Preach Because of the Power of God’s Word
Preach Because of the Power of God’s Word
We are considering reasons to keep preaching in a world where there are many challenges. In this post we are going to consider that we should preach because of the power of God’s Word to change lives.
Our Words and Power
In his book, Deep Preaching, J. Kent Edwards talks about the call of Jeremiah to become a prophet. In the first chapter of that prophecy we have the event where God shows up to Jeremiah and appoints him to be “a prophet to the nations”. Jeremiah’s response is not a sense of excitement. His world in ancient Israel was much like our world, evidencing spiritual and moral decay. So, Jeremiah responds negatively.
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
In other words, No, Lord, not me. Send someone else. God’s word to Jeremiah are an encouragement to those of us who might get discouraged.
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Wouldn’t it be nice to have the Lord put words in your mouth that would change lives, change the world around you, change the overwhelming decay in the world around you?
The reality is that this is what God has done. He has given us His Word. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
The word of God is this, not out word.
Preach because of the power of God’s word to change lives, to change churches, to change communities.
A Retrospective On The Power
I have a man in mind as I write this. Rick owned a business in Chino, CA, the city where our church was located, and had a bit of a reputation of a rough character. His wife began attending our church. That church was really good at reaching out to people. A group of men learned that Rick had played semi-pro baseball, and so, they decided to invite him to play on one of men’s softball teams. To their surprise, he accepted.
The first game was memorable. Rick was assigned to play in right field. Early in the game, a simple pop fly was lofted out to right field. Rick ran to catch it. The ball hit his glove and bounced to the ground. That sort of thing happens. But what happened next doesn’t often happen in a church league. Rick threw his glove and the ground and let out a burst of expletives that were so colorful play almost stopped completely. The second baseman that night was one of the pastors who partnered with me in that church. He went out to Rick and introduced himself.
I heard that story several times over the next week from different people. The conclusion many came to was that this case was too tough. Nothing is impossible with God we believed in that church. But we expected that Rick would quit coming to games and would drift back into his life. But that wasn’t what happened. Rick connected. He began coming to church. He came to faith. We baptized him. He became one of the sweetest spirited people I’ve ever known. In fact, when we went through a relocation a few years later, Rick was our paid supervisor on the project.
Conclusion
Preach because of the power of God’s Word. Then, when things begin to happen, praise God.
