2 Timothy 1 New
International Version - UK (NIVUK)
1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the
promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace,
mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as
night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears,
I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your
sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother
Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for loyalty to
Paul and the gospel
6 For this reason I
remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the
laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but
gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony
about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the
gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has
saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done
but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ
Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the
appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was
appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering
as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed,
and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until
that day.
13 What you heard from
me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of
the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Examples of disloyalty
and loyalty
15
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including
Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often
refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was
in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that
he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many
ways he helped me in Ephesus.
You're just like your mum!
2 Timothy 1 from Elim Missions
Eunice's name means 'Good victory'.
We all want a good victory at some time in our lives!
Her victory came about through her sincere faith.
What did it mean for her to have a sincere faith?
*
It was tested with the 'why' question?
In Acts 16 we are told that Timothy's dad was a Greek, not a believing Jew like Eunice. There is no evidence that he ever converted. It takes faith to live with an unanswered prayer. Many do. Why God are you not answering my prayers for my husband?
In Acts 16 we are told that Timothy's dad was a Greek, not a believing Jew like Eunice. There is no evidence that he ever converted. It takes faith to live with an unanswered prayer. Many do. Why God are you not answering my prayers for my husband?
Are you being tested by illness?
Are you being tested by unanswered prayers?
*
The genuineness was seen by her sharing the faith.
And who did she share it with? To Timothy her son.
And who did she share it with? To Timothy her son.
We will read in chapter 3 how Paul reminded Timothy he had learnt the Scriptures as an infant.
Even before she became a Christian, as a Jewess she was sharing her Abrahamic faith and the Old Testament stories with Timothy. She made known the Holy Scriptures till Timothy owned them himself.
*
Open hands are always the sign of sincere faith.
Eunice
released her son to join Paul's missionary journeys. Generosity reveals the
genuine. Faith is always in the letting go.
These
are the keys to a good victory.
NIV
Application Commentary
2
Timothy 1:7
In
understanding verse 7 it is common to do “mirror reading,” that is, to assume
that the mention “of power, of love and of self-discipline” implies that
Timothy lacks these and that, because “timidity” is mentioned, this is his
problem. It seems reasonable to assume that the inner abilities that God gave
Timothy for ministry—power, love, and self-discipline—were being weakened as a
natural timidity began to take over. On this reading, in order to overcome a
natural reticence to speak and act with confidence, Timothy needs to allow the
spiritual gift to resume its dominance and restore a higher level of
effectiveness in his ministry. This reconstruction takes into account all of
the elements of verses 6–7.
It
remains to observe the wording with respect to the bestowal of that “gift
[charisma] of God,” which was “through [dia] the laying on of [Paul’s] hands.”
This may imply that Paul was one of the elders who laid hands on him (1 Tim.
4:14). There is a difference between this wording and that of 1 Timothy 4:14,
where the bestowal of the gift was “through [dia]” prophecy, “with [meta]” the
laying on of hands by the group of elders. It may be that Paul now wants to
emphasize that his (and the elders’) role was not only to accompany the
bestowal of the gift but to be involved in it as well.
The
use of the word anazopyreo, “fan into flame,” raises a theological issue: Can
an inward spiritual gift of God die down like a fire and be rekindled by an act
of the will? Does one have control over that which is the sovereign work of the
Holy Spirit of God? A true understanding of this verse must be consistent with
the proper answer to those questions. The fact that in 1 Corinthians 14:22–40
Paul teaches the regulation of spiritual gifts shows that Christians have
responsibility for their use. The very word translated “self-discipline” means
taking responsibility to be moderate or to act reasonably. It implies that the
individual exercises control. For the Christian, the motivation and power to do
this comes from the Holy Spirit, but we must respond by making the right
decisions and taking the right actions.
The
“spirit” mentioned in verse 7 is probably the Holy Spirit himself, not the
human spirit. It is something God gave and was probably part of the gift
mentioned in verse 6. The gift seems to have been a measure or kind of power,
love, and ability to control oneself that is beyond our normal capacities,
which comes only from the Holy Spirit. He is not the kind of Spirit who brings
fear.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Verses 6-14
Here
is an exhortation and excitation of Timothy to his duty (2 Tim. 1:6): I put
thee in remembrance. The best men need remembrancers; what we know we should be
reminded of. 2 Pet. 3:1; I write this, to stir up your pure minds by way of
remembrance.
