Picking up where we last left off, we learned how to love like Paul. Now we are going to learn how to preach like Paul. Well Bro Dave I’m not so sure how this can apply to my life since I am not a preacher. Well hold that thought and let’s look at our passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church:
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“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.†(Philippians 1:12-14)
Preaching is proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ; it is simply evangelizing. We are all called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. And when should we do so? Always!
Yeah but Bro Dave sometimes I don’t feel like it; I know the feeling. If you were honest with yourself you’d realize you are being selfish in those times you don’t want to share the gospel. Whether it be shyness (=pride), busyness, or just plain laziness, those three conditions come from self-centeredness.
If anyone should have been given a pass on preaching Christ it would be Paul at this moment in his life. He is chained to a Roman guard 24/7 and being “restricted†from his ministry of preaching the gospel. At least that is how most of us would have viewed our circumstances had we been in the same predicament as Paul.
Not so Paul; he saw this as a providential arrangement by God. As a captive, Paul had a captive audience! Look again at verse 12:
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“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel…â€
Paul is reporting (which is another word for preach as we will see tomorrow) that his being in a Roman prison has allowed the gospel to be spread! How’s that you ask? Good question. Let me ask you a question. How many guards did Paul have? I would say at least 2 if not even 4, depending on the length of their shifts. Now look at verse 13:
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“… so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ…â€
Not only were Paul’s guards becoming aware of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also “the whole palace guard.†And not only the palace guard, but also “all the rest†of the palace were hearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine being an atheist or agnostic with guard duty on that preacher Paul! Does God not have a sense of humor and timing!
Because Paul was in chains he could focus on individuals who needed to hear the aletheia truth about salvation through Christ Jesus. And because of his not wasting a great providential opportunity, the rest of the church became bolder in their evangelizing because of Paul’s example. Look again at verse 14:
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“…and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.â€
Notice the word “mostâ€; some sinful Christian will never share the gospel, but I digress.
Perhaps you’ve still missed the connection between Paul’s preaching and you. Let’s use another word: witnessing. Here is a very simple verse from the Old Testament that clearly explains what witnessing is:
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“I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.†(Psalm 119:46)
No matter who your audience is, you must share about Jesus. Notice that the pronoun “Your†is capitalized; that means the psalmist is given God’s testimony, not ours. Too many testimonies concentrate on us instead of the One who saved us. When we testify sure we are giving our testimony, but is should not be about us. It needs to be about Him.
Oh Bro Dave I know I’m suppose to be witnessing but you just don’t understand what happens to me whenever I get ready to do so. What, you get scared? Is there any chance of a policeman Billy clubbing you for witnessing? Will someone clock you in the mouth for talking about Jesus? How hard would it have been for Paul to be physically abused by a Roman guard for witnessing?
Beloved, when God prescribes He also protects. And even if we were persecuted for Christ, would that not be a blessing? Before you answer let me share a verse with you:
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“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.†(Matthew 5:11)
There’s those beatitudes again! I know, right.
Listen, there are plenty of peddlers and shysters preaching the gospel today and even God can use that to His glory, but He wants to use you and me to preach the gospel.
More on that tomorrow…
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers