THE BELIEVER'S MANDATE TO PREACH THE WORD

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=885724" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#330066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="048005f0dkblkv.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Preach The Word</b></FONT><B>     </b><B>|    </b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preach The Word"><U><B>home</b></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2 Timothy"><U><B>2 Timothy</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DANIEL"><U><B>Daniel</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ZECHARIAH: "><U><B>Zechariah</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARK"><U><B>Mark</b></U></A><B>    I   </b><A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOPICAL STUDIES"><U><B>Topical Studies</b></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>THE BELIEVER'S MANDATE TO PREACH THE WORD</b></div> <div> 2 Timothy 4:1-2</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1. THE MANDATE'S MIGHT</b></div> <bR> <div> "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…" (1)</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >What Paul is trying to drive home in Timothy's mind with these words is the seriousness of what he has to do.  It's as if he was saying, </FONT>"Timothy, listen to me.  Listen to me very carefully Timothy.  God's mandate for you is not something to play around with.  God is not giving you a suggestion here.  This is not one of many options you can either say "yes" or "no" to. This is an order, a command from the highest court of the universe, Timothy."</div> <bR> <div> As we are going to see in our next point, the mandate Paul is talking about is preaching, announcing or declaring the Word of God.  And this introduction here is really telling us what we need to remember when we think about do this.  This is the power behind it all. Behind the message and the messenger.</div> <bR> <div> So, what are we to remember when we do this?  We are to remember that we are doing this, </div> <bR> <div> "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus…"</div> <bR> <div> Now this reality should give you and I all the courage, the boldness and the assurance we will ever need, right? I mean, just think for a second: It's God Word given in His presence with His authority by His messenger. That's a lot of power for a small vessel isn't it?</div> <bR> <div> It's as if God is saying here, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"When you preach my Word you do it as if I was right there, because I am there.  You're not preaching to please anybody but me here. You're not doing this to draw people to you, but to me.  Now, I'm supplying the Word, the power, the salvation and the method here, so I expect you to do it my way."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So the next time you start sharing the Word with somebody and the devil tempts you to get discouraged or to feel inadequate, or fearful, just remember this: This is not your message, your power or your agenda but God's. And let God take care of the details. </div> <bR> <div> Than Paul adds on a little more:</div> <bR> <div> "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead…"</div> <bR> <div> Now remember that as Paul writes this he knows his life is about to end.  And what do most people think about when they're staring death in the face? Meeting their maker.</div> <bR> <div> And Paul speaks of Jesus as the Judge of  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"the living and the dead."</FONT> Who are they? Christians when the Lord comes to Rapture His Church, all believers, living one and dead ones, will suddenly be taken from Earth to go to the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema seat).  Now, this is not a judgment for our sins but for evaluation of stewardship.  You will either be rewarded or lose rewards for the way you lived your Christian life. </div> <bR> <div> So, why is Paul bringing this up? To remind us that we will one day have to give an account of how we preached the Word during our lifetime.  It's a call to accountability, stewardship and responsibility.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"When you have an opportunity to Preach the Word do the best job you possibly can because God is evaluating you."</FONT> It's in light of this truth that Paul wrote, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10</FONT></div> <bR> <div> "In view of his appearing and his kingdom"</div> <bR> <div> This pertains to: from what perspective you preach the word.  If you preach the word from an Earthly perspective, you'll soon lose courage, interest and zeal. Why? Because then the Christian life becomes a mere human thing.  </div> <bR> <div> That's how many churches have become totally disconnected today.  When this happens what you hear from the pulpit changes. You don't hear sermons on holiness, sin and discipline as much.  You mostly hear sermons on love, self-esteem and peaceful things.  So preachers and teachers preach only what is "politically correct." <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"Don't condemn anything. Just commend what is good and commonly acceptable."</FONT> So salvation is not making peace with God and repenting from sin, it's getting a guarantee for heaven, escaping troubles and boosting your bank account.</div> <bR> <div> No. God says, "when you preach the word do it <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >in view of</FONT> Christ's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >appearing and his kingdom</FONT>.  Because what immediately <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >follows his appearing</FONT>?  Judgment.  And what will <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >his kingdom</FONT> bring to the earth? An end to injustice, violence and open season on sin. His kingdom brings judgment, justice and God's rule on the earth."  That's the mandates' might, now he gives us </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>B. THE MANDATE ITSELF</b></div> <bR> <div> "I give you this charge: Preach the word."