THEME : PREACH , PRACTICE AND PONDER
BIBLE TEXT : 2 Timothy 4 vs 1-5
MEMORY VERSE : 1 Corinthians 1 vs 17
INTRODUCTION
The dissemination of the word of God has shown forth through Christ our savior that died for us on the cross of Calvary to create an escape route from the bound of sin. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ must therefore go forth to many that are yet to encounter this true light. Basically preaching the gospel has a lot to do with our physical being and our lives as a whole. At a large of scale the gospel was all written in the life of Lord Jesus Christ where he fully demonstrated God's supremacy over every cause of the law and sin. Preaching as a context means extending the gospel or the ethics of Christ beyond region that we find ourselves. The circulation must invade all territories for the goodness that was given to mankind in replace of rebellion.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 " I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. "
Contextually, Apostle Paul was making a solid foundation by charging the brethren to be ready in season and out season. The agenda of gospel reaching many doesn't have a restriction of time in as much that we have men that are ready to preach the gospel. Where are men that want to preach the gospel with their lifes ?. Our readiness to take up this cross across all juridistion till Christ is glorified. The time will come when the doctrine of the gospel will sound so strange to as many people that encounter it ,and just because of their lust and itching ears. The exemplary lifestyle of always hearking to the word of truth while we preach the gospel should always be our standard. The preaching of the gospel cut across just spreading the goodness but also has a lot to do with practicing it with our lifestyle, a holy nature of God. Though afflictions and trials will come ways of preachers but a way to overcome it by practicing it with our whole life making a reality for those that hear it.
2 Timothy 4:17 " Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion ".
The full measure of the gospel was fully flourishing through Apostle Paul when he found out that the Lord Stood by him and gave him strength. Listen to this reader, the gospel that can be visible radially through you when the Standing power of God is with someone coupled with the strength He has given to such fellow.Advancing the Kingdom of God cut across preaching and practicing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who has called us into this marvelous Light of Salvation. The exhibition of the Christ lifestyle makes us a complete Christian.
A complete Christian is the one that has allowed Christ to complete Him with His ways and patterns. Numerously, the Son of God moves from one jurisdiction to the other establishing the ways of God the Father. He went far exhibiting the ways and patterns men to take as a result drawing them back to God Almighty. Their is a part of the gospel can show forth the light of Christ when we practice it the new life we have in Christ. Going beyond preaching is practicing what the gospel entails. The acquiatancy we have with Him shouldn't just stop at hearing and knowing Him alone but practicing what He commanded us to do as sons and daughters. Who shall the Lord send ?. Who shall ascend and do thy great works O'Lord?. The present materialistic world is full of mouth preaching believers that don't trukky practice the way of the gospel and the word of the Father. Woe unto them like Jesus told the Pharisees and the Scribes. Until we bend to how he wants it we can't blend.
James 1:22-25 " But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ".
In the archi of Gods dealing with men, practicing and doing what he commands holds a bit key to our obedience before Him. The scripture talked about being doer as the case maybe and not hearers alone. The practice we show towards the gospel determines how saved souls examplfied that trait of Christ in us. The identity of men thoroughly in Christ is found when we really tend be doer of what he commanded us to do as a believer. Beholding the nature of Christ inside of us has a lot to do with our readiness to practice His ways and patterns.
What are the Guidelines that sent men on the right track have to adhere to in other to effectively preach and practice gospel ?. Some of them are :
1. By Coming to the Knowledge of truth
2. By Go Ye to the Cosmos
3. Showing forth His dimensions
1. Be Coming to the Knowledge of truth :
The sent to declare the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ mist be rooted in the Knowledge of His truth to overcome so many obstacles on their way. This is one of the Spiritual guideline that set a man on the right track to dispense the goodness to as many that need to know about it. The lovers of Christ should love Him with deep understanding of His word having an immediate impact in their lives too. The word of God serve as a major tool on the primary place of assignment that we all have. The whole world is so full of untruthful and unfruitful works of darkness in all spheres, we must find a way to balance it with the knowledge of the truth .
Ephesians 6:14-16 " Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ".
This scripture talked about standing firm and our waist guard with truth. In a cardinal point of view, the preacher of the gospel should be men that have a solid start in this Christian doom. The word of truth establish men and give men strength to stand firmly on the course of the journey to practice the standard of the gospel.
