There is Power in preaching
2 Timothy 4:1-8
1. There is power in preaching because preaching is important to God:
It was important to God in the Old Testament:
Prophets sent to preach God’s will.
Prophets brought the “Word of the Lord” to people.
Prophets declared God’s righteous judgment on nations.
Prophets gave hope by pointing to the coming Messiah.
It was important to God in the New Testament
John the Baptist made the way for Christ by preaching.
Peter and the disciples helped give birth to the church by preaching on the day of Pentecost.
Paul and the Apostles spread the word and grew the church through preaching.
Preaching is still important to God today.
Many “traditions” in the church have come and gone.
Preaching is still used by God:
To proclaim God’s will.
To reveal the truth of God’s Word
To declare God’s righteous judgment on the
world.
To give hope by pointing to Jesus Christ.
2. There is power in preaching because preaching leads others to Christ:
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15 (NIV)
It is not the preacher that should get glory. It is the God of the message.
A basketball costs anywhere from $5 - $50.
But what is the worth of a basketball signed by Michael Jordan?
A sleeve of golf balls cost around $10.
But what is the worth of a golf ball hit by Tiger Woods?
A football can be purchased for about $20.
But what is the worth of a football thrown by Peyton Manning?
It is not the instrument that gives value, it is the one using the instrument.
What a privilege it is to be a preacher. Not because preachers are superheroes or deserve glory. But God has decided to use preaching to help lead others to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
3. There is power in preaching because preaching is needed:
We are in a spiritual battle in every front.
Drugs and alcohol in our society.
Philosophy that says every religion is equal.
Advertising that tells us that sex is all
that matters.
The time will come when people won’t put up with sound preaching of the truth.
To justify their own sin, and their lifestyles, they will bring people around them who will approve of their sin, and not preach the truth.
Preachers who will look the other way.
Preachers who are more interested in being popular than pleasing God.
Preachers who will not call sin what it is…sin.
They will gather around them a great number.
If the majority says it, it must be so.
They will be more interested in the politically correct fashionable beliefs of the day than the rock solid truth.
Preaching is powerful because strong preachers are blessed by God:
Keep your head in all situations:
Don’t get tempted to please men, only God.
Don’t get frustrated at the godlessness of
the world.
Don’t get angry when you are persecuted.
Know what you believe, why you believe it,
and what price you are willing to pay to
stand for it.
Endure hardship-
Preaching is not easy.
Some truths are not easy to preach.
Sometimes it is not the preaching that is
hard, but the heat you take for preaching
the truth.
Today it might be slander, gossip, and angry
phone calls.
In Paul’s day it could have ended in death.
Discharge all the duties of your ministry-
Be God’s man.
At the end of the day, it is you and God.
Paul knew his life was coming to a close. He was ready.
He had finished the race, he had fought the good fight.
He kept the faith.
He will be rewarded with a crown of life. A crown of righteousness.
The same can be for us today. In your walk with Jesus Christ, if you will live totally for him and stay faithful to the end, you will be blessed with a crown of righteousness. A reward that will last forever.
