Requirements For Proclaiming The Gospel

Some of the admonitions to preachers and teachers of the word.
i.e. all Christians.

Preachers Needed:
As long as there are lost souls, preachers will be needed to save them.
As long as there is false teaching, preachers will be needed to proclaim the truth.
As long as there are Christians, preachers will be needed to build them up into stronger Christians.
Let us notice some qualities of preachers that are lacking and needed today.

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t tickle people’s ears by telling them what they want to hear.
Instead, prick (cut) their hearts by telling them what God wants them to hear (Acts 2:37-38; II Timothy 4:2-4).
This is the only thing that will save their souls. 
Don’t preach to please men.
Instead, strive to please God (Galatians 1:10).
This is done by preaching the whole counsel of God — His Word (Acts 20:20,26-27; II Timothy 4:2). 
 
We Need Preachers That:
Don’t worry what men are saying about you or to you.
Instead, be concerned what God will say to you in the judgment (James 3:1; Matthew 25:41,46).
Don’t worry about your reputation.
Instead, start becoming “fools for Christ” — one thought of as a spectacle and off-scouring of the world (I Corinthians 4:9-13).
This is well pleasing unto God.

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t condone sin in congregations.
Instead, start condemning sin in both congregations and individuals (I Corinthians 1:10-13; 3:1-4; Galatians 2:11-14; I Timothy 5:20).
Don’t love the praises of men more than the praises of God (John 12:42-43).
Instead, be willing to be hated, persecuted and to suffer for preaching the truth (John 15:18-20; Matthew 5:10-12; II Timothy 3:10-14).

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t preach only the pleasant things of the Bible.
Instead, preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20,26-27), which includes the hard sayings as well (John 6:60-66; Matthew 19:9).
Don’t defend those in sin.
Instead, rebuke those in sin (I Timothy 5:20; Galatians 2:11-14; Romans 16:17-18). 

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t condemn those who are rebuking others that are in sin.
Instead, defend those who are rebuking others in sin (Proverbs 17:15; Romans 16:17-18).
Don’t condone and sanction elders (or the men if there are no elders) that will not watch for souls and will not lead in church discipline.
Instead, admonish them to repent and obey the Lord’s commands (Hebrews 13:17; II Thessalonians. 3:6; I Corinthians 5:1-7). 

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t be fearful or afraid in your life and preaching (Revelation 21:8).
Instead, start being a courageous soldier of Christ (II Timothy 2:3-4; I Timothy 6:12; II Timothy 4:7).
Loving servants are fighting soldiers!
Don’t be a hireling and worried about your job.
Instead, start laying down your life for the cause of Christ (John 10:12; Acts 15:25-27; Isaiah 56:10-11).
Remember, you work for God, not for elders, the church or the brethren! 

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t be passive in the proclamation and defense of the Gospel.
Instead, be aggressive by turning the world outside down (Acts 17:6) in preaching and defending the Gospel (Philippians 1:7,17; Romans 1:14-16).
Don’t be spineless cowards.
Instead, be willing to be beaten and imprisoned for preaching the truth without compromise, regardless what men shall say or do to you (Acts 4:17,21,29; 5:17-42). 

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t forget that Christ was crucified for you.
Instead, start taking up your cross daily and following Him faithfully (Luke 9:23).
Be willing to be crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20; 6:14).
Don’t be like the world.
Instead, be like Christ by saying woe to elders, preachers and Christians that are hypocrites and by so doing you will escape the damnation of hell (Matthew 23:13-33; I John 2:15-16).
 
We Need Preachers That:
Don’t worry about people calling the church a sect that is everywhere spoken against (Acts 28:22).
Instead, preach like Paul and proclaim the ONE body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism and God (Ephesians 4:4-6).
The way of truth has always been evil spoken of (II Peter 2:2).
Don’t always preach in generalities.
Instead, make specific application to the church (Revelation 2-3) and individuals (I Timothy 1:20; II Timothy 2:17). 

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t strive for numbers.
Instead, strive to see that souls are converted, indoctrinated and grounded in the most holy faith (Matthew 7:13-14; Colossians 1:23).
Don’t preach to be seen and heard of men (Matthew 6:1,5).
Instead, preach the truth in love and humility while giving glory to God (Ephesians. 4:15; I Corinthians 10:31). 

We Need Preachers That:
Don’t be a politician and pat people on the back.
Instead, be a Gospel preacher and rebuke sin in people’s lives when needed (Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 1:20). 

Conclusion
God expects His preachers and teachers to be bold and to the point.
Be like Nathan the prophet when confronting David’s sin. He said “Thou Art The Man”
Do not hold back from speaking the truth in love, as the truth is the only thing that can save souls.
Do you proclaim God’s word to the world?

By Carey Scott based upon article by Lawrence Williamson

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