Truth Magazine

By Tom Roberts

Few things are more critical or dramatic than physical heart problems. One can been seemingly hale and hearty one moment only to be laid low the next. A heart condition can change one’s entire outlook toward life.

No less critical and dramatic is that condition of heart that is spiritual. We stand amazed at times to see faithful members (we thought) suddenly turn away from the Lord, the church and faithful service. How is it possible that someone can be faithful for years and then suddenly drop away from the Lord? I suggest that it only happened over a period of time while a spiritual heart problem lay hidden and suddenly manifested itself when the heart condition became critical. Then when the problem can no longer be concealed, an entire change in life style is seen. A Christian who used to be faithful is faithful no more; a father who used to set a good example before his children becomes a poor example – a teacher who used to love to stand before a class will no longer even attend. Yes, heart problems can change one’s entire outlook toward life.

But a bad spiritual heart takes a period of time to develop. One does not cease being a faithful Christian in a single moment. There are some subtle things that take place in the life of a Christian that may be difficult to spot that lead up to a “heart attack.” When we see a Christian fall away from the Lord, we have seen only the openly critical stage; much has already taken place in the heart that is not so readily visible, although extremely critical. Let us notice some background things that lead up to “heart attacks” of the spirit.

Losing the joy of salvation. David, the sweet singer of Israel, said. “Restore to me the joy of thy salvation” (Psa. 51:12). When David considered the forgiveness that he received from his sins, he rejoiced. Many of us have forgotten the feeling of cleansing that comes with salvation and the joy of knowing forgiveness. We take for granted the worship services and the fact that I have a right to participate. We forget the bittersweet joy of meeting around the Lord’s table. We fail to humble ourselves in prayer. We do not lose ourselves in the refreshing period of singing. Worship services become a tiresome bore, with a feeling of obligation rather than happiness. If this describes you, brother or sister, you have a heart problem. Unless it is corrected, it will get worse until you have a “heart attack” and die spiritually.

No interest in the lost. One of the things that indicates a spiritual heart problem is when you lose interest in the lost, either yourself or others. Each of us should dread sin and the terrible effects of it in our lives. Not only that, but we should be touched by the sins of others. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. The apostles moved out through their world with a sense of purpose, mission, and evangelism. Early Christians, when persecuted (Acts 8). went “everywhere preaching the word.” If it does not bother you to sit across the table from a member of your family who is lost, you have a heart problem. If you can sit in crowds at the stadium with never a thought of the thousands that are lost, you do not have the mind of Christ. If you can live by neighbors for years and never invite them to worship, gospel meetings, etc., there is something wrong. Indifference can be a deadly killer that leads to fatal heart attacks.

Discouragement. I know some Christians that are battle weary. It seems that life goes from one crisis to another. It matters little whether each crisis is financial, moral or of the family. After a while some people seem to experience battle fatigue. They just sort of wear out and give up. Suddenly one Sunday morning, such a person will decide to stay home rather than get up and go to an assembly of the saints. Wednesday night will be more of a bother than a help. It will suddenly no longer matter whether the children have the proper example before them. This Christian, smitten with one crisis too many, has a spiritual “heart attack” and tosses in the towel. How can we avoid this sort of thing? First of all, we need to be like Paul and affirm, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I must ream that I cannot fight life alone and unaided. Jesus has told us to cast all of our cares upon Him for He cares for us (Matt. 11:28ff). We need to have enough faith to know that Jesus is our Friend. He will help us bear up under the burdens of life. Don’t try to get to heaven on your own strength; it is an impossible task. Jesus will help you if you will let Him.

