[b]God’s Truths Must Be Preached And Obeyed[/b]
[i]by W.C. Moore[/i]

God wants preachers who will obey Him and "Preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2), "not as pleasing men, but God" (1 Thes. 2:4).

"Do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10). "What I tell you…that speak" (Matt. 10:27), not cringingly, not apologetically, not wondering whether or not the people will like what God gives you to say, but speaking "as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11), as God’s messenger, speaking the truth "in love" (Eph. 4:15) – "boldly…boldly" (Eph. 6:19-20). The Lord "maketh...His ministers a flaming fire" (Psa. 104:4).

Is this a picture of me? Or am I man-fearing and man-pleasing, apologizing for what little of the truth of God’s Word I do dare to speak, explaining away the positive, clear statements of the Scriptures – sugar-coating God’s purging truths, diluting with human reasonings and fears the emphatic pronouncements of God’s Holy Word, leaving out the teeth which God Almighty Himself has put in His Word for a purpose?

Rugged preachers of the Word of God are needed! Men and women sent of God who will speak the truth in love, not to get a reputation for themselves, not harping on a few verses of Scripture and riding a few "hobbies," but preachers who, in the spirit of John the Baptist will not shun "to declare…all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), being careful to "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16) always. God helps us to maintain a proper attitude toward Himself and toward His Word! When God says something, let us not be ashamed to say it. "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26).

Of course, we will suffer if we are true to God in a world so filled with rebellion against God as this world is. "If children, then heirs…if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together" (Rom. 8:17). Are we not willing indeed to suffer, by His grace, with the One who died for us? Thank God – Yes, blessed be His Name forever! "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). Then remember the word of the Lord Jesus, and love your enemies, pray for (not against) them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matt. 5:44).

Sometimes we suffer because of our own folly. We need to ask God for wisdom. When really persecuted for Christ’s sake..."Rejoice"... (Matt. 5:10-12). "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon