2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

 

As we seek God’s Pattern for the Church today we must examine the first Message preached in the New Testament Church which was delivered by Peter. We find it in Acts 2:14-39. This Message was delivered to a huge crowd of Jews. The same Jews who hated Jesus and killed Him.

 

The Holy Spirit impressed upon Peter the Words to speak and he spoke them. The crux of his Message was Truth based on Scripture and the testimony of facts. Peter quoted the Prophets Joel and David. Remember, the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and Words of the Prophets of Old were the only Scripture they had at that time.

 

Also remember, that in Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit did not dwell in the hearts of believers as He does now. He ONLY made periodic visits to those who God instructed Him to. To these people, he gave Words of Prophecy and they spoke these Words to the people and a Scribe wrote them down. These are the words and writings that make up the Prophet’s Books in the Bible that we still read today. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoken by Prophets of God and written down by Scribes. They have endured the test of time because they are the Words of God. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will by no means ever pass away. (Luke 21:33)

 

The Holy Spirit gave to Peter the Words to speak in that first Message. It was not what the people WANTED to hear but it was what they NEEDED to hear. This is extremely important because I believe this is where the Church has gone astray today.

 

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about this and the warning holds true in the Church today. The question is: Are Preachers and Teachers heeding this warning? We find the all-important warning in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. He wrote: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 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; and they will turn their ears away from the Truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your Ministry. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)

 

Good Teachers and Preachers will give the people what the Holy Spirit inspires them to give. It will be what the people NEED not necessarily what they WANT.

 

The Truth will……….turn the tide

 

Only the Truth, Doreen

 

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