Conclusion

Are you having heart trouble? Do you find your love, zeal and faithfulness becoming more and more difficult to find? Friend, there is an answer. You need to find the Great Physician who can heal your heart disease. You need to drink deep of the waters of life (John 4), eat of the bread of life (John 4) and be led by the good Shepherd (John 10) to the pastures of eternal life. Don’t let a heart condition go untreated until you join that number (too large already) who have, like Demas, turned aside to the world. Go to the Lord and find the help that you need. Don’t pit it off; do it now! Don’t wait until you have a fatal heart attack that puts you beyond the reach of God’s grace. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 10, pp. 289, 311
May 16, 1985

By Hoyt H. Houchen

God has demonstrated His power in different ways. God exercised His power when He said, “Let there be light: and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). God exerted His power when He “formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). God manifested His power when Old Mount Sinai was enveloped by- smoke and fire, and when neither man nor beast was allowed to touch it (Ex. 19:13-17). God demonstrated His power on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, when on that day, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues (languages) “as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). We see God’s power demonstrated today as we are awed by the scope and magnitude of the universe, the majestic mountains and the expansive seas. God’s power is indeed observed in many ways, but the only power that God uses to save the human soul is the gospel of Christ. It is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). The word 64power” is from the Greek noun dunamis, meaning “power, might, strength, force” (Arndt and Gingrich, Greek-English Lexicon, p. 206). Man cannot be saved by his own strength and power. He cannot be saved by his own plan or by his own works, apart from God’s way. Man cannot save himself (Jer. 10:23). It is only by the gospel, God’s power, that man is saved. Man must submit to it.

The gospel is “the good news” of man’s salvation. The word “gospel” (Gr. noun, euangelion) simply means “good news” (Ibid., p. 318). W.E. Vine states: “In the N.T. it denotes the good tidings of the Kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith upon the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection and ascension” (Expository Dictionary of N. T. Words, Vol. 2, p. 167).

Since the gospel is “the good news” or “good tidings” of man’s salvation, it includes God’s plan of salvation-the scheme of human redemption. After declaring that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16), Paul then adds, “For therein is revealed a righteousness of God . . .” (v. 17). “For therein” (in the gospel) is revealed “a righteousness of God from faith unto faith.” James Macknight gives a clear and concise meaning of this verse: “The gospel is the power of God for salvation, to every one who believeth; because the righteousness of God’s appointment by faith, is revealed in it, in order to produce faith in them to whom it is preached” (The Epistles, Vol. 1, p. 185). The word “righteous” or ‘righteousness” has more than one application. While it is true that God is righteous, “the righteousness of God” in Romans 1:17 does not refer to an attribute of God. “The righteousness of God” in this verse refers to God’s plan for human redemption. The word “righteousness” is so used in Romans 10:3. Paul, referring to the Jews, wrote: “For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” The Jews were not ignorant of His redemptive plan. Like many today, they were attempting to establish their own plan of salvation. R.L. Whiteside sums it up succinctly: “In the gospel is revealed a plan which makes men righteous.”

It is sad that some preachers today are not preaching God’s redemptive plan; in fact, they do not even mention it in their sermons. While my wife and I were visiting in another state, we heard a young preacher on a Sunday night. He preached a lesson that was true, as far as it went; but when he, extended the invitation, he simply said that if anyone wishes to respond he may come forward. This was all he said. Our immediate reaction was, respond to what? Any in that audience who were not Christians would never know from that sermon what to do to be saved. Jesus died that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Lk. 24:47). But the preaching of repentance and baptism for the -remission of sins (Acts 2:38) seems to be a lost art in many pulpits of our present day. Sermons are sometimes preached when the specific terms of pardon are not mentioned. Too much else is coming from the modem pulpit. The right kind of preaching always includes the redemptive element. In fact, one who is not a Christian should never leave a service without knowing what to do to be saved. This does not mean that the steps of salvation must necessarily be given at the close of a sermon, as the preacher is stepping down from the rostrum; but somewhere in the sermon (beginning, middle or end), the redemptive element-the plan of salvation-should be included.

We should also remember that God’s redemption or offer of pardon is not only available to the alien but to the erring child of God as well. Forgiveness of sin is obtainable to both upon meeting God’s terms. To those not Christians, God has provided the necessary conditions (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; 22:16, etc.). For the erring child of God, the conditions of repentance and prayer are provided (Acts 8:22). Redemptive preaching will not comfort the hearts of the lost (aliens or erring children of God), but it assures them of the hope of salvation when they adhere to it. When God’s terms of pardon are clearly set forth, the sinner is not left in a quandary as to how to be saved. Not only is hope offered to the sinner, but he also learns how he can obtain that hope.

