Encouragement for Preachers

D.L. Moody once wrote, "It is God's Word, not our comment on it, that saves souls." [1] How true that is. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, with the power to penetrate hearts and change lives. It has transformational power!

Therefore, in preaching, it is imperative that us preachers give the Word of God pre-eminence. While it is helpful to use illustrations, tell stories, refer to current events, use humour, quote statistics, and share personal experiences, in a sermon the Word of God must be given top priority.

The Word must be the basis of the message. Only the Bible, applied to the heart by the Spirit, can produce the kind of life change God is seeking. All preachers need to heed Paul's instruction to Timothy - "Preach the word!" (2 Tim 4:2)

The power of the Word is highlighted in something God Himself said through the prophet Jeremiah:

""Is not my word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?""

What other book is like a hammer?

The preacher who has a high regard for the Word will give it the highest priority in his sermons. He will resist the temptation to be trendy and preach "contemporary" messages with minimal Scripture and maximum humour and story-telling. (It's sad to hear sermons of this kind).

First things must be first. May we faithfully preach the Word, and believe that God will change lives.

[1] Moody, D.L, Notes from My Bible (Baker, Grand Rapids, Mich, 1979) p151.

An Inconvenient Verse

A message for Christians

The Bible is a magnificent book. It lifts the discouraged and gives hope to the despairing. The Bible is ointment for our wounds and cool water for our thirsty souls. 'Thank You Lord for the Bible!'

BUT... the Bible can also challenge us to the core! There are what could be called "inconvenient verses." They are Bible verses that hit us between the eyes and say something other than what we'd like them to say!

One such verse is James 4:17 -

"..to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

Ouch!

James shows us that it is not only doing wrong things that is sinful, but also neglecting to do what we should do. Just think of the ramifications:

# If a Christian knows they ought to pray that God will "send out labourers into His harvest" (as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 9:38) and they do not do it - that is sin.

# If a Christian parent knows they should teach their children the Word of God, and don't do it - that is sin.

# If the Holy Spirit convicts us of a hurt we've caused someone, and tells us to apologise, and we don't do it - it is sin.

Many other examples could be given.

So... it is not only outright disobedience that is sin, but neglect. (Delayed obedience is also a sin, because the period in which we delay obeying God is a period of disobedience!)

"Lord, please open our eyes to sins of omission. Please start with me."

David Hunt