I.
He exhorts him to stir up the gift of God that was in him. Stir it up as fire
under the embers. It is meant of all the gifts and graces the God had given
him, to qualify him for the work of an evangelist, the gifts of the Holy Ghost,
the extraordinary gifts that were conferred by the imposition of the apostle’s
hands. These he must stir up; he must exercise them and so increase them: use
gifts and have gifts. To him that hath shall be given, Matt. 25:29. He must
take all opportunities to use these gifts, and so stir them up, for that is the
best way of increasing them. Whether the gift of God in Timothy was ordinary or
extraordinary (though I incline to the latter), he must stir it up, otherwise
it would decay. Further, you see that this gift was in him by the putting on of
the apostle’s hands, which I take to be distinct from his ordination, for that
was performed by the hands of the presbytery, 1 Tim. 4:14. It is probable that
Timothy had the Holy Ghost, in his extraordinary gifts and graces, conferred on
him by the laying on of the apostle’s hands (for I reckon that none but the
apostles had the power of giving the Holy Ghost), and afterwards, being thus
richly furnished for the work of the ministry, was ordained by the presbytery.
Observe, 1. The great hindrance of usefulness in the increase of our gifts is
slavish fear. Paul therefore warns Timothy against this: God hath not given us
the spirit of fear, 2 Tim. 1:7. It was through base fear that the evil servant
buried his talent, and did not trade with it, Matt. 25:25. Now God hath
therefore armed us against the spirit of fear, by often bidding us fear not.
“Fear not the face of man; fear not the dangers you may meet with in the way of
your duty.” God hath delivered us from the spirit of fear, and hath given us
the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The spirit of power, or
of courage and resolution to encounter difficulties and dangers;--the spirit of
love to God, which will carry us through the opposition we may meet with, as
Jacob made nothing of the hard service he was to endure for Rachel: the spirit
of love to God will set us above the fear of man, and all the hurt that a man
can do us;--and the spirit of a sound mind, or quietness of mind, a peaceable
enjoyment of ourselves, for we are oftentimes discouraged in our way and work
by the creatures o our own fancy and imagination, which a sober, solid,
thinking mind would obviate, and would easily answer. 2. The spirit God gives
to his ministers is not a fearful, but a courageous spirit; it is a spirit of
power, for they speak in his name who has all power, both in heaven and earth;
and it is a spirit of love, for love to God and the souls of men must inflame
ministers in all their service; and it is a spirit of a sound mind, for they
speak the words of truth and soberness.
II.
He exhorts him to count upon afflictions, and get ready for them: “Be not thou
therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. Be not
thou ashamed of the gospel, of the testimony thou hast borne to it.” Observe
,
The Bible Panorama
2 Timothy 1
V 1–2: BELOVED
Although writing with apostolic authority, Paul salutes Timothy with his usual,
heartfelt greeting, calling him ‘a beloved son’. Paul takes a fatherly interest
in Timothy, notwithstanding his existing spiritual maturity and leadership
ability.
V 3–7:
BACKGROUND He prays daily for Timothy, greatly desiring to see him. He is
joyful in recalling the godly example of Timothy’s mother and grandmother that
brought him to faith in Christ. Paul’s spiritual fatherhood role encourages him
through discipleship to maturing leadership. He urges him to serve by stirring
up God’s gift in service with a fearless, powerful and loving mind from God.
V 8–12: BEATEN!
Jesus Christ has beaten death, and through the gospel has brought ‘life and
immortality to light’. Paul is neither ashamed of the gospel nor of his
Saviour, who will keep him through life and eternity, despite his own
imprisonment in Rome. He urges Timothy not to be ashamed of him either, but to
share in his sufferings.
V 13–14: BASIS
Timothy must hold the pattern of sound teaching given him by Paul through faith
and love in Christ. Timothy’s gift of ministry and service, and his commission
to serve Christ, is to be kept through the Holy Spirit who dwells in them both.
V 15: BEREFT
Paul relates to Timothy that all those in Asia turned away from him, including
Phygellus and Hermogenes. Sometimes it is a lonely task to be a Christian
leader and gospel preacher.
