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Why is the Word being preached THE most important thing The word was the most important ministry of the prophets. John the Baptizer did not do one miracle but he was sent to preach, to introduce the Messiah to Israel and then reduce his ministry. John the Baptist was sent to preach, he did no miracles yet he was called the greatest prophet. His purpose was to prepare the people for the Messiah; His message was “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus was sent to preach foremost over any miracle that took place that accompanied his teaching because of his compassion on the multitudes. The miracles and healings had a purpose- to present himself as the Messiah to the Jewish people. To prove that he was indeed who He said he was. This is his purpose, he would not waver to preach, he did not want the miracles to get in the way of his message but compliment it. Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel.” He tells the disciples as they are moving on to the next town. Mark 1:38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth ." Luke 4:43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Mark 3:14-15 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons : Matt 11:1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.” Mark 16:14 Jesus is speaking to the eleven, and commissions them to preach the Gospel first and then baptize the believers. The apostles had a teaching equipping ministry not a miracle ministry. The apostle’s focus was Christ and His forgiveness, reconciling sinful man to a holy God and growing to maturity in a spiritual life. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:17-18: “ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel . We are to consistently stay in the truth to be qualified to present the truth to others, this means we will constantly be battling against sin and error in our own lives. If you are not resisting the flood of falsehood that is knocking on your door to come in then you may have already opened the door. There is no neutral ground anymore. Today preachers speak of the abundance of health and wealth. Jesus spoke of giving up the things of the world to gain His spiritual kingdom, for they were hindrances. The messengers today hold to an unqualified faith message of benefits –no pain, or suffering only blessing. The apostles did not preach a life of ease and blessing and success for those who receive Christ. In fact it was the very opposite we are promised trials, tibulations, even persecution awaits those faithful who walk on the narrow way. The apostles who wrote the Scriptures certainly did not have this avarice worldview. Acts 5 says that “They did not cease preaching and teaching that Jesus is the Christ.” At the center of the early churches gospel message was the crucifixion. We are to represent the cross to the people for salvation- it is God’s mercy seat How we preach is never as important as what we preach: content matters, not just communication skills or exhibiting talent in speech. The “new church” way to teach, what has become popular is to be intentionally inoffensive, not to speak on sin or mention the cross or suffering, only in passing - avoiding anything that would make people uncomfortable. But one cannot follow Jesus without this! The true Word can make one upset after it’s digested in the heart; it affects the sin within us. God accepts us as we are but does not leave us there; He is at work to change us, from the inside out. That is what Christianity is about, to change us to be more like Jesus. When our focus is this the power to change is present. |
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