It is sad that there is a “drought” of fundamental preaching. It is obvious that some, because of their academic attainments, abstain from preaching the plain, simple and unadulterated gospel of Christ. Reader, there is no substitute for that kind of preaching. It is the only kind that will save the world. While first principles are not all that is to be preached (we need gospel sermons on right living, worship, and work), yet we are not instructed to forget them. “Leaving” or pressing beyond fundamentals is not forsaking them (see Heb. 6: 1). Certainly, we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18); but in doing so, let us not leave out the fundamentals God’s scheme of redemption-how men are to be saved. I am afraid that too many have allowed the devil to corrupt their minds from “the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). The preaching of the cross was “foolishness” to those Greek philosophers at Athens in Paul’s day, but nevertheless to those who are saved it is “the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). May we as gospel preachers, never become so sophisticated that we cannot with force preach the plain simple story of the Cross with clarity.

Others, no doubt, will deal with the need for, and emphasis upon, distinctive preaching in this special issue. But the present obvious trend away from this kind of preaching is coupled with the failure to preach or even mention God’s plan of salvation. Emphasis is not being placed upon the church of our Lord as being distinct from every denomination upon the face of the earth. Many seem to be afraid to expose error, thus failing to expose the false teachers. We must not shrink from declaring “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Truth is to be preached in the right spirit and with the right motive, yet uncompromising, unwavering and with firmness. “Speaking the truth in love” is the admonition of Paul (Eph. 3:15), not “dressing down” an individual as such, but speaking and writing in love of the truth and in love of souls. Brethren, we must ever remember that our task is to preach the gospel to save souls. In fulfilling this responsibility, we must let those who are in error know where they stand (referring them to the Bible-book, chapter and verse) but with an attitude of kindness and humility, not harshly and with arrogance. All of us will do well to follow Paul’s advice (2 Tim. 2:25,26), “in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.”

Preaching the gospel of Christ is a tremendous responsibility. It is more than declaring mere facts; it involves the task of presenting God’s redeeming love, the sacrificial death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our salvation, and setting forth in unmistakable language, God’s conditions of pardon. Preaching should be characterized by a balanced diet, dealing with what God has given us to know. Fellow gospel preacher, let us never forget nor fail to declare those specific conditions of pardon as a part of God’s saving grace. May we never refrain from preaching what men must know in order to be saved. God-fearing and truth-loving brethren will never become weary when we preach the story that never grows old. May we never leave out the redemptive element in our sermons.

Brother, preach the fundamentals.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 9, pp. 263-264
May 2, 1985

By Dusty Owens

When the assignment came to write on this subject, I was elated for I had intended to write on it “some day.” My interest in the Positive Mental Attitude concept (hereafter PMA) stems from my business, which is by nature a “people business.” I have been a student of PMA since 1966, having read well over a hundred books and magazines on the subject, while studying as many cassette tapes, and having held numerous seminars all over the North American Continent, teaching people its principles. PMA is not a passing hobby, I know it to be vital to the success of my business and important to living a Christian life.

I fell in love with the gospel of Christ in 1954 when I became a Christian, having studied my way out of Catholicism. I learned then, and know now, that the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16), and we don’t need to understand PMA to be saved. PMA is a system devised by men that can help us to be more effective with the gospel as we work in the kingdom of God.

The expression “Positive Mental Attitude” is no where found in the gospel, but many of the principles that comprise the concept are found there. The expression itself consists of three main thoughts: (1) one must be a “believing” person; (2) the mental process as the key to behavior is a matter of choice; and (3) “attitude” is formulated in the mental process which determines one’s personality and approach to life.

Before relating PMA to the gospel, it is helpful to understand what an “attitude” is. We hear a lot about it, but, what is it? The definition I have used for years is that an attitude is the way a person thinks, feels and acts toward people, things, places and ideas in any situation in his total environment.

Everyone has an attitude. You have certain feelings, opinions, and reactions to everything around you, i.e. people, work, school, government, God, Bible, church, etc. Your attitude shows constantly.

Mind: The Incubator Of Attitudes

Attitudes are “hatched” in the mind, which is located in the organ we call the brain. While psychologists and psychiatrists argue over how many compartments there are in the brain, we only need to be concerned with the mind containing two, the Conscious and the Subconscious, to understand how attitudes are formed.