V 16–18:
BOLSTERED But Paul has been bolstered by
the refreshment gained from the household of Onesiphorus, who ‘zealously’ sought
Paul out in Rome to minister to him as he had done at Ephesus. Paul commends to
God his unashamed, supportive and faithful co-worker in the gospel.
Asbury Bible Commentary
A. Fan into Flames God's Gift (1:3-7)
Serve
(v. 3) may also mean worship and describes an act of service performed for God.
As [Gk., “from”] my forefathers (v. 3) suggests the continuity of faith in God
from Judaism to the full revelation of God in Christ in Christianity. Remember
(v. 3), or a similar concept, occurs three other times in this
paragraph—recalling (v. 4), reminded (v. 5), and remind (v. 6). The repetition
underscores the importance of using our minds and memories for spiritual
purposes. Your tears (v. 4) is a reference to Timothy's sadness when they
parted. Sincere [Gk., non-hypocritical] faith (v. 5) links with 1Ti 1:5. For
more on Eunice see Ac 16:1. Persuaded (v. 5) means to become convinced by
reason (see v. 12). Now lives is not in the Greek; Paul simply asserts that
such faith is in Timothy.
Fan
into flame (v. 6) is Paul's metaphor to suggest Timothy's tendency to neglect
or depreciate his grace gift from God (see 1Ti 4:14). For when the body of
elders laid their hands on you, see 1Ti 4:14. V. 7 gives us a commanding triad.
The placement of the verse indicates that Timothy had difficulty being bold
(see v. 6 and 1Ti 4:12-14). Timidity (Gk., deilias) is a very good translation
since this is not the usual word for fear (phobos). Deilias means cowardly and
is never used positively in the Bible. This fear is not from God. Spirit has
been interpreted as either human spirit or the Holy Spirit, but given the
context of God's gift (v. 6) and God's giving this spirit, Holy Spirit is
preferred. Like Timothy, we must affirm and activate the Spirit's resources to
be God's workers. This is a main tenet of Wesleyan doctrine.
Dictionary of Bible Themes
7789 shepherd, as church leader
Church
leaders are likened to shepherds, on account of their pastoral responsibilities
and tasks.
Jesus
Christ, the archetypal shepherd
1Pe
5:4
Appointment
of shepherds
Eph
4:11 See also Mk 3:14; Ac 14:23; 1Co 12:28
Shepherd
responsibilities
Feeding
the flock Jn 21:15 See also Mk 6:34; Jn 21:17; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12-14; Jude 12
Caring
for the flock Jn 21:16 See also Mt 25:36; Ac 20:28; Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:1-2; 2Ti
1:17; Tit 1:7; Jas 1:27; 1Pe 5:2
Protecting,
from false teachers Ac 20:29 See also Mt 7:15; Jn 10:1,10
Leading,
not exploiting 1Pe 5:3
Being
accountable See also Heb 13:17
1.
Appointment of shepherds
Ephesians
4:11-16 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
11
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for
works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we
all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed
back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect
the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole
body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds
itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Shepherd responsibilities
2.
Feeding the flock
John
21:15-17 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Jesus
reinstates Peter
15
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John,
do you love me more than these?’‘ Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love
you. ’Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
16
Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord,
you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
17
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was
hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord,
you know all things; you know that I love you.’
Jesus
said, ‘Feed my sheep.
Hebrews
5:12-14 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
12
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to
teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk,
not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not
acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the
mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from
evil.
3. Caring for the
flock
Acts
20:27-32 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
27
For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep
watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own
blood.[b] 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you
and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your
guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night
and day with tears.
32
‘Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up
and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
1
Peter 5:2-4 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
2
be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not
because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not
pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade
away.
4. Protecting,
from false teachers
Matthew
7:15-20New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
True
and false prophets
15
‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognise them.
Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise,
every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good
tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20
Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
John
10:10-13New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may
have life, and have it to the full.
11
‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12
The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees
the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the
flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and
cares nothing for the sheep.
Encyclopedia of The Bible
PREACHER,
PREACHING. Preaching is the proclamation
of the Word of God recorded in the Bible and centered in the redemptive work of
Jesus Christ, summoning men to repentance, faith, and obedience. It is God’s
appointed means for communicating the Gospel of salvation to the unbelieving
world and for strengthening the spiritual life of His people.
1.