Fundamentally, on the reliance of the Knowledge of truth. The resting power of all this knowledge should be on the faith we have in Him truly that keeps us moving till the end of time. The jounery of faith as we continue to preach and practice not really for the strong or able being but by Him that showeth mercy. The shield of faith must come from inside as the basis for the knowledge of the truth of Him that we posses. Preaching the gospel requires men that can display the reality of what they proclaim and this comes by the action of faith.
John 18:37-38 " Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. ". A chief in command residing in Praetorium questioned Christ to find out if there could be an evidence to save Him from the hands of accusers . The truth Himself was standing in front of them and yet they couldn't recognize Him just because they haven't come to the knowledge of the truth. The hearer of His voice are descendant of truth and for this reason Christ came to re ammend the path way that make them come into the knowledge of truth.
Moreover, the race to preach and practice the gospel requires men that can serve as a representative of the Truth . On the path to explore the word of faith to as many, the Pilate of your jurisdiction will approach you and ask you what is the Truth ?. The knowledge of the Truth that you have acquired will channle you up beyond a border that keep on for the great master use. The truth is in the Christ Jesus and the continous digging that we have in knowing Him makes us come to the Knowledge of the truth. To ponder the race of gospel, we must all come to a region where Christ is centralized. Show me a man in this cosmos that have determined to come to the knowledge of the truth and I show a man that is ready to ponder with a rigid solid base on the gospel.
James 1:18 " Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ". The Wonderful God in Own will has given us the word of truth for our establishment as we move with Him on this journey of faith.
2. By Go Ye to the Cosmos : In this context of view, the cosmos is a designated area where the impact of the gospel need to be felt. The Apostles were sent forth to move into further realms in acclamitizing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. To pevent further adjournment , believers should be planning to go a wide proclaiming Christ to as many that are yet to know Him . More often, it may sound like an envagilic ministry but we are all customed into this task to spread what kept us till now. Brethren it high time we held a strong faith , preach and practice by going far across territories to let men know about Christ. I would never be a representative that will be so ashamed of my Master and His works.
Mark 16:15-16 " And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. " One of the Criteria for Salvation is believing in the finished work of Christ. ". The instruction given to the apostles was to go ye, the location was the world and the assignment was preach the gospel to all creature that . The environment of believer is not the world that Christ assigned to us but the domain filled up with men that doesn't truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Most importantly in this Kingdom , we must know where we are sent to do and commission designated to the hands of men that need carry such assignment. All mn heard the word go Ye but to what destination are they to go Ye, on what mission are they going to display.
Vividly, the practice mode of the gospel come to place once we have taken that decision to go Ye into the world. It is a command from Christ for the establishment o the Kingdom of God Almighty. Men that choose to preach and practice doesn't decide on the time frame, we are to do as we are commanded as a believer. Brethren to go Ye may cost you a lot of things, it may cost you your material things, it may cost you the things you like most as a bleiever, it may even cause someone his or her life if the purpose is for Christ to be made known. There is deeper realm of the world that we must into to capture the heart of men that are yet to know Christ or accept Him. Preaching and Practice requires men to go into deeper dimensions of the world in the centralizing Christ in the heart of men . Pondering on the gospel requires men to go Ye into all worlds, all the cosmos and available environment until all creatures of the World hear the name of Jesus and His saving power.
Acts 20:24-25 " But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. ". There come a time when a man has gone deeper to capture the world for the sake of Christ that even His personal life will not count to nothing because the life of Christ reside in them. Preach the gospel not only because you're commissioned or sent forth, buy preach and practice the gospel like it is your life. Where are men like Stephen that gave it all even to the point of death. Recently, I have searched deeply to see men like Apostle Paul that can say that I have fought a good fight of faith. Promptly, it takes all of a man to preach the gospel.
Mark 8:34-35 " And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. " . Invading nations for the sake of Christ require those can deny themselves, self denial and denial before animate and inanimate things that come before them. We are commissioned to move forth and proclaim the goodnews but firstly we must make sure that we pen ourselves under His leading in order to be able to walk in line with the purpose He has for us. The ship of Christ doesn't requires men that can come to it with all of themselves but with all of Him after denial.