The function of the Conscious mind basically is administrative. It works on the level of awareness as it gathers information from the environment and recalls other data from the Sub-conscious. It has a value system; it knows right from wrong. A protective mechanism allows it to rationalize and justify to its own end. It can only handle one thought at a time.

The primary function of the Sub-conscious mind is storage. It works much like a tape recorder or computer. It serves as memory or file system and sends information to the Conscious level at beck and call. It forms the attitudes that find expression outwardly, and all below the awareness of the individual. It controls many things that we do through automatic reflexation.

The five senses, sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste, are the “gates” through which the mind receives stimuli (input). Hundreds of bits of input are handled daily, and enter the Conscious portion of the mind before finally registering in the Sub-conscious. Usually, we have to experience something over and over (“spaced-repetition”) before we “learn” it, and recall it.

Out of all this intake, images, words, thoughts, traits, and attitudes are formulated. When we express these in some way, the way we look, talk, walk, sit, etc., the sum is called our personality. This is the person that cannot hide himself. You are the sum of all you have allowed to enter your Sub-consciousness. For the Christian this is very important in its application.

Personality is an outward expression of an inner attitude. That attitude may be “negative” or “positive.” There is no such thing as being negative sometimes and positive other times. We are either a negative or positive personality (sorry, there is no “neutral”). There are “degrees” of negativism and positivism, and one may be more positive (or negative) than another.

A negative personality shows up as a pessimist. He sees nothing but the bleak side of life and is a trumpeter of doom and gloom; he feels inferior to others and has a lowconfidence level; therefore, he is quick to say “it can’t be done.” Also, he tends to complain and to criticize everything and everybody ad nauseam, to the point that he finds himself isolated because people do not want to hear him grumble and complain. There is a “law of the universe” that says, “Negativism Repels and Destroys.”

A positive personality is known for his optimism. He sees the potential for good and for success in life and uses his God-given talents with confidence. He does not feel superior to others but knows he can contribute to their welfare by working conscientiously beside them, and encouraging them with the message, “we can do it.” The “law of the universe” says, “Positivism Attracts and Builds.”

Now, what does all of this mean? We become positive or negative persons gradually. What we allow to come through our “gates,” and to enter our minds, will determine “who we are”! Whether we will be optimistic or pessimistic in life will depend on what we watch on television, what kind of music we listen to, what we read in the newspapers, magazines and books, what we talk about and listen to in conversation with others, etc. These experiences mold our attitude and personality. There is no way that we can subject ourselves to the filth of our society through these mentioned media and be immune to their attitude-shaping influences!

PMA Compared To The Word Of God

We must not think that utilizing PMA is emphasizing just the positive aspects of the word of God to the neglect of the negative ones: “Behold the severity of God” (Rom. 11:22); “Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade man” (2 Cor. 5:11); “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Warnings (negatives) like these are accepted by the Christian in a positive way to formulate his optimism toward God, going to heaven, etc., knowing “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Heb. 12:5-13), and knowing “him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

The most basic tenet of PMA is becoming a person who can and will “believe.” There are countless numbers of people who have been inundated with negatives to the point that they are extremely suspicious, skeptical and sour in their outlook in life; among them are a great many professing to be Christians. Is it possible to have this disposition and be pleasing to God? Let us examine His word.

“Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him” (Heb. 11:6) and “belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Jesus taught if we had enough faith we would “seek . . . first his kingdom, and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33), and if that faith were as large as a mustard seed, we could “move mountains” (Matt. 17:19-21). Faith is the very foundation of the Christian’s experience which originated in the mind of God to effect our salvation (Heb. 11: 1; 1 Cor. 1:21; Acts 16:31).

The second most basic tenet of PMA is that the mental process is the key to behavior. When God created man in His own image, one of the distinctive qualities He gave him was his mind. This ability to think, reason, imagine, win, remember, etc. set him apart from all animals as a free moral agent. He has the apparatus to determine right from wrong and to make choices. Therein lies his great power: thepower to choose. He determines what shall enter through the “gates” into his Sub-consciousness; therefore, he controls the kind of attitude he will form. And remember, what comes out of the Sub-conscious is what determines who he is.

