Proclaimer's Responsibility

Turn your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2:15

Title: Proclaimer’s Responsibility

Theme: When Preaching is Truth Proclaimed

Listen as I read 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Let us pray!

Introduction: Bruse Waltke tells the story about the time his wife was in college and in her economics class they chose to do a test involving two white mice. They fed the first mouse whole milk, wheat bread, oatmeal, carrots and fruit juice. They fed the second mouse coffee and doughnuts for breakfast, white bread and jelly for lunch, candy, potato chips and coke for supper.

In less than ten days there were marked differences in the two mice. One was healthy and robust, running around his cage full of all shorts energy. The second mouse was showing signs of ill health, losing hair, becoming irritable, becoming a loner and listless. As the diet continued the second mouse died. Why? Wrong diet. (The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, Swindoll)

If church attendees are not offered the milk and wheat bread of God’s Word they become listless in service to Christ, to the Body of Christ and unable to fulfill their part of the “Great Commission.” When people choose not feed upon the Word of God and choose to feed the flesh what it wants, live in the world’s view and listen to the lies of the devil, they become irritable, aggravating to be around and lack strength to fulfill God’s ultimate plan for them.

Christians who feed upon the Word of God are raised up by the Lord Jesus Christ to spiritual health. Their walk with the Lord is vibrant and alive, full of hope and vision even in lean times.

As we catch the truth that God’s Word is food for the spiritual heart we begin to understand that it is imperative that preachers proclaim the whole wheat bread of God’s Word.

Proposition: I would propose to you that it is the responsibility of preachers to proclaim and teach the Word of God in a way that insures there is healthy milk and meat for the children of God to feed upon. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Interrogative Sentence: Just what should be seen in the spiritual heart of the proclaimer of God’s Word? What Holy Spirit gift does he possess? What is his charge and who gets the glory for what is done through him?

Transitional Sentence: The first truth to grasp in the “Proclaimer’s Responsibility” is to have a witness of the Holy Spirit that the person who preaches the Word of God is born again. John 3:3 says, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep My laws.”

What the Holy Sprit wants you to grasp is “born again.” It is of great importance for this spiritual birth to take place in the man who stands behind the pulpit.

The preacher must have a spiritual rebirth so he can proclaim the truths of God, live in fellowship with God the Father, Christ the Savior and walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

These Words of Christ were spoken to the Pharisee named Nicodemus who was a member to the Jewish council. (John 3:1) Pharisees were the religious leaders of the Jews. (The New International Dictionary of the Bible)

A modern day authority on Judaism, C. F. Moore, writes, “The Pharisees were a party whose endeavor… was to live in strict accordance with the Law… [and] interpret [through] study [of the expositions] of the Scribes, and… to bring the people to a similar conformity.” Josephus, a contemporary Jewish historian describes them as, “A certain sect of Jews that appear more religious than others, and seem to interpret the laws more accurately.” (The New International Dictionary of the Bible)

Think of this. In John chapter 3 we read of an expert of the law of God, a studier of the writings of the Scribes, and we read of him coming to Christ in the dark of the night. In his discussion with Jesus about the Kingdom of God, the Lord said to Nicodemus, “You are Israel’s teacher… and you do not understand these things…” about being born again? You see Nicodemus had asked, “How can a man be born after he is old?” (John 3:4)