Preach the Word and build the church

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry".                                2 Timothy 4:1-5.   NKJV

What does the Word say here? It tells us to Preach the Word. Now this usually is meant for a pastor or evangelist to do. But, if you go down to verse 5 in this text, we read, 'do the work of an evangelist'. Now some may say that you're not a pastor or an evangelist and that may be so, if you were trying to do that in church on a Sunday morning. But, when you're not and when you're at home or out and about and the opportunity arises, it's not much use to say, 'hold on, I'll ring a pastor to come and speak with you.' that may be very inappropriate, especially when the person needs to Word of God there and them. 

We are all called to go and make disciples (Mark 16:15 Jesus Words) so we are qualified to do this and then, if needed, invite them to your church to see for themselves. We should always be ready to do this, when it's convenient and when it is inconvenient. This is what Paul means when he says 'Be ready in season and out of season.' Sometimes we are tempted to water the gospel down a little by missing bits such as hell and damnation. But people need to hear this. On one hand, it may not help to go in with guns blazing. However, then again, what is the use of wrapping someone up in cotton wool and saying that all will be well, 'I'll pray for you.'

As we saw yesterday, there are people in the world who will lead people astray by preaching what they want to hear. They will preach to itching ears - the people who want to hear a satisfying gospel, one that sounds good. If we don't speak the truth to someone who asks us about Jesus, they may go to these people who have the power to lead them astray. It's far better to preach the truth, even if people don't want to hear it.

Why is it that people are so attracted by the sects of the world? It's probably because, the teachers there tell them what they want to hear. They use persuasive talk and lure the people in and before they know what happened, they're hooked. It seems so attractive in comparison to some churches who have lost the way themselves and have fallen asleep.

God is life; He wants life in you and He wants life in the church but who will do it? 'Here am I! Send me' (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah, the one who stood up and made a voluntary offer to tell people what God wanted them to hear. I ask you, have you the willingness to stand up and offer yourself to God this way? If there isn't an appropriate church in your vicinity, how about building one yourself, starting in your house. It's a thought and, many have done this and built great fellowships. Pray about it!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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