The single greatest message I have ever heard or read on 2 Tim. 4:1-5 is by John MacArthur. This is what sets John apart from the rest of the pack in evangelicalism today who are mostly consumed by the expedient syncretistic moorings of their own imaginings; baptized in the postmodern ecumencial egalitarianism of pragmatism that is more concerned about being "liked" rather than being concerned for the truth. John's undying dedication and preaching of God's Word for close to four decades now is a great legacy and testimony of God's grace to all of us in ministry who desire to "present [ourselves] to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (cf, 2 Tim. 2:25)
As I travel and minister in word and song in various churches around the world, I have come to see some distinctives common to men who have forgotten their duty to preach the Word and give themselves to lesser things. Here are some of those observations:
When a man steps into the pulpit more interested in telling stories than rightly dividing the Word of truth - he is not preaching the Word.
When a man seeks first to be funny behind the sacred desk rather than faithful with the text - he is not preaching the Word.
When a man claims to speak for God by claiming "a word of divine revelation from the Lord" apart from the already divine revelation of Scripture - he is deceived, and is not preaching the Word.
When a man designs his sermons to attract a target audience, appeal to the culture, and has as its primary goal a thirst to be relevent - he is not preaching the Word.
When a man forgets that he ministers for an Audience of One; and that the highest form of worship is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God alone in the power of the Holy Spirit - he is not preaching the Word.
When a man uses his pulpit to try and change the world through politics, representing America as the new Israel, seeking to bring a societal morality through legislation, and honors the flag equally with the cross - he is not preaching the Word.
When a man fails to tremble at God's Word privately before ever preaching it publicly - he is not preaching the Word.
And when a man treats the pages of holy writ with a casual, cavalier seeker-friendly, watered down, emergent, ecumenical irrevernce - he is not preaching the Word.
Better for that man to become a game show host, than represent himself as a "servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries God." (1 Cor. 4:1)
Thank you John for your steadfast dedication to God's Word and for not capitulating to the spirit of the age. I love and appreciate you as a yokefellow, mentor, and friend...
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Steve;is not one attribute of truth the fact that it is timeless. You say; When a man claims to speak for God by claiming "a word of divine revelation from the Lord" apart from the already divine revelation of Scripture - he is deceived, and is not preaching the Word.-- I would agree that many times or even most of the times that a man claims to have a revelation from God that is not already in the Holy Scriptures it is false. But most of the true prophets and apostles of The Lord Jesus Christ spoke the words of The Holy Spirit of The Lord Jesus Christ and many of these messages were not already in the Holy Scriptures. It was on this basis that all the true prophets of God were rejected by Israel. The Lord Jesus Himself came with a "NEW" covenant and for that reason He was rejected by all the leaders of the church at that time. It is not formulas or rules that to follow, but we follow The Lord Jesus Himself. The sons of God are those who follow The Spirit. May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you. Lou Click here to reply to this post
Now thats' a good word!
Posted On: 05/01/08 11:40:23 PM
Age 42, NM
Steve, love the article. I too am sickened by all the meally-mouthed religious talk that comes from our pulpits. It's the GOSPEL that is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...not programs and seeker-sensitive gobbledy-gook. And whenever I read the GOSPEL as presented by Jesus, John the Baptist, Peter or Paul, I see a gospel that involves turning away from sin, not just adding Jesus to our sin filled lives and thinking that's enough.
I also love and appreciate the ministry of John McArthur.
I do believe there are pastors who obey the biblical command to preach the Word (the whole counsel). Many we will never know about until we get to heaven. They're not interested in making a name for themselves. They stay committed to the church God called them to pastor and shepherd. They live in the middle of nowhere. But they are known in heaven, whether the TBN's and Willow Creeks and Saddlebacks of this world know them or not. Click here to reply to this post
