Preach the Word

(2 Timothy 4:1-2 – Preach the word)

In these first two verses we see Paul instructing Timothy to preach the word. But not just to preach it. He wanted Timothy to preach the word with urgency and at every opportunity he could do so.

This was a good message to Timothy, but also to us. If there was urgency in the days of Timothy, how much more urgent is it to preach the word today.

This world has gone way off the tracks of what is good and right in the sight of God. As a consequence, we see evil increasing everywhere. The anti-Christian sentiment is all around us. But his is not the time to step away from preaching. Instead we need to redouble our preaching to get the word out to more and more people. Hopefully we can save some from the coming destruction that will happen in the Lord’s good time.

Preach the word – urgently

We know from the signs all around us that the time is short. The number of days left before the return of Christ are very few.

The early church two thousand years ago believed the time was short then. How much more so today? The signs pointing to the times of the end and the return of Christ are all around us. There are still many things to happen, but the process has well and truly begun.

But the world is turning away from Christ in these last days. They are turning to all manner of evil in opposition to the words of God. They reject God and Jesus Christ thinking they are more enlightened than those who hold the faith of Jesus Christ.

What is worse, they turn people away from Christ to believe lies. They preach the theory of evolution as if it is a fact. They preach the acceptance of immorality as if anything and everything is acceptable. And they oppose anything that is good or aligns with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But the Lord is still waiting for the full number of His people to come to Him. And to achieve that result, we must preach the word urgently. We who believe in Christ need to take our testimonies to the world and show them how Christ has helped us.

It is urgent because the time is running out. We need to use the time that is left to be productive and minister to a world that needs Christ, even though they reject Him. Those who are His will listen.

Preach the word – with conviction

There is even more we need to do and be prepared to do as we preach the word. Consider all of what this scripture today says.

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

Urgency is the starting point. But he next few instructions strengthen that need.

When we preach the word, we must, “…convince, rebuke and exhort…” as we preach.

We must be convincing in our preaching. We must convict those who hear the word as we preach it so that they will begin to question. People need to ask questions of themselves and the Lord. They need to be able to see the stark dividing line between the evil ways of life in this world and the righteousness of Christ.

To do that we must be convincing. We must not just believe what we are preaching, but know that it is the right path.

Be ready to convince, but also to rebuke and exhort our hearers with words of truth and guidance. We do not rebuke people, but we can rebuke the ways of this world from the scriptures to show up evil for what it is. And we can exhort people to seek the better way that comes only through Jesus Christ.

But none of this is possible unless you are convinced yourself.

Strengthen your faith with virtue and knowledge, seeking to follow the path of growth and maturity in the scriptures.

5 For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

This is the path to maturity in Christ. When we follow it we are convinced and convicted as we grow. And then our preaching has real power as we preach the word with conviction.

Preach the word – Always

The final instruction Paul gives Timothy is to, ”…be unfailing in patience and in teaching.”

Preaching the word is not just about standing on a platform speaking to a crowd. It is also the one on one conversations you have each day with those around you.

To be unfailing is to always and at every opportunity find a way to preach the word.

You may be in a conversation with an unbeliever. There are always ways to speak scriptures into the conversation without being “preachy.” The Bible is full of wisdom, much of which has entered the common vernacular and is used frequently.

Think about a time when someone is under stress or burdened heavily. Then it would not be inappropriate to quote Matthew 11:28-30. Or if someone is talking about the greed of governments or big business. Again it could be an opportunity to mention 1 Timothy 6:9-10. And again if someone is feeling guilty over something, you could mention Romans 8:1.

And there are many other scriptures that may come to mind that could fit naturally into a conversation. Each one offers the opportunity to then preach the word, if and when the person expresses an interest.

Will this always work? No. Not always.

But the point is to bring the conversation to the Lord in a natural manner that will build them up and not put them down. If you come in with all guns blazing, condemning them to the damnation of hell fire and brimstone unless they repent of their evil wickedness…you’ll have a snowflake’s chance in hell of making any difference. In fact, they will avoid you in future and you will never get the opportunity to preach the word with them again.

Find opportunities to preach the word. They are there all around you. Be convincing as you preach, because if you don’t believe it, neither will they.

And be urgent as you preach the word. There is still some time for the Lord to call all of His people to Him. He wants us to speak to the people about us and those we come into contact with to do this work. So, preach the word and so serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and help others to find what you have…the opportunity of salvation to eternal life.

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