Solomon stated, though in a negative setting, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” (Prov. 23:7), and “Keep (guard) thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Jesus stated it this way, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Lk. 6:45; cf. Matt. 12:34; 15:18-19; Mk. 7:21). What is stored up in “abundance” in the Sub-conscious is the “treasure of the heart,” and it will come out! If what has been stored up (through the “gates”) is “good” (positive input based on the word of God), then what comes out in the behavioral pattern will be pleasing to God; but, if what has been stored up is “evil” (negative input from media, people, etc.), then what comes out will “defile the man.”

It is exciting to realize that through mind-programing we can become the person that God wants us to be. Both the PMA system and the word of God emphasize the importance of consciously laying up spiritual values in the mind. Blessed is the man that delights in the law of Jehovah and meditates in it day and night (Psa. 1: 1-2). “The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide” (37:31). God said, “I will put my law into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them” (Heb. 8: 10-11). We can program our minds with God’s word if we will “think on these things” (Phil. 4:8), renew our minds (Eph. 4:23; Rom. 12:2), and set our minds on things above and not be so obsessed with things below (Col. 3:1-4).

The third most basic tenet of PMA is that one’s attitude determines his personality and approach to life. We have already seen that what is allowed to come through the “gates” formulates the attitudes of life. The Bible has much to say about proper attitudes. We must love God with our total being (Matt. 22:37); receive His word with meekness (Jas. 1:21) and with an open mind (Matt. 22:39), love our brethren (Jn. 13:34), our neighbors (Matt. 22:39), and even our enemies (5:44). In fact, our attitude must be permeated with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, lowliness, compassion, tenderheartedness, and a forgiving spirit (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12-14).

Far too many professing to be Christians have a negative attitude, and it is traceable to what they are inputting. Today’s saint (?) can readily give you the names of movie and TV personalities, when they were born, and how many times they have been married, but can’t even name the apostles or the books of the Bible; he can quote statistics and standings of any major sport’s figure and team, but can’t quote a single passage of Scripture; he can sit for two or three hours in bitter cold and sleeting rain to view some game, but gets “antsy” if the preacher goes over thirty minutes in a sermon; he can enjoy spending hours with companions who are not interested in spiritual matters, but he does not enjoy assembling with the children of God. There are too many more examples we could give.

Preachers are very susceptible to negative thinking. Many have the attitude that “nobody in the world is interested in being saved, but I’ll be doing my duty just preaching to the brethren year in and year out.” Brethren, that’s not work, that’s a joy! The real work is out on the battlefield of life, contending for the faith with the enemies of God, and sifting through the fields of harvest until you find someone to teach. Our job is not to decide who has “the honest and good heart,” but to sow the seed of the kingdom everywhere, optimistically. Let the power of God work!

There is a saying in the world of computer programming: what goes in, must come out; GIGO, garbage in, garbage out! This is how we get so negative. In many ways, we show that we are negative toward everybody and everything, and especially toward our brethren. Negative characteristics include anger, wrath, malice, shameful speaking, lying, bitterness, clamoring, railing, slandering and gossiping, strivings, jealousies, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, and a other works of the flesh (Col. 3:5-9; Eph. 5:25-31; Gal. 5:19-21). Some who profess to be Christians are among the most vicious people on earth. Paul had them in his day and warned, “If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Gal. 5:24).

What Is The Answer?

In terms of the gospel, we must all “put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man . . . and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Eph. 4:22-24). In terms of PMA, we must be re-programmed. To do that we must first choose the attitude we want. Do we want to follow God’s will, or do we want to do Satan’s bidding (Josh. 24:15; Rom. 6:16-17; 8:5-11)? If your answer is “God’s will,” then you must shut down the flow of negative input and increase the flow of positive input. Spend more time studying the Scriptures, meditating, praying, listening to sermons and hymns via tapes and records, conversing about God’s word, and by all means, involving yourself with the saints. You will soon find yourself becoming spiritually minded and interested in doing spiritual things, and God will be glorified!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 9, pp. 259, 262, 278
May 2, 1985

