Welcome!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Today: Preaching that pleases God
Passage: Galatians 1
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:10-12, NIV’84)
Paul was very careful that he was delivering the full and true gospel, as he preached
In a way, the preacher is somewhat comparable to a waiter in a restaurant
The waiter is not expected to add anything or remove anything to the food that the chef gives him. His/her duty is to deliver the food to the customer, exactly as he/she received it
Today, there are many who add water to the wine, before delivering it
Some adulterate the word, adding their own stuff, where as some “eat” part of it, giving only partial truth of the word, to the people
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20: 26-27, NKJV)
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! (Gal 1:9, NIV 84)
The preacher of the gospel is the servant of God and the gospel
God is the owner and supplier of the word
The responsibility of the preacher is to rightly divide the word, not “cooking it” up!
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. (2 Tim 2; 15-16, NKJV-emphasis added)
Another important principle of Paul was that he never tried to please men, but God and God alone; Paul knew he was God’s ambassador and that he was appointed by God to deliver God’s word to God’s people
The greatest deception happens today when Christians fail to discern the preacher(s) and the message they preach
The content of the message is the most important factor, but the integrity of the preacher is no less important
If I advise my children and they don’t find that very thing in my life, they are not going to honestly listen to me
On the outside they might do it, but in their heart they will say, “Daddy, you are telling us to do what you don’t do right”
Paul wanted to make sure that his preaching as well as his life will please God more than any other, and will bring glory to God
That is the greatest challenge and thrill of Christian life and ministry
Trying to modify the gospel to please people, will end up becoming an enemy of God and a friend of satan; the choice is up to us
The word of God is available to us; it is our responsibility to read it and obey it, and then share it with others
God bless your day
BG
Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me and redeeming me. May your word minister to me and change me to become more like Jesus so that this word will touch and change others through me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen