by preaching the Word, publicly and privately, in faith that the Lord of the Harvest will enable you to reap wheat in due season, if you do not faint.

We are further committed to watering and weeding. Timothy is also instructed “to encourage [them].”  Gospel work is ongoing. The cultivating of the crop is needed to sustain growth. In a fallen world, there will be times of spiritual drought and yet God has sent us to irrigate the tender plants with the water of the Word.  Because of the curse there will always be the need to pull weeds—taking great care not to uproot plants. Be on the watch for Satan to sow weeds among the wheat.  The consistently expounded truth will weed out carnality. They will get in or get out!

Then, in accordance with God’s purpose, there will be gathering and garnering. All the hardships of labor under the sun are quickly forgotten in the harvest of souls. Different fields produce different yields. Not every place will produce a bumper crop, but there will be some fruit.  The rigor is for us to bear and the results are for God to bring. Whatever He gives we garner to conserve. It is placed in the granary not only for the present use, but as future seed for many more harvests to come.  Paul’s labor produced a young plant named Timothy. Timothy would then produce others, and on down to us. Long after we are gone, the harvest we have gathered will still be yielding crops and producing more seed until the final harvest is gathered at the end of time! 

GOSPEL PREACHING

There is God’s sovereignty at work in the grace that calls sinners to salvation. Yet, there is also human responsibility in the Gospel declaration by the witness and the Gospel reception by the hearer.  How, this works has been the subject of theological debate for 2000 years of church history that I will not try to settle today. How it works, I may not understand, but that it works is undeniable, “knowing…your election by God.”  Gospel preachers call out the called.

In Gospel preaching there is PROCLAMATION, “in word.”  The facts of the Gospel—the vicarious crucifixion and victorious resurrection of Jesus—must be faithfully preached. The sower must sow the seed. We are not responsible for the condition of the soil, but the casting of the seed.

In Gospel preaching there is EXPECTATION, “in power.”  The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe (cf. Rom.1:16). We are not called to sort out who the called may be, but to have confidence that if we are faithful to the Gospel, the Gospel will be forceful to do its work. It is the power of the message and not the persuasiveness of the messenger that matters.  If I can talk someone into a decision, someone else can talk them out of it!

In Gospel preaching there is CONSECRATION, “the Holy Spirit.”   It was not the powerful personality of the Apostle that wrought conversion. In fact, Paul was not impressive in his appearance or charming in his style (cf. 1 Cor.2:1-5). True Gospel preaching flows from a vessel fully consecrated to God so that the fullness of the Spirit poured in may then be poured out. Gospel preaching is a Divine transaction.

In Gospel preaching there is CONVICTION, “much assurance.”  The meaning of the word is, “conviction,” and so the ESV renders it. There must be conviction in the preacher—a confidence in the truthfulness of our message—that will produce conviction in the hearer. He or she will be convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment through the Spirit’s work (cf. John 16:7-11).  One will not be converted until they are convicted. Someone isn’t saved until they realize they are lost.  Then, those who are converted  have the conviction that if they look to Christ by faith He will save them.

In Gospel preaching there is IDENTIFICATION, “what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”  A good shepherd abides with his flock. They see the consistency of his walk and then will listen to the communication of his words. He can identify with them in their hurts and difficulties, with their hopes and dreams. They do not see him as a man isolated from them, but identified with them—as God’s man, yet still just a man.  The Gospel preacher is not a hireling who serves for his sake, but for the sake of the sheep.  His preaching is not lofty theory, but down to earth reality.  It is not speculation spoken from an ivory tower, but identification from a man who holds a Bible with a hand that has had dirt under the fingernails.

In Gospel preaching there is REPRODUCTION, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.”  It is not a momentary decision that fades with the feeling or withers under opposition or disappointment.  It was not a superficial response, but a persevering commitment that was made. True faith produces works—genuine profession produces a godly practice.  The reception of the seed of the Word will yield the reproduction of the Lord in the fruit of the Spirit.

Let us pray that God would so bless our preaching. After all, such preaching is in reliance on Him. We must be prepared to preach, but cannot unless we abide in Christ.  As the old hymn underscores, “All is vain unless the Spirit Of the Holy One comes down; Brethren, pray, and holy manna Will be showered all around.” (George Askins)

WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

 

Paul challenges us to a manner of life that is worthy of the Gospel. By this, he does not mean that we are deserving of the grace we have received, nor could ever be. Rather, it is about bringing our lives into alignment with the Gospel we proclaim—one with conduct consistent with our claim. How can we do this?

It demands FIRMNESS, “standing firm…striving…for the faith of the gospel.”  The way is steep, the occasion for retreat—under withering fire from the enemy—is ever present, and many a soldier of the cross has slipped and fallen. The way to stand firm is to stand beside other warriors, “in one spirit, with one mind…side by side.”  I want to remind you that you are not in this battle alone. It is not a sign of weakness to call on your fellow soldiers, but an indication of wisdom to do so.

It demands FEARLESSNESS, “not frightened in anything by your opponents.”  Those who stand for truth and speak the Gospel will face opposition. The devil will see to that. They may come in the form of a hostile secular culture, in the guise of a fellow church member, or even one of our own family. Do not be blind-sided. Expect there will be an enemy. Not all will be your friends to help you stand firmly, but there will be the foes intent to make you run fearfully.

It demands FAITHFULNESS, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have,” (.29-30). ‬‬The Apostle had been a faithful example and now challenges us to walk the same pathway—the bloody Calvary Road. He writes as a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel. His sufferings were intense and inescapable. If we should be faithful, then we will find them inevitable.  Be faithful to the end!  

This is a life worthy of the Gospel!

THE GRAVITY OF THE GOSPEL

 

Preaching is serious business. There will be a severity in the preacher’s judgment before God for there is a gravity in his assignment to men. Paul’s strong rebuke here is not for a church member who strays into sin, but for the pastor who errs in his sermon.

Improper motivation may be the spark that ignites the hellish fire of Gospel distortion.  The desire to please men may temper our passion for reproof and cause us to tailor our proclamation to suit the congregation’s fancy.   Pride goes before a fall,  and the Apostle does not mince words when he calls upon such ear-tickling, man-pleasing preachers to fall into the abyss!  It is horrible to consider that a pastor might end up in hell—and far worse, be the pied piper who charms others to follow!

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”  (Galatians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

We can fear God or fear people.  We can seek God’s approval or man’s. We can speak in view of earthly gain or eternal reward. We will choose one to the exclusion of the other.  “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬)

If we please God, it is certain that we will displease many people. Our intent is not to be obnoxious preachers whose goal is to offend, but that the approval or censure of man is immaterial—rather we pursue the commendation of God. Just know that there is a price to pay for that. But, the cost of perverting the Gospel is infinitely more. This is the gravity of the Gospel—the difference between heaven and hell.