By Bill Cavender

Bible preaching is preaching the Bible, what it says and what it means. If the Bible is the inspired word of God (which it is, 1 Cor. 2:8-13; 2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:3-4,20-21), then Bible preaching is the most serious, solemn, sacred, sublime and important work that can be done in this world. If Jehovah be the Only True and Living God (1 Cor. 8:4-6; Eph. 4:4-6; Deut. 6:4-5); if Jesus Christ be Deity manifested in human form (Jn. 1:1-3,14,17; Matt. 16:13-18; 1 Tim. 3:16; Phil. 2:5-11); if no sinner can be saved except through the blood of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Rom. 3:25-26; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:11-28); if the gospel is God’s power to save the sinner and it must be preached to every human being in every generation in every place (Rom. 1:16-17; Mk. 16:15-16; Col. 1:36,23; 2 Tim. 2:1-2; Matt. 28:18-20); and if sinful men and women, boys and girls, must believe and obey the gospel to be saved from guilt (Jn. 3:16,36; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; Rom. 6:1-7,16-18; 10:13-17; 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 2 Thess. 1:310), then preaching the Bible is the weightiest task that men can assume to do and attempt to accomplish. Bible preaching is no trifling matter. It is not a frivolous, foolish, silly exercise in futility. It is not a half-hearted, part-time, side line, secondary endeavor in which a man engages to be known among brethren, or by which he becomes “a leader” in a church, or in which he indulges for a livelihood and/or additional income, or because he is too unprepared or lazy to do anything else.

The inspired men, the prophets and apostles, felt and believed that the word of God and its proclamation to a lost world of unsaved sinners and unfaithful brethren was a “burden” to be borne and a work given by God to faithful stewards and laborers. The Hebrew word maysa or burden has the idea of “an utterance or oracle given by God” to faithful men to proclaim to and against men and nations (2 Kings 9:25; Isa. 13:1; Nahum 1:1; Mal. 1:1, etc; it occurs twenty-one times in the Old Testament). The message was of God and from God. The prophets and apostles were permitted to proclaim the word of the Lord alone, without alteration; it had already been bound in heaven (Matt. 16:18-19; 18:18). God said, “And he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully” (Jer. 23:28). This is the only authority any man has who proposes to be a preacher of the Bible. He is to speak God’s word (not man’s or man’s opinions) faithfully as it is written (1 Cor. 4:6).

Paul considered himself to be a steward of the mysteries of God revealed in the gospel, a minister of Christ, one who must be faithful to the Lord (1 Cor. 4:1-2). An elder of a church must be blameless as the steward of God (Tit. 1:7). Each disciple of Jesus must be a wise and faithful steward, a servant caring for his Master’s goods, doing the work entrusted to him (Luke 12:31-48). Ali of us are workers in the Lord’s vineyard and laborers together with God and with each other (1 Cor. 3:1-9; 2 Cor. 6:1).

Bible preaching is to be done by men. The treasure (gospel) is in (committed to) earthen vessels, first of all to the apostles (2 Cor. 4:1-7). Preaching is said to be “the communication of God’s truth by man to men and is the use of speech with intent to reveal God to man.” Preaching is “the art of moving men from a lower to a higher life, the art of inspiring men toward a nobler manhood” by God’s will. Preaching always has as its sole and final objective the saving of the -souls of lost men and women. Our Saviour came into the world “to seek and to save that which was lost,” to “save sinners,” and to “do the will of him that sent me” (Lk. 19: 10; 1 Tim. 1:15; Jn. 6:38). The gospel (“good news” of salvation) which is preached in His name has power and is the power of God to save lost souls (Lk. 24:46-47; Rom. 1:16-17; Mk. 16:15-16). The preacher and teacher of truth must not become side-tracked by opinions, traditions, commandments of men, philosophies, and endless genealogies and wranglings which only engender strife and alienations rather than peace, unity and good will among brethren (Mk. 7:1-13; Matt. 23:1-4,15,23-24; Col. 2:8-9; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 2:15-16,22-26). Plain, simple, unadulterated pure truth from God’s word will appeal to right-thinking souls who search for truth and righteousness. By His holy word God can and does open the ears, eyes, minds and hearts of His offspring to the saving of their souls (Jas. 3:17-18; Acts 16:14-15; 17:27-31; Matt. 13:10-17; Rom. 10:13-17). All Bible teaching must come from the hearts of sincere, convicted men and women, such ones believing with all their hearts that the message of truth is God’s and not their own, and that the gospel and the teacher of it truly are “a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life” (2 Cor. 2:14-17). We are not to trifle with God’s word, nor be idle tellers of tales, nor be pulpit “jim-dandies” or fashion experts, nor menpleasers or ear-ticklers, nor popularity seekers or pulpit personalities and politicians. If the Bible, God’s word and gospel, is to be preached, let it be preached by sincere, consecrated, pure, godly, studious and sober-minded men who understand and believe the source and nature of the message, and who willingly bear the burden which they are to faithfully proclaim, publicly and privately, in behalf of Jesus.

