Preaching is NOT a game

How should a preacher preach?  2 Timothy 3:16 – 4:2 gives us one of the most, if not thee most lofty COMMANDS in Scripture.  2 Timothy 4:1-2 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!...” 

That is quite an astounding introduction to God’s command for those of us who stand up and preach the Word.  This verse tells us that preaching is an exalted and serious charge to preach the word.  This charge is given to us before God.  AND before the Lord Jesus Christ.  AND that He is coming again.  AND when He comes He will judge. AND finally that He will be ruling His kingdom.  That tells me that the stakes are high.  That tells me it’s a serious thing to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That tells me that what hangs in the balance is eternal life or eternal death. 

This command proceeds that which is given to us in the preceding verses.  In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Our preaching deals with God’s inspired words that he has preserved in what we call the Bible – not my words but his words and his voice.  Thus I’m to preach his word and it is done in the sight of God and in the name of Christ Jesus, who’s coming to judge and who one day I will stand and give an account (Hebrews 13:17).  Not only that, but all teachers of his word will be held accountable and to a higher standard in how they taught the Bible (James 3:1). 

The profound effect that this has on me is that preaching is not a game!  I must remember the seriousness of man’s proclamation and how I’m to expose the voice of God and exalt the greatness of God.  I’m not to tell stories or jokes or give my ideas, or my philosophies or my wisdom.  I am to be an under-shepherd and a spokesman to a flock of people.  I'm to open up the revelation of God’s word and give them a glimpse of his greatness, and his mercy, and his majesty, and his holiness and to say that he is worthy of every bit of our attention and the total surrender of our lives to him. 

Dear heavenly Father, raise up a people that want to see the glory of God and hear and obey your voice.  May they come to hear and desire your word and may we respond with open hearts and minds, and radically changed lives.