Precisely, not until the denial come upon men, the willingness to preach and practice won come upon them because by then surely they would be filled with the presence of His power. At a large scale, moving with Christ requires men that can take up the cross to follow him always. The readiness of men to preach , practice and ponder rest upon the response that they give to their cross and all that comes in line with it as a whole. In this Kingdom men that can preach and practice are men that has already purposed to follow Him at all cost to the region of fulfilment. Show men men that has summoned and risked all to follow Christ and I show you men that are ready to preach, practice and ponder. We need to wake up from our slumber and not be limited to religious activities by preaching because they asked us to preach the gospel. Our Lord Jesus Christ said we are light set on the hill an cannot be hidden, as a result you must a find to light up others.
3. Show forth His dimensions : The environment of God is surely saturated by His people and the dimension shown forth through the power of His Son. The witness of truth are expected to show His dimensions in our preaching and practicing style. Consistently this can be called into action by allowing Him to take preminiscence control at certain area of our moves with Him. Moreover we should learn that the more His dimensions are shown to men, more often do people give their life to Him. Freely allow Him to show forth His dimensions to His people and by so doing He capture His men by Himself.
Ephesians 2:10-13 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Proudly, we must all see ourselves as wormkmanship to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth through Christ our savior. The gospel has come to show us a dimension of God and who He truly represent through His son Jesus Christ.The delegate on us to go out wide in reaching as many people that can be touched with the saving hands of Christ should be established. In this Kingdom , men are only up for the gospel as a saving power but not how it can be practicalized. Endure all to hit the target.
At a large scale, our Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven through an early to show forth the dimensions of God through many means. The death , the crucifixion and the ressurection had proved to us a dimension of God that can save men through the blood f His only begotten son. Reader, my wondering has always be emanatiing from the view that how can a single man die just for the atonement of the whole world that has not fully come to the realization. There is a saving power in Christ and for thosevthatcare ready to discuss the dimension of Men . Recently, there are men that are only going forth to preach the gospel without a revealed dimension of God. On a countless base, all men should try at all course to reveal the dimension of God that reside in Christ and the personal one thy have too.
Acts 2:1-5 " And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven ".
The Apostles saw a dimension of God upon them and instantly there were transformed to a being Christ promised them to be. The dimension of God in men life are for the glorification of His and all men must see it to ponder the act of the gospel that ought to go out and reach many that need to be saved. The contending force in this world will require men to show forth the dimension of God that stabilizes the act of the gospel. The Apostles went all across nations speaking in the Holy Ghost and all men were amazed at the dimension of God that they were displaying . The functioning power of the gospel increased because they were in a state that can produce results and dominion at all places. Where are the men that allow Him to show forth His dimension in our generation ?. The quick notice must come upon us that the dimension of God must first come on us before our self - dimension . The procotol await us and we must be ready to follow this ethics of Christ for activation of His super Power.
Brethren, Preaching and Practicing the gospel must across some certain areas and juridistions. The Gospel is a life of Christ given to men as a new way of life for those that believe it. In this Kingdom the firming state of the gospel must invade :
1. The Inner World
2. The Gathering of the Brethren
1. The Inner World : Cardinally sent men are o focus on the inner world there in are the lost sheep that need to be saved. The commission was to go Ye into the World and preach the gospel for as many that are yet yo experience the saving power of Christ Jesus. The Cross bearers must not always avoid the world as it is because there lies their target and fulfilment of their assignment . The jurisdiction of the Inner World is bigger than the outer out and we need a shining Light of Christ to capture as many people that are overshadowed by the darknesss. The Cry on the Cross of Calvary at Golgotha should not be in vain but establish a footprint of Christ in the inner World. Let us stop this parabulating and go Ye into the inner world to capture cage men for Christ, and by doing so the first step of practicing the gospel has come forth.
Mark 2:15-17 " And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?. When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. ".
The King of Glory sat among the Publicans and sinners during a session of eating and drinking.This state confused the Pharisees and was forced t His disciples why he had to sit down and dine with the Publicans, Sinners . Notably Our Lord Jesus Christ find it fulifllling to did among them because it is a means of entering the world to call sinners unto repentance. It is more profitable to enter into the inner World and capture men for Christ that take a seat among the righteous for by this Heaven rejoice. Beyond Boundary, the gospel should go wide reaching every width of the World.
