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"WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PREACHERS"
The Bible speaks of
those who choose to preach the gospel or the Word of God (Romans
10:14-17; Philippians 1:12-18). These are doing the work that Jesus did
(Matthew 4:23; 11:5; Mark 2:2; Luke 20:1). The Bible calls them
evangelists because they are bringing the good news of Christ to the
world (Ephesians 4:11). The Bible says that they are entitled to receive
a living for this work (1 Corinthians 9:14).
In 2 Timothy 4:1-5 the
Bible says, "I charge you
therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the
living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: " {2} "Preach the
word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching. " {31} "For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
teachers; " {4} "and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and
be turned aside to fables. " {5j "But you be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry "
The preceding verses present the God given work of a preacher. He is to
speak where God speaks in the Word and remain silent where God does not
speak (1 Peter 4:11; Acts 20:27). He is to speak the truth in love
(Ephesians 4:15).
The Bible says that it is not the preacher's
duty to quarrel with or to win arguments with others regarding religion
(2 Timothy 2:24-26). He simply sows and waters the seed (the Word of
God) and allows God to give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:5-15). The
Bible says that he is to remind others of many things that they already
know and perhaps are already active in doing (2 Peter 1:12-15). The
Bible says that the preacher is not concerned with parading his own
eloquence or wisdom, but in preaching and teaching Christ (1 Corinthians
2:1-5). He feels compelled by God to do what he does (1 Corinthians
9:16-18; Jonah 1-4). He cannot preach anything other than the truth
because lie is seeking to please God and not other people (Galatians
1:6-10). The Bible says that God will hold a preacher accountable for
what he says and does (James 3:1).
David
Decker |
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