The Purpose of Preaching Part 6
It Charts the Direction
II Tim. 2:1, 2
Introduction: Without
a doubt, it is the preaching from the pulpit charts the direction that a church
will take. As we look around today, it
is apparent that many churches are changing directions. Churches that once
stood for the Old Time Way are now dropping “Baptist” from their name. Their staff, their ministries, their
congregation all reflect a definite change in direction. They are doing things they would have never
done before. They are allowing things
that they would have never allowed before.
They are inviting in preachers and musicians that they would have never
had come in before. They are changing their Bible, their song books, their
music, their church services to reflect a completely different direction than
the direction that they originally started out.
Then on the other hand, you’ve got churches that have been standing in
the Old Paths for decades without wobbling or wavering. What is the
difference? I would say that the biggest
difference is the PREACHING.
I. The Preaching Points
The direction of the church is greatly influenced by the
direction of the preaching.
A. Preaching should point people
to the Savior
·
2
Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord;
·
Ephesians
3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
All preaching should point people to Jesus Christ. If that
is accomplished, that is success.
B. Preaching should point people
to the Scripture
Getting people to search the scriptures and learn God’s word
is ESSENTIAL to growing strong Christians.
·
Luke 24:44,
45 And he said unto them, These are
the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scriptures,
C. Preaching should point people
to Sanctification
If the preaching doesn’t compel you to draw closer to the
Lord, something is wrong.
Show me a pastor that backs off on sanctification and I’ll
show you a church that is changing directions!
II. The Preaching Persuades
It goes without saying, but a preacher can’t persuade
someone else if he himself is not persuaded!
The reason many preachers and pastors change directions is
because they were never fully persuaded themselves.
·
Turn to
Acts 28:22-31
The fact of the matter is, Holy Ghost anointed, Bible
preaching can change people’s mind; it can change their life.
It can change families, it can change philosophies, it can
change opinions.
NOTE: Paul
preached Jesus – both out of the law, and out of the prophets.
III. The Preaching Protects
The fact of the matter is, solid Bible preaching will build
a perimeter of defense in your life.
Bible preaching will keep the wolves at bay, and the leaven
in the lump to a minimum.
It’s the failure to preach that opens the door for the devil
to come in and destroy churches and lives.
·
Mark 3:24 And if
a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself,
that house cannot stand. And if Satan
rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No
man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will
first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
What we have today is wolves masquerading as sheep.
·
Matthew
7:15 Beware of false prophets, which
come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
We have hirelings pretending to be shepherds.
·
John 10:11 I am
the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the
sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
These verses are referring to the Lord Jesus Christ as the
Good Shepherd, but they will apply to the Under-shepherd.
A true man of God will sound the trumpet!
·
Ezekiel
33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have
set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the
word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou
dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in
his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his
way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his
iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
So why does the Pastor preach so fervently, so passionately,
so dogmatically, and so forcefully at times?
He is doing his best to put up a wall of protection around
the flock of God to keep out the wolves!
When pastors stop preaching, people change directions.
When pastors stop preaching, families change directions.
When pastors stop preaching, churches change directions.
Conclusion: So
why do we need so much preaching? Because it Charts the Direction!
