“Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.”
Dear people of God, I do keep a tab on the number of followers on my Facebook page to be sure there are at least readers of my weekly posts of the Gospel.
However, I have noticed a pattern that after certain posts that seem sensitive or offensive, the number of followers drop and then starts to climb up gradually.
While I would love for such people to remain as my followers, the truth is, I cannot water down the message because I want an audience.
My task as a preacher of the Gospel is not to tell people what they want to hear to please them but tell the Truth of God’s Word no matter how hard hitting it sounds, for them to examine their lives, repent and align with what God has said.
God’s Word in today’s lead text above alludes to this fact that the Truth of His Word must be preached to show people in what way their lives are wrong, and convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.
Some reading this would quickly shout and ask who gave me the right to be judge over them or others? I would quickly respond that my work is not to judge anyone but like Jesus says in John 12:48-50, “Anyone who rejects Me and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My teachings, has his judge [however]; for the [very] message that I have spoken will itself judge and convict him at the last day.
49 This is because I have never spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders [concerning] what to say and what to tell. [Deut. 18:18, 19.]
50 And I know that His commandment is (means) eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying [exactly] what My Father has told Me to say and in accordance with His instructions.”
What hearers of the Gospel should understand is that the work of Christians is to preach the Gospel, the work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the hearer(s) and finally the hearer(s) is(are) to decide whether to believe or reject the message.
When you pray before going for Evangelism or posting a Gospel message, you enlist God’s help through the Holy Spirit to speak His Word through you just as the Lord Jesus stated.
What you should also note that the hard hitting message is also a deterrent and warning to the preacher to ensure to align his life with God’s Word he has preached because his own judgement by God would be stricter as confirmed in James 3:1.
Drawing from the Lord Jesus Christ’s message, I would advise followers of my messages to speak to God in prayer to reveal the Truth to them if they believe what I have stated does not augur well with them.
In fact, rather than get upset or offended at a preacher of the Gospel, this should be the hearer’s approach so you are always sure of what you have heard because when you ask God in sincerity, He would reveal the Truth to you because He does not want anyone to perish from false doctrine.
It is extremely dangerous to dismiss a Gospel message just because you believe the preacher is too hard or the message is offensive. You would be offending God when you do this for a message that is truly God’s position on the matter.
Finally, I want to state that where the preacher’s message on a PARTICULAR subject matter is inconsistent with God’s Word on the SAME subject matter, please stick with God’s Word in the Holy Bible because that is the final Authority.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Precious Name, Amen.
Gabriel Ama.
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