Bible Preaching requires time, study, consecration and diligent efforts. The prophets and apostles did not borrow their messages from one another. They did not consult the brotherhood papers to see what the latest “issue” is among the brethren, what the party line is, and what must be parroted if one is to be considered to be faithful. They did not consult the doctors and teachers of the law amongst the seminary faculties in order to obtain the correct interpretations of the Scriptures so as not to be offensive to the brotherhood. They did not own, operate and publish brotherhood sermon services to supply the over-loaded, hardworking preachers (who have been so busy at the lake with their fishing or skiing, or on the golf course discussing brotherhood problems with other serious-minded preachers, or who have been watching the television each day and night to see how the world turns and what needs to be preached on) their sermons for each Sunday of the month or year because these preachers have “such busy schedules” that they’ve not had the time to study and memorize God’s word or meditate upon it, as they otherwise would have done had they not been so busy. God’s true servants mean business. They do not play at preaching the gospel. They plead with and persuade lost men (2 Cor. 5:11). They do not talk to be talking (1 Cor. 9:19-27). They bear an oracle, a message from God, a burden, and they must preach it.

Jeremiah said, “I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (20:9). Paul said, “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!” (1 Cor. 9:16). Peter and John answered the Jewish leaders, saying, ‘Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). Those who really preach the gospel to the lost seek no honor and glory of men (1 Cor. 7:23), have nothing of which to boast (1 Cor. 1:26-31), but truly have the burden of God’s will in their hearts. They teach precious truth which will set men free in every way and from every thing which would bring us into bondage (Jn. 8:32; Gal. 5: 1-4; Rom. 6:16-23). Matters concerning sin, God’s grace and mercy in forgiveness, the blood of Jesus, obedience to the gospel, faith and works, heaven, hell, judgment and eternity are vital to all. Personalities, popularity, jokes, oratory, stories and poetry are not sufficient to explain and instruct in such eternal verities. Bible preaching is not fight, surface-skimming talking which has no value. Serious, sober-minded men are needed as preachers of the Bible. We are to do God’s win and work cheerfully, willingly, and with great enthusiasm. We are not to run in the wrong direction, away from God, through discouragement, or the lure and lust of things of the world. Jonah tried to run. We must not do so. There might not be a whale to protect us, teach us, and vomit us up! A fire in our bones to preach the word and a compelling necessity in our hearts causes us to speak kindly, honestly, plainly, clearly and simply those things which are most surely believed among us (Lk. 1:1-4; Phil 1:9-11; Eph. 4:15).

The solemn charge regarding the preaching of the inspired Scriptures is best stated by Paul to Timothy: “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” (2 Tim. 4:2-5). The apostle tells us what to preach: “the word. ” He tells us when to preach: “in season, out of season.” He tells us how to preach: “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” He tells us why to preach: “they will not endure sound doctrine,” etc. So serious is this work that the Bible preacher should be watchful, endure afflictions, fulfill (“to bring to full measure”-W.E. Vine) his ministry, and remember that Jesus will judge it all at His appearing and His kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1,6-8). The Scriptures are profitable “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:14-17). We cannot be able and effective preachers of the Bible if our hearts, minds, souls and bodies are not filled with the word of God and a burning desire for the souls of the lost (Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3).

