1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
The Apostle Paul understood the importance of preaching the pure and right teaching from Scripture. You will note that he says, “according to the Scriptures”. What a great example for all Christians to see what we should appeal to while teaching and preaching the Truth.
We live in an age where everything goes for people who are professing Christianity. People have taken it upon themselves to decide what to teach and how to view the Bible and its holy Word. This is dangerous because God has left us His Will in those pages, and He expects we follow His Word as-is with no additions or subtractions. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
Brethren, we cannot be ashamed of the Truth that we hold. There is no time like the present to proclaim the Truth to our community. Remember the words of Jesus, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26). Remember also the words of Paul “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
When Timothy read his letter, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2), what do you think went through his mind? I am sure that he knew he was to preach the truth from the scriptures at all costs, even if there were naysayers.
Let us think about this for a moment. Non-Denominational and community-style churches are infiltrating the minds of the people with their false teaching. They are drawing the people away, and even worse, they are drawing some members of the church away. Most of their acts of worship are done in a non-scriptural way. The leadership offices are not found in the Bible. Their heretical doctrines are not found in the Bible, and yet they are capturing the minds of the people. They are capturing the minds of the people because they have the loudest voice. They are saturating the community with high dollar commercials, catchy music, social media advertisements, a false narrative of prosperity, and a smile while they teach a deceptively different gospel. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
Where is our answer to those who would corrupt the truth?
Brethren, where is our voice? Is it locked inside our building? Is it locked inside our mouths, afraid to offend anyone? I believe that we spend too much time worrying about how other people are going to react to the boldly proclaimed Truth. We need to stop worrying about our insecurities and just preach the Truth. The Word of God is the seed, and the Word of God has the power. We can never be sure how someone will react to the truth, but we can be sure that the Truth will do its job every time.
It is our time, the church’s time, to take back the minds of the people with the Word of God. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). It is our time to turn the tables! Let us be the ones who saturate commercials, social media, and every outlet where we can touch the minds of the people. It is our time to confront our community with the Truth. God will give the increase: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
Rest assured the effort is underway to preach the truth and get it in the hands of the people.
Pray for our effort. Support our effort. Stand for the Truth. Be not ashamed.
“2020 A year of evangelism” is as real as you make it.
May the God of heaven say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).
Be Encouraged and Standfast,
The Preacher