Preach The Word
2 Timothy 4:1-8
The Apostle Paul is writing what is believed to be his last letter before he is to be executed for his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The book of 2 Timothy was written in 67ad and it is believed that the great Apostle Paul was executed that same year or in the year 68ad.
The last words of any person here on earth will be the most important words of that person. Our Lord Jesus Christ's last words where about the mighty Baptism in the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:4-8, very important words about the power of the Holy Spirit that every Christian is in desperate need of. Jesus could have talked about anything else, but he left his disciples with what would be the most important event in the life of a Christian. It is the same with Paul, he could have left his spiritual son Timothy with any number of counsel, but he decided to leave Timothy with words that still have the same urgency today he said in verse 2 PREACH THE WORD. The Apostle Paul, knowing he is about to die and go to be with the Lord, knowing of the great task Timothy will be left with, says to him with great urgency, preach the word. It is like Paul is saying, in 30-35 years of ministry it is the preaching of the word that has never let me down, it is the word that has saved people, set the captive free, and turned the world upside down. The word has never failed me Timothy; it is the preaching of the word that makes the difference. I can almost hear Paul say, if you do not do anything else in ministry that is fine, but do one thing right, preach the word.The message is as urgent today as it was back then, for the minister and church of today, preach the word.
Sadly and regrettably what we have abounding in the church today are communicators, motivators, comedians, when what we really need are preachers that preach the mighty word of God.
Why preach the word?
The word changes lives : There are thousand and thousands of testimonies of people that have been changed by the power of the word. Alcoholics, drug addicts, marriages, families etc. The word still has power to change people. What we are in desperate need of today is for preachers that will stand up behind the sacred pulpit and not be afraid to preach the word as it is and as a result we will see people changed.The word increases our faith : Romans 10:17 says “so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.
Why preach the word? Because faith comes by hearing the word preached. When people are hearing a man of God preach the word their faith increases while they are listening, this is how people are prepared for salvation, healing and deliverance, the word of God is sufficient for whatever needs man has. Many of the preachers in the book of Acts witnessed miracles and deliverance s as they were preaching, people repented, where healed and set free etc. If we only could realize the power of the word preached with the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Once I was preaching about this in a service and I declared that whoever was sick in the congregation could receive their healing while I was preaching, after I had finished preaching a lady came up to the platform and gave a testimony, she said that when I had said in my preaching that if any one was sick that they could be healed right then and there that she believed and the sickness that she came to church with instantly left her body, she glorified God for her healing that day as the word was going forth. Glory be to God, people's faith is increased when the word is preached.
The word feeds us : It is manna from heaven, the word of God has al the vitamins you and I need to be a healthy Christian. One of the reasons we have so many weak Christians who compromise their faith is because they are not being feed the word of God, they are feeding on books, fables, music, videos, drama etc. as a result we have Christians who do not know their Bible. The manna that the Israelites ate in the wilderness is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ and a type of the living word of God. Everything the Israelites needed for their body was in that manna in that same way everything we need is in the word of God.
The word brings us to repentance : It is through the preaching of the word that mankind can repent. Here I am talking about genuine repentance that will produce fruits. There is so much shallow repentance today in the church that is based on emotions and feelings, true repentance is based on the reality we are sinners and need forgiveness. What brings this kind true repentance that will last is the word of God. 2 Chronicles 34:29-33.The word is a platform for signs, wonders and miracles : The Bible says in Mark 16:20 that the disciples went out and preached everywhere the Lord worked with them and confirming the word with the accompanying signs. The word confirm, means, to make valid, to complete. So in order for the word to be complete there must be signs and wonders and in order for signs and wonders to be evident there has to be the word they, go hand in hand. So, every time the word is preached just as the Paul is telling Timothy to, you can be sure that signs, wonders and miracles will happen, because that is the result of true Biblical preaching.
May God raise up preachers that will preach the word of God, this is one of the greatest needs of the church and the world today. The devil is not so concerned or worried with our beautiful buildings, great music and concerts, strategies and man made methods, what really concerns and worries him is when a man of God stands up under a mighty anointing and cries out thus says the Lord. May the Lord continue to make this a reality, and may we preach the word.May God bless you
