"As every genuine preacher receives his commission from God alone, it is God alone Who can take it away. Wo to that man who runs when God has not sent him; and wo to him who refuses to run, or ceases to run, when God has sent him." - Adam Clarke
"Those who are set apart to the office of the ministry have it in charge to preach the gospel. Woe be to them if they do not." - Matthew Henry
"The true minister cannot help preaching...You might as well try to uproot the mountains, roll back the rivers, tame the wild ocean, or arrest the stars, as attempt to silence the man whose mouth God has opened." - Biblical Illustrator
"The motives of all preachers are not pure. Some still preach Christ, full of envy for other preachers, and some from a love of strife." - The People's New Testament
"We need no ministers that may or will, but that must preach, and members not that may or will, but must live, the gospel." - Biblical Illustrator
What does a True Preacher of the Gospel look like?
Here are some of his or her qualities -
1. Strives To Preach The Gospel
Romans 15:20 - "Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel..."
Paul the Apostle was ambitious and fond of the honor. He earnestly desired...considered it a matter of holy ambition...and made it a point for which he struggled. To do what? "To preach the gospel." He desired to serve God in the best and most devoted manner.
2. Is Missionary-Minded
Romans 15:20 - "Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation."
Paul pressed onward to new fields of labor. The fixed policy of his ministry was to open up virgin territory with the Gospel - to take it to the heathen nations who had never heard it - to venture into "untried ground" that others before him never tread. In so doing, he exposed himself to innumerable difficulties, hardships, dangers, and discouragements. He chose the hardest work - the work of laying the foundation - to show the greatest love for His Savior and Lord.
3. Preaches Christ & Him Crucified
1 Corinthians 9:16 - "For though I preach the gospel..."
In his preaching, Paul exalted Jesus. He preached - of His mighty fullness and attributes...the doctrines contained in His Word...and the duties required of all Christians. He didn't stress blessings, success, and prosperity - as we see emphasized in our day and time.
4. Preaches To Every Class Of People
1 Corinthians 9:16 - "For though I preach the gospel..."
Paul did not preach to the outcast, reprobate, sinner, religious person, and undecided one and then overlook the young convert, those low or struggling in the faith, or the spiritually strong and mature saint of God. He had a message for all.
5. Renounces All Self-Exaltation
1 Corinthians 9:16 - "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of..."
Paul could not boast in any of his preaching or its results for he realized that his office and the grace to fulfill it all came from God. He was fully aware of - his own shortcomings and imperfections...his absolute dependency on the anointing of the Holy Spirit to reach the hearts of the people...and the fact that all of his gifts, talents, and authority came from God.
6. Preaches Faithfully Because Of A Divine Impulse
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."
Unlike many Preachers today, Paul had a real call to the ministry. He had a special force or inspiration working within him - a divine impulse - if you will. He could not resist it. It happened to be "the constraining love of Christ"(2 Corinthians 5:14) - reaching out to the multitudes that were lost or hungry for the truth.
7. Defends The Truth No Matter What The Cost
Philippians 1:15-16 - "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife...The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds..."
Paul faced enemies who were set on his destruction. They were jealous of his reputation and influence over the churches. They preached Christ with the sole motive to steal the people's affections from this servant of God. They desired to supplant and undermine his influence and win the people's applause for themselves.
8. Always Keeps A Right Spirit
Philippians 1:18 - "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."
What these opposers did to Paul could have been a stumbling-block or a major source of discouragement and depression for him. Nonetheless, he kept a positive attitude about it all. He never grew bitter in dealing with them. He simply rejoiced that the Good News about Jesus was being preached and people's lives were being changed by it.
"Those who are set apart to the office of the ministry have it in charge to preach the gospel..."
"We need no ministers that may or will, but that must preach..."
"The true minister cannot help preaching..."
"Wo to that man who runs when God has not sent him; and wo to him who refuses to run, or ceases to run, when God has sent him."
Are you a minister of the Gospel?
How do you compare to this picture?
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
WALKING IN TRUTH MINISTRY
P. O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX. 75138-3016
Copyright 2006 by Connie Giordano
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