Sabbath, April 30, 2005

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; …to preach deliverance to the captives…” Luke 4:18.

OBJECTIVES

• To realize what preaching the truth really entails.
• To become aware of our need to be anointed with the Spirit.
• To understand that preaching the gospel should be seen as a need and not just a duty.

PREACHING TO MEET MEN IN THEIR NEEDS

1. Since the beginning of His ministry, what was one of Jesus’ most important activities?
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

“Why did our Saviour labor to sow the seed in out-of-the-way places? Why did he travel slowly away from the villages which had been His places for communicating light by opening the Scriptures? There was a world to hear, and some souls would accept the truth who had not yet heard it.” –Evangelism, p. 47.

2. Being interested in man’s mental, spiritual and physical well being, what did Jesus do while on earth?
Matthew 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

“Never was there such an evangelist as Christ. He was the majesty of heaven, but He humbled Himself to take our nature, that He might meet men where they were. To all people, rich and poor, free and bond, Christ, the Messenger of the covenant, brought the tidings of salvation… Thus He went from city to city, from town to town, preaching the gospel and healing the sick-the King of glory in the lowly garb of humanity.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 22.

PREACHING WITH POWER FROM HEAVEN

3. What does every preacher need to be endowed with so that his preaching may be effective?
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1 Corinthians 2:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

“While we are to preach the word, we can not impart the power that will quicken the soul, and cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.

In the preaching of the word there must be the working of an agency beyond any human power. Only through the divine Spirit will the word be living and powerful to renew the soul unto eternal life. This is what Christ tried to
impress upon His disciples. He taught that it was nothing they possessed in themselves which would give success to their labors, but that it is the miracle-working power of God which gives efficiency to His own word.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 64.

“The spirit of truth burning in the heart, beaming from the countenance, and breathing from the lips in every word, constitutes a sermon which is hard to resist or to set aside, and which makes the strongholds of tremble. Ministers who walk with God are clad with the panoply of heaven, and victory will attend their efforts.” –Lift Him Up, p. 225.

4. What will the audience experience when hearing the truth from anointed lips?
Luke 24:32
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

THE CENTRAL POINT OF A SERMON

5. What should be considered when preaching the message from heaven?
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

“The preaching of the Word should appeal to the intellect and impart knowledge, but it comprises much more than this. The heart of the minister must reach the hearts of the hearers.” –Evangelism, pp. 209, 210.

6. What should be the aim of the preacher when delivering a sermon?
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

7. Who should be the center of our message in order to reach the hearts of the people?
1 Corinthians 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

“There is marrow and fatness in the gospel. Jesus is the living center of everything. Put Christ into every sermon. Let the preciousness, mercy, and glory of Jesus Christ be dwelt upon until Christ is formed within, the hope of glory…” –Evangelism, p. 186.

“Theology is valueless unless it is saturated with the love of Christ. True Christianity diffuses love through the whole being. It touches every vital part,-the brain, the heart, the helping hands, the feet,-enabling men to stand firmly where God requires them to stand, lest the lame be turned out of the way. The burning, consuming love of Christ for perishing souls is the life of the whole system of Christianity.” –The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1910.

RECEIVING AND GIVING THE MESSAGE

8. What is Christ’s commission for all time, and why is it of vital importance today that the signs of Christ’s second coming are visible?
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

9. What will every soul that has deeply experienced God’s love and mercy say and do in every possible way?
1 Corinthians 9: 16
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

FOR MEDITATION AND FURTHER STUDY

• Examine the difference between teaching and preaching: Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, pp. 1457, 1129. Teach: To impart knowledge of or skill in. Preach: To advocate or inculcate (religious or moral truth, right
conduct, etc.) in speech or writing. To proclaim or make known by sermons (the gospel, the good tidings).
• Do I feel compelled to share with others my experiences and find souls for the heavenly kingdom?
• Am I using all the talents God has given me to His service?