Preach the Word
Today’s Passage – Isaiah 58 – 62 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – John 17 – 18; Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1 – 4
Read the “0812 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)
“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,” (Isaiah 62:6)
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
All of my previous posts from this reading passage have had to do with Isaiah 62:6. This morning, I would like to consider a similar verse: Isaiah 58:1. I believe this verse, though originally given to Isaiah, is directly applicable to preachers today. I believe that there are three ingredients for sound Bible preaching found in this verse, and, unfortunately, these are also sadly lacking in our preaching today.
1 Notice the Passion of Preaching – “Cry Aloud …lift up my voice like a trumpet”
Preaching should be passionate. Perhaps not ever message, or every part of a message will be done with a loud voice, but Bible preaching should be very often be done with a loud, passionate voice. The volume of the preachers voice should reveal his passion regarding the truth of God and it should also demonstrate his compassion for the needs of the people. Many Christians shy away from passionate preaching, preferring devotional teaching. However, the preaching of the word should be packed with Bible truth, and delivered in a manner that reveals the seriousness of God.
2 Notice the Perfection of Preaching – “spare not”
Not only should the preacher not hold back any volume and passion when he preaches, he should also not hold back any truth. All too often today preachers are afraid to preach all the counsel of God because they are too concerned with offending and possibly losing church members. We must remember that our duty is to please the Lord, and to deliver His message, uncut, and uncensored.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3)
3 Notice the Pointedness of Preaching – “…shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”
Preachers must not be afraid to point out the sins of the people, even the ones that are very unpopular to preach against. In the culture that we are living in it is getting increasingly difficult to not be offensive. The world is rapidly moving away from God, which should cause the preacher to be more passionate, and more pointed. The world, however, and even many Christians, will be offended.
4 Notice the Persistence of Preaching – “… shall never hold their peace day nor night:”, “… in season, out of season.”
Preachers need to preach all of the time: when it is popular and when it is not. This is especially true of the gospel.
Posted in Thoughts from Isaiah by Phil Erickson with 5 comments.
Amen Pastor. Sometimes we as a congregation need to be Spiritually awaken.And if it takes stepping on our toes to do it,so be it.I know when I walk out of our church at times my toes
were hurting and I thank you for it, and it has made me a better Christian.
Amen
Good stuff
Amen Pastor. The preacher is to preach the whole truth and nothing but the truth from the word of God.He is to preach both sides of the coin and not be one sided.And not water down the word of God.He needs to preach in a way and turn those smug attitudes into conviction and turn them away from the desires of the flesh and this world.And touch the hearts of the unsaved.Thank you Pastor for making your stand for the word of God.Like the post .
Amen Bob