</div> <bR> <div> A <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"charge"</FONT> is a forceful order, a directive, a command.  And what's the command? <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Preach the Word.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> What <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"word"</FONT>? The word he just talked about in 3:16: God's word.  Why God's word? Because nothing else will do. </div> <bR> <div> The word of God is the "only " word that will save a sinner from hell. Turn to: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >1 Peter 1:23</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Then, after you've been saved, the Word of God is the only word that will sanctify you and mold you day by day to the perfect image of Christ.  Look at: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >1 Peter 1:22</FONT></div> <bR> <div> No other "word" can do that.  Philosophy can't do it.  Science can't do it.  Myths and fables can't do it. Nor can Hollywood, Secular Education or any other word from Human origin.  And that's why we're supposed to<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" > "Preach the Word"</FONT> today and tomorrow right until Christ returns.</div> <bR> <div> And let me encourage you with this: When an unbeliever is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit the Word of God is what he wants to hear. </div> <bR> <div>  Also, when a Christian is walking with God, nothing will do for him but the preaching of the Word.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3. THE MANDATE'S METHOD</b></div> <bR> <div> "Be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage…"</div> <bR> <div> If you and I are going to take part in this divine mandate the way God expects us to, the first thing we're going to have to be is: Available and ready. This is what it means to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Be ready in season and out of season."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> My friend Roger was "ready" that night.</div> <bR> <div> Now, what method are we to use to "Preach the Word"?  Three of them are mentioned here: (1) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Correct</FONT>, (2) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Rebuke</FONT> and (3) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Encourage</FONT>. </div> <bR> <div>  This is what the word of God naturally does.  Therefore, this is what needs to be your method of preaching the word. When God gives you the opportunity to share His word with someone you are to do it using this method: You and I are to correct, rebuke and encourage.</div> <bR> <div> What does it mean to correct? It means to show the person what's right. </div> <bR> <div>  What does it mean to rebuke? It means to show the person what's wrong.  </div> <bR> <div> And what does it mean to encourage? It means making yourself available to help the person conform to God's way. </div> <bR> <div> And this method of preaching the word applies both to salvation and sanctification. Helping someone to come to Christ for the first time, as well as helping a Christian to grow in Christ. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Rebuking</FONT> involves pointing out the sin of the non-believer.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Correction </FONT>involves the process of repenting, believing and converting to Christ.  And <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Encouragement </FONT>involves you helping the person understand it all and knowing how to place their total trust in the Lord. </div> <bR> <div> For the Christian who's already saved it involves <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Rebuking </FONT>the sin he or she is continually committing.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Correction </FONT>means you show him or her how the Bible shows the better way.  And you <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >encourage</FONT> by being there to help him out through tender love and care, counsel and your prayers. </div> <bR> <div> Scriptures does it all, doesn't it?  You and I are only catalysts in the hand of God that make it happen.  What a privilege to be used in such a way to literally transform people's lives for the ultimate best that the God of the Universe has to offer. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4. THE MANDATES MANNER</b></div> <bR> <div> "with great patience and careful instruction" </div> <bR> <div> So first he tells us "what" we are to do, now he tells us "how" we are to do this.  And what he's really telling us here is to follow the Lord's way of doing it.  And if there's one great example of someone who had <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"great patience"</FONT> and gave <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"careful instruction"</FONT> to sinning people it was the Lord, wasn't it.</div> <div>  </div> <div> And for a great example of this turn with me to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >John 21</FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> Look at the Lord's great patience in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >verses 15-17, 20-22</FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> Look at the Lord's careful instructions in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >verses 18-19</FONT>.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CONCLUSION</b></div> <bR> <div> This is the only reason you and I aren't dead yet: Because the Lord still wants to use us to be His messengers and bring His word both to believers and unbelievers.  And he's telling us all we need to know in order to get the job done. </div> <bR> <div> -What we are to preach: His word</div> <bR> <div> -What method we're to use:  Tell'em what's wrong. Show'em what's right. And make yourself available to help'em out. </div> <bR> <div> -What attitude we're to have: Be patient with them as God is with you. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14</div> <bR> <div> Amen and God Bless You All.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>