Preach the Word

Preach The Preaching That I Bid Thee!
Robin W. Haley

These are the words of God, directed to the prophet Jonah when he was being charged to go to Nineveh to preach. Bible students recall that the man was not too willing to go to that city, and the Lord caused circumstances to change his mind. He did as he was bidden, but not willingly, and certainly not with the proper attitude. Can you imagine: he was actually upset because the people from the king down repented at his preaching?!

Now, here is an interesting thing: this man did God’s bidding unwillingly and the people repented. Yet, many times men will preach God’s word and never see anyone repent. So, they will change the preaching to suit themselves and their hearers and may get all kinds of response. They foolishly conclude they have done God’s bidding. NOT SO!

Sadly, some have come to the faulty conclusion that “getting responses” or “receiving the accolades of men” is comparable to doing the bidding of God in their preaching. It is a false idea that all preaching should see a positive result, yet that is what many look for in their “preaching.” If they do not see the results THEY believe ought to follow, they will change the message until they DO see what they want. Is this what God desires? Is this what He has ordered for His preachers to preach?

Good reader, IT DOES NOT MATTER what kind of response we get when we preach. Our task as preachers is to preach the preaching God has demanded, not to tickle ears. Paul said, “the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine” because they have itching ears (2 Timothy 4.3). When John the baptizer began his work the record says he “came…in the wilderness and PREACHED” (Mark 1.4). In this same text, verse 14 tells us that “Jesus came into Galilee PREACHING.” Again, Paul told the preacher Timothy to “PREACH the word” (2 Timothy 4.2). Any and every preacher worth his salt should be able to say with the apostle Paul: “woe is unto me if I PREACH not the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9.16).

Are you a preacher? Are you concerned about what people think of you? Could you be happy doing anything else? THEN YOU OUGHT NOT TO PREACH!

Are you a preacher? Are you preaching the preaching God has bidden you to preach? Are you doing so without fear and without favor to any? Do you believe that without you and your message from God that your soul and the souls of your hearers will be lost? GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR LABORS! Continue to take seriously what Paul said: “Take heed unto thyself and to thy teaching; continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4.16).

Are you a preacher? Is your message a BALANCED message? A man can preach the truth but not always be considered a SOUND preacher because of a lack of balance. One can preach on love, mercy, and grace…all vitally important Bible subjects, but not be a sound preacher. Sound doctrine is HEALTHY doctrine. Healthy doctrine is BALANCED doctrine. By all means let us preach the doctrines of God’s love and grace and mercy. But let us not overlook His wrath and judgment to come. To preach this way is to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20.20,27). To do less is to fail to preach the preaching God has bidden us to preach.

Finally, if you’re a preacher: “preach the word! Be urgent in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with longsuffering and doctrine!” If you will follow this advice from Paul to Timothy, then you too will be a good soldier of Christ (2 Timothy 2.3), do the work of an evangelist and be a good minister (1 Timothy 4.6; 2 Timothy 4.5)!