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Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Tim 4:2
That is the charge given by the greatest apostle Paul to the young, passionate Timothy. He was on his way to be martyred. His final words were very precious and carefully handpicked. He had no time to circle around. Paul was straightforward in his approach to convey his utmost intentions. And he does it with care, concern, and courage.
Preaching stood at the top of the list in Paul’s priority. His mandatory checklist for all the next leaders had to begin with preaching. Why? Because God chose preaching as a tool to save the human race. 1 Cor 1:21 says,
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Preaching appears foolish to those who are doomed, but to those who believe, it is the means by which they are saved. It is not a foolish preaching that God uses, but the foolishness of the preaching to save souls. Today, we have a lot of foolish preaching circling the pulpit. Absolutely ridiculous, and with no proper context, nor a disciplined exegesis. Preaching is an art that can be cultivated with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. God bestows it upon those who recognize its significance in advancing the kingdom of God.
Not gifts, not prophecy, not healing, not any other gifts, but the preaching of God’s Word that will save souls. After the charismatic explosion in the beginning of this century, very few remnants (servants of God) have stuck with the importance of God’s Word in the church.
Let’s pray for a new unction of the Holy Spirit on the preaching ministry today. We need a fresh touch of God on our preachers. Let’s commit to the finest preaching of the purest Word of God.