After Paul itemized the spiritual-battle armor in Ephesians 6:13-18, he continued in verses 19 and 20 by saying, "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Paul asked the Ephesian saints to pray that he might "speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Evangelists have a God-given work. Since God manifests his word through preaching (Titus 1:3), and preaching is His means of saving believers (1 Corinthians 1:21; Romans 1:16), God divinely prescribed the manner in which to do this work (2 Timothy 4:2; cf. Acts 4:29-31; 28:30, 31).
Christ and His apostles were perfect preachers. Jesus had the spirit without measure (John 4:30). He was God's spokesman to the world (Hebrews 1:1,2); He spoke the things He heard from God (John 8:26); He spoke as the Father taught Him (John 8:28); and He always pleased the Father and did His will (John 4:34, 6:38, and 8:29).
On the other hand, the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles into "all truth" (John 16:13); they were the instruments through which He spoke (Matthew 10:19-20); they spoke "as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:40); and they spoke words that the Holy Spirit taught (1 Corinthians 2:9-13).
Hence, Christ and His Apostles never preached false doctrine, never left unsaid anything that needed to be said, never said too much or too little about any subject, never misguided or sought to entertain an audience, and never said anything to hinder a sinner's salvation.
All of today's gospel preachers, and this writer is no exception, have shortcomings. Therefore, gospel preachers should give much thought to HOW and WHAT they preach. Let us consider some thoughts on this vital subject.
- Preachers ought to speak FAITHFULLY. The scripture requires faithful men. Paul wrote, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, cf. 1 Corinthians 4:1,2) To be faithful, preachers must earnestly preach and "contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." (Jude 3) To do this, he must "speak as the oracles of God." (1 Peter 4:11)
Since Christ is our example, and He did His father's will, preachers must not seek to please men, but to please God. Paul wrote, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) There is always the desire to be well received, but let us heed the words of Christ: "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26) Then, there is the temptation to compromise or sell out to the enemy, but Christ taught: "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24; cf. Revelation 3:15; Matthew 12:30) There is little praise for faithful preachers, but God will adequately and amply reward (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).
Therefore, preachers must avoid pointless eloquence, speculations, hobbies, and bridles. They must also avoid obscurities and intricacies. They must speak plainly and pointedly so the message is clear and understandable to the hearers.
- Preachers ought to speak FULLY. Paul said that he: "kept back nothing that was profitable." (Acts 20:20) Paul told the Ephesian elders, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27) Paul did not hesitate to deal squarely with any subject. The letters to the Corinthian brethren illustrate his unwillingness to sweep any matters under the rug; rather, he dealt with them.
Preaching fully requires addressing many Bible subjects, such as God, the creation, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, the apostles, sin, morality, prayer, the Lord's Supper, the Plan of Salvation, repentance, heaven, and hell. This requires preparation and study on the preacher's part to enable him to serve his listeners the "sincere milk" and "strong meat" of the word (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5: 12-14).
- Preachers must preach FORCEFULLY. The apostle Peter spoke forcefully when he preached on Pentecost. He declared, in no uncertain terms, that the Jews "by wicked hands" had slain Christ. Is it any wonder "they were pricked in their hearts" and exclaimed, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37).
The preaching on Pentecost was not the only forceful preaching done by the apostles. Paul and Barnabas preached forcefully at Antioch of Pasidia (Acts 13:43-48). Observe the results: "And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region." (Acts 13:49)
Paul also preached forcefully in Damascus (Acts 9:20-22); in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-3); and in Athens (Acts 17:16-31). And the prophet Isaiah was required to preach in a forceful manner: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1)
Forceful preaching is needed to cause changes in the believer, as well as in the relationships and lives of the hearers; and it cuts and pricks the sinner's heart (Acts 2:37; 5:33; 7:54). Forceful preaching must be personal because sin, damnation, and responsibility are personal (Ezekiel 18:4,20; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 5:10). The preaching of the cross must attack the sinner's apathy, crush his complacency, and foster "fear and trembling" in his heart (Acts 24:25; Philippians 2:12).
- Preachers ought to speak FERVENTLY. According to W.E. Vine, "the word fervent means to be hot, to boil...is metaphorically used of fervency of spirit (Acts 18:25; Romans 12:11)."
God's messenger must be boiling over with His message, not telling jokes and putting on a show to entertain, tickle, and sooth the hearers' ears (cf. Isaiah 30:9, 10). Paul displayed this quality when he addressed the Ephesian elders and said, "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20:31)
Paul told Timothy to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Timothy 4:2)
There is no excuse for milk-toast preaching and lax attitudes when hearers' souls are at stake. When the preacher recognizes the issue at hand, it often generates fervency (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10,11; Hebrews 10:31; 12:29). Apollos was "fervent in spirit," even though he knew only John's baptism. However, after Aquilla and Pricilla "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly," Apollos was instrumental in helping "them much which had believed through grace: for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (Acts 18; 27, 28) Paul commanded the Roman brethren to be "fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11) Hence, the preacher must be fervent in his preaching and instill fervency in his hearers' hearts, causing them to believe and obey the gospel of Christ.
- Preachers ought to speak FEARLESSLY. The apostle John warned cowards of their doom when he wrote, "But the fearful (cowardly - NKJV), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8) Notice the unsavory company kept by the cowardly.
In 2 Peter 1:5-10, the apostle Peter outlines the qualities Christians must have in order to be partakers of the "divine nature" so they will "never fall." One of the qualities that we must add to our faith is virtue (moral courage).
- It took moral courage for Nathan to confront King David regarding his adulterous sin with Bathsheba and exclaim to David, "thou art the man." (2 Samuel 12:7)
- Elijah had moral courage when he, with only the Lord on his side, mocked the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the groves (1 Kings 18:17-40).
- Christ's apostles had moral courage when the council commanded them "not to teach in this name," to which "Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men." After being physically beaten, "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts 5:25-42)
- John the Baptizer displayed moral courage when he confronted Herod about his adulterous marriage and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." (Mark 6:18) John's moral courage cost him his head; for Herodias, who "had a quarrel" against John because of his stand, conspired to have him beheaded (Mark 6:19-28).
- Finally, preachers must speak FEARFULLY. This might seem contradictory to the last point, but preachers must fear the Lord and His judgment, and they must preach in view of these fears. Solomon wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)
- Paul's preaching caused the churches throughout all Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria, to be edified and walk "in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."(Acts 9:31)
- The baptized believers during the first century "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, " and "fear came upon every soul." (Acts 2:41-43)
Faithful preachers of the gospel of Christ must speak in this manner. There is a grave shortage of preachers who "speak as they ought to speak." Paul's words illustrate the beauty of such preaching: "And how shall they preach, except they be sent as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things." (Romans 10:l5)
The pulpit is no place for a timid soul. Let us keep in memory Paul's command to the young preacher Timothy - "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with and all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Does "your" preacher speak "as [he] ought to speak." If not, demand that he do so! If you are a gospel preacher, how do you speak? Preachers, allow these words to ring long and loud in your hearts and ears: "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: For necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:16)
My brother has written an excellent resume for one who desires to preach the saving gospel of Christ. Sadly, some of the young preachers I've heard need to go back to the Bible and look at the preachers of days gone by. People who are lost in sin need the gospel-not a story, not eloquence, not something that simply makes them feel good about themselves. They need to be aware of their true spiritual conditions before God in heaven before it is too late. Yes, I know that many do not like that kind of preaching-but they need it just the same. By the way, I do know two audiences for that kind of preaching-God and those with good honest hearts who seek for truth and ways to please God and get to heaven. (KMG)
PREACH THE WORD!