Biblical terms. Of the many NT terms for preaching, the most characteristic is
the verb κηρύσσειν (to proclaim as a herald), which occurs about sixty
times (e.g., Matt 3:1; Mark 1:14; Acts 10:42; 1 Cor 1:23; 2 Tim 4:2). The
principal synonym is εὐαγγελίζεσθαι (to announce good news, to evangelize), a common verb
used over fifty times (e.g., Luke 3:18; 4:18; Acts 5:42; Rom 10:15; 1 Cor
1:17). Whereas κηρύσσειν stresses the activity of preaching, εὐαγγελίζεσθαι
accents the glorious nature of the message proclaimed. The combination κηρύσσειν τὸ̀ εὐαγγέλιον
(to proclaim the Gospel) is also found (e.g., Matt 4:23; Gal 2:2).
In
view of its prominence in the NT, it is surprising that the OT seldom refers to
the proclamation of the prophets as “preaching.” The LXX uses κηρύσσειν of
Jonah’s commission to Nineveh (Jonah 1:2; 3:2, 4), and in
Isaiah 61:1, κηρύσσειν combines with εὐαγγελίζεσθαι to describe
the mission of the Servant of Yahweh. Reference is made also to false prophets
who “proclaim” (κηρύσσειν) peace to those who reward them with something to eat
(Micah 3:5). In 2 Peter 2:5, Noah is called “a herald (κῆρυξ,
G3061) of righteousness.” Allowing the differences between prophetic
proclamation (which generally, at least, involved direct divine revelation) and
Christian preaching, the prophets of Israel, proclaiming divine judgment and
salvation and calling men to repentance, are properly regarded as the preachers
of their day, the predecessors of the NT heralds of the Gospel. After the
Exile, preaching in the form of Biblical exposition emerged as an important and
regular feature of synagogue worship.
2.
The basic content of preaching. The synoptic gospels summarize Jesus’ public
ministry as one of preaching, teaching, and healing (Matt 4:23; Mark 1:39; Luke
4:44). His message was the good news of the kingdom of God, with its imperious
demand that men repent and believe in the Gospel (Matt 9:35; Mark 1:14, 15;
Luke 4:43). By this proclamation, Jesus signified that in His ministry the
sovereign power of God invaded history to establish a new reign of
righteousness in the salvation of His people. Jesus conceived of His preaching
ministry as a divine commission (Mark 1:38), in fulfillment of Messianic
prophecy (Luke 4:18-21).
The
preaching of the apostles reported in Acts and gleaned from scattered fragments
in the Pauline epistles seems at first glance to strike a somewhat different
note. Although the apostles are still said to preach the kingdom of God (Acts
28:31), the genius of their message is Christ Himself as divine Lord and
Redeemer (2:22-36; 5:42; 11:20; 17:3; 1 Cor 1:23, 24; 2 Cor 1:19; 4:5). This
difference, however, represents not a contradiction, but a progression. The
kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed achieved its triumph over the forces of
evil and unleashed its creative power in the world through His own death and
Resurrection. In Christ, God’s sovereign power acted decisively and continues to
act eternally for the salvation of His people, so that beginning with the
Resurrection, to preach the kingdom is to preach Christ (cf. Acts 8:12). Jesus
Himself both anticipated and authorized this shift of emphasis when He
commanded His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (1:8).
The
apostolic message (kerygma), in its essential substance and general outline,
can be reconstructed in these terms. In fulfillment of OT prophecy, the new age
of salvation has dawned through the ministry, death, and Resurrection of Jesus,
now exalted as Lord and Messiah. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church
testifies to Christ’s present power and glory. The Messianic Age will reach its
consummation at the return of Christ in judgment. God’s action in Christ
promises forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and eternal
salvation to all who repent and believe in Jesus (cf. C. H. Dodd, The Apostolic
Preaching and Its Developments, 3-73).
On
the basis of this reconstruction the following observations can be made about
the Christian message: (1) it consists of a definite body of facts; (2) it is
essentially neither a doctrinal nor philosophical system, still less an ethic,
but a proclamation of those mighty acts in history whereby God has accomplished
the salvation of His people; (3) it is centered in the Person and work of
Christ, esp. His cross and Resurrection; (4) it is organically related to the
OT; (5) it imposes a stern ethical demand on men; and (6) it has an
eschatological dimension, looking forward to a final fulfillment yet to be. The
only preaching that strikes all of these chords stands in the apostolic
tradition.
