The Purpose of Preaching Part V
It Confirms the Disciples
Text Acts 14:21-25
LOOK AT: Acts 15:36, 41
Intro: A constant
battle for believers is the battle between doubt and faith. Preaching has a way
of confirming the faith of God’s people to offset the constant doubts and lies
that they struggle with in their flesh and in their mind.
The condition of many Christians could be described as
floundering, wavering, hot and cold, up and down, in and out, off and on, sure
and not sure, rather than stable, secure, confident, bold, fervent, all in, and
on fire.
The confidence of level of the church today is at an
all-time low.
People are living in a state of perpetual intimidation and
fear.
They are vividly aware of the fact that a true, Bible
believing Christian is in the vast minority.
We live in a world that daily mocks our Bible, our beliefs,
our morals, our church, our political stance, our homes, our opinions, our
philosophies, our God.
That has the tendency to wear down and wear out God’s
people.
It has an eroding effect on the faith of the saints.
When we come to the house of God, we can hear preaching that
will bolster our confidence and reignite the flickering flames in the hearts of
God’s people.
I. Preaching
Confirms by Revealing
In Titus 1:3, Paul wrote that “… in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is
committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
·
Galatians
1:15, 16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and
called me by his grace, To reveal his
Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I
conferred not with flesh and blood:
·
I Peter
1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls. Of which
salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of
the grace that should come unto you:
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the
glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by
them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from
heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
II. Preaching
Confirms by Reminding
·
1
Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you
Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you
into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every
church.
·
1 Timothy
4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be
a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good
doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
·
2 Timothy
2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord
that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the
hearers.
·
II Peter
1:13
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up
by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will
endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in
remembrance.
III. Preaching
Confirms by Reestablishing
·
I
Thess. 3:1-3 Wherefore when we
could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And
sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the
gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these
afflictions: for yourselves to know that we are appointed thereunto.
ESTABLISH - make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix; to
strengthen, make firm; to render constant, confirm, one’s mind
·
Vs.
11-13 Now God himself and our
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound
in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To
the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,
even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
ILLUSTRATION:
Matthew 7: 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his
house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the
fall of it.