John 17:15-18 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ didn't want the disciples to leave the world for now because the stay of sent ones in the inner world is still very much needed to capture the heart of so many lost men in this Kingdom. The real disadvantage in the World is not their staying or their prolong time frame but the evil that resides in the World has been a challenge but Christ prayed for them. The sanctification through the truth is the main tool to overcome the evil in the inner world. The World should be an habitat to entertain both the righteous and the sinners but the evil there in create the gap . Reader, let us count it all Joy when we are been sent into the Inner world , it is our Primary place of Assignment ( PPA )which we must receive with all gladness.
2. Gathering of thy Brethren : The environment of believers should also be our secondary priority because by it we find means to put the gospel into practice. The collection of two or more believers pave way for Spiritual exercise that keep many firm on the journey of faith. Moreover, the basis and home of dwelling for this assignment should be among the gathering of thy brethren. There were times that our Lord Jesus Christ had to gather up majorly with His disciples and discuss vital issue of the Kingdom. The practice and ethics come into full clique when you're able to indentify the family of God that transit from your region.
Hebrews 10:25 " Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. ". The exhortation dimension of the gathering is what keep the fire of Christ keep burning among the brethren. The practice nature of the gospel requires men that are sharpened by fellow brethren and by doing so stimulate the relationship of Christ among peers.
Vividly, the gathering of thy brethren not actually met for repititon but for the exhortation of the redemption nature of Christ that has come to fully reality. Preaching the gospel should be call to notice among brethren in reminding them the assignment and the primary place of assignment given to them by Christ Jesus. This is a wake up call to as many that find it difficult to gather and ruminate on the word of truth. Reader , it's high time we left our foundation of colony that stimulate our spiritual motor to go Ye and preach the gospel.
Matthew 16:13-18 " When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ".
The gathering that Jesus had with His disciples was to verify a mystery among the disciples and also to confirm their current Knowing state. The Rabbi asked a multi dimensional question but only need one answer, Who do men say I am ?. What Do men say about the current Gospel ?. What idea do you have about men concerning me ?. Our Lord Jesus Christ was convinced that the answer they gave concerning men opinion showcased the world is not convinced but at a pin point He threw the question at them saying Who do you Say I am ?. The gathering of thy brethren will demand a point where the gospel will need you to define what you follow all this while. It Is Spiritual and a great commission from the Lord to spread the good news but haven't we turned it to be a religious activities. The over knowing of men should take a break and rewind at some point to know do personal check.
Gradually, the ordinance of the gospel will require to validate what they really carry and spread, do they really know Him and works commissioned to spread. Where are the gathering of thy brethren nowadays that can ruminate on the words of life to strengthen them. Preaching the gospel requires a gathering of thy brethren that makes it possible to practice and ponder on the gospel. The scripture confirmed it that Iron sharpeneth iron , and so by it should men see it as a means to regather for the greater works of the Kingdom.
1 Corinthians 14:26 " What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. ". The coming together heat up a kingdom benefit and for building up every Stunted spiritual growth in men. The practice pattern of the gospel doesn't just need men that are good and vocal but men that have digged by the word of truth . The scripture call it a building up process i.e there are some building up that doesn't come by isolation but by coming together. Learn to gather for the sake of the gospel.
CONCLUSION : At the center of it all, Christ must be seen in the preaching, practicing and pandering of the gospel. Men sent shouldn't forget the core region and for what reason they're sent to serve as a witness of the truth that come their way. In this current materialistic 21st century, it would take another dimension of upgraded sacrifice to effective carry out this great course. Contextually , it was from this Account that even Peter that has even been with Christ denied at the middle of the journey to the Cross.The workload is light yo those that centralize Christ on the basis of this great commission .
Matthew 16:25 " For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.". The word of God emphasize through Lord Jesus that whosoever loses his life for the sake of the race shall have it. We must all come to this submit that preaching and practicing the gospel will not guarantee you saving your life all by yourself , it is a laid down principle having to do with your life so that you shall find it in Christ. Reader , when i got to the realization of this truth that preaching and practicing has a lot to do more than the Life I even claim to live. Your life is required but much more will come in substitution for it which is the Life of Christ. The cosmos is filled up with men that go all round to preach the gospel but where are men that practice , it takes life to preach and practice. At this emd of time, the accountable trait to continue to preach an practice will be given to us in Jesus name.
ARASI KEHINDE ABIOLA
SHAKES DR'