3.
Preaching and teaching. Throughout the history of the Church, preaching often
has assumed the form of extended exposition of Biblical passages, doctrinal
instruction, ethical exhortation, or discussion of various aspects of Christian
life and experience directed to largely Christian audiences. With the
publication of Dodd’s work (u.s.), however, it has become fashionable to
differentiate sharply between “preaching” (κηρύσσειν) and “teaching” (διδάσκειν)
in the NT sense of the terms by restricting “preaching”
exclusively to evangelistic proclamation to the unconverted. Alan Richardson
alleges, “In the NT, preaching has nothing to do with the
delivery of sermons to the converted...but always concerns the proclamation of
the ‘good tidings of God’ to the non-Christian world” (A Theological Word Book
of the Bible [1950], 171, 172).
The
NT does distinguish between preaching and teaching (e.g., Matt 4:23; 11:1; Eph
4:11; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11; 4:2-4). The distinction, however, is by no means
rigid and absolute. Whereas Matthew reports that Jesus went about Galilee
“teaching...and preaching” (Matt 4:23), the parallel passages employ only the
word “preaching” to describe this ministry (Mark 1:39; Luke 4:44). Where
Matthew and Mark represent Jesus as preaching the Gospel of the kingdom (Matt
4:17; Mark 1:14, 15), Luke says, “He taught in their synagogues” (Luke 4:15).
More significant still, Mark uses these two terms interchangeably (cf. Mark
1:14, 15, 21, 38, 39). Elsewhere in the NT, the apostolic testimony to Jesus is
likewise described in the same reference as both “preaching” and “teaching”
(Acts 5:42; 28:31; Col 1:28).
Although
it would not be accurate to argue that in the NT sense preaching and teaching
are identical, the two are nevertheless so intimately related that to draw a
hard and fast line between them is equally untenable. In both cases, the basic
content is the same: the Gospel of eternal salvation through the death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Teaching is simply the extension
of preaching into the regions of doctrine, apologetics, ethics, and Christian
experience. Preaching includes all of these elements. What difference there is
lies in emphasis and objective. Whereas the primary thrust of preaching is
evangelistic, looking to the conversion of unbelievers, teaching unfolds and
applies the fullness of the Gospel to the total sweep of life, challenging and
enabling believers to become more mature followers of Christ. Neither preaching
nor teaching can be conceived without the other, while in actual practice they
are so finely interwoven that their separation is largely academic. To preach
in the NT sense is not only to herald the saving evangel, but also to proclaim
“the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:20, 27; cf. 2 Tim 4:2).
4.
The divine character of preaching. The main words for preaching in the NT ring
with authority. This authority lies not in the person of the preacher, but in
the message entrusted to him. True preaching does not consist in man’s ideas
about God, or in his sanctified religious ponderings and reflections, but in
the divine Word of revelation that sets forth God’s saving grace in Jesus
Christ and the full purpose of His will for men.
The
preacher’s message is also charged with divine power. After expressing his
eagerness to preach the Gospel at Rome, Paul added that this Gospel is “the
power of God for salvation to every one who has faith” (Rom 1:16). To men
blinded by sin, the message of Christ crucified may seem as sheer folly. When
it is faithfully proclaimed, the sovereign Spirit by a miracle of grace
generates faith where He wills, so that the blind see and the dead are raised
to newness of life (1 Cor 1:18ff.; cf. Eph 2:1ff.). The divine power of
preaching remains for all time the most convincing evidence of its timeless
relevance.
Preaching
in the NT further is marked by a sense of divine compulsion. The authentic
Christian preacher proclaims the Gospel not merely by personal choice or
preference, but by the irresistible call and appointment of God (Luke 4:43;
Acts 4:20). He preaches out of an overwhelming inner necessity, his heart
ablaze with a holy fire, which neither competing attractions nor any natural
reluctance in the face of staggering hostility to his message can ever
extinguish. With Paul he cries, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1
Cor 9:16). For his task he is equipped with a special gift of the Holy Spirit
(cf. 1 Cor 12:4-11, 28, 29; Eph 4:11), and his task is his sufficient and
satisfying reward.
Be
Blessed today
Yours
because of His Grace
For
the sake of His Kingdom and His Church
Blair
Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside, England
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