Men cannot preach the Bible unless they have “eaten” and practiced it themselves. John, in receiving the little book from the angel, was told to “take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it, shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey” (Rev. 10: 8-11). In Ezekiel 2:1-3;11, we read, “Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he caused me to eat that roll . . . Then did I eat; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.” To the true Bible preacher, the Word of God will be as sweet as honey in its blessed life-giving power, but it will bring bitterness. He must first preach to himself and conform his mind and will to God’s (Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:14). He must remember that he is a sinner, preaching to sinners, just as the high priest of Israel offered the atonement of animal blood each year for his own sins, the sins of his family, and the sins of the people (1 Tim. 1:12-16; Heb. 9:6-7; Lev. 16:6,11,17). We cannot preach conviction if we have little or none. We cannot preach repentance unless we have practiced it. We cannot preach obedience to the faith if we have no faith to really obey God. There is power in preaching only as the power of God has worked to accomplish His will in the soul of the preacher. If there is no “well of living water” in the preacher, it will not swell up and overflow into eternal life in the lives of others (Jn. 4:13-15; 7:37-38; Matt. 5:6).

The word of God is a “burden” to be borne in the preaching of it. Preaching is not easy work-if we do it to please God! It is not easy to preach publicly and privately, to audiences and individuals, day and night, at every opportunity. Most brethren are experts on how it should be done, but comparatively few are willing to try to do itl It is hard work to preach, knowing that we must ever please God and not men,’and that we must give account to Jesus the Judge at the last great day, the judgment day, for our work. We must ever be reading and studying the word of God. We must be praying often and working daily. We must preach to the strong and the weak, but not to encourage the weak so as to discourage the strong, nor to commend the strong so as to grieve the weak. We must preach the grace and mercy of God for the forgiveness of sins, but not in such away as to give credence and latitude to sin. We must encourage sinners to repentance by condemning their sins, yet not driving them to despair for the magnitude and heinousness of their sins. We preachers walk a narrow path, ever praying for wisdom and understanding, and for boldness to speak without fear or favor of men (Acts 4:29). “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:14-17; 3:45).

Bible preaching is both exhausting and inexhaustible. It is exhausting for it requires continual study and learning, thinking and meditating. No man knows it all. No man or group of men is the official interpreter of God’s word for the rest of mankind. We need no official seal, stamp of approval, or imprimatur of any group, school, paper, or hierarchy to preach God’s word. We must preach truth to be approved of God (2 Tim. 2:15), the only approval we must have to go to heaven. “Much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Eccl. 12:12), for the soul and body becomes weary and we grow faint in our hearts and minds at times (Jer. 4:31; 8:18-9:2; Heb. 12:3). Jesus became weary as a man in His journeys (Jn. 4:6). Thinking, studying, working, traveling, preaching, praying, talking (hopefully profitable talking, not brotherhood gossip, back-biting, devouring and consuming one another with our tongues, Gal. 5:13-15), and being concerned for our own soul, our family, our brethren, the lost, and the kingdom of Christ are exhausting burdens. Bible preaching is inexhaustible as we never run out of prospects, lost sinners, unfaithful brethren, problems, opportunities and lessons to teach. We are never done. We never get “caught up. ” There is always work to be done and more to do. Always in our hearts are the souls of fellow human beings. We want to preach all we can, write all we can, help to save all we can, and do all the good we can in one short lifetime. We never run out of truth to learn and lessons to preach. Every Bible preacher “is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old” (Matt. 13:52). When you run out of something to preach, read the New Testament, underline each verse you have never used in a sermon or lesson, learn what the verses say and mean-and then go preach! There are fewer Christians-saved people, and more sinners-lost people, all the time. There are plenty of lost souls to teach. We are just not getting out there where they are. We are spending too much time, money and effort in our meeting houses preaching over and over to the same folks, and are not spending nearly enough time, money and effort out among the people of a lost, ungodly world.

Bible preaching is preaching what is needed, not what people or brethren may want to hear. Too many ears of men and brethren are itching, and there are too many professed preachers who will tickle and scratch them (2 Tim. 4:1-5). We must try to “restore” sinners in the “spirit of meekness,” and “convert the sinner from the error of his way,” and all of that with the doctrine of Jesus and with patience (Gal. 6: 1; Jas. 5:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:2). We must not be purposely offensive to people, yet many will find the truth and those who preach it to be offensive (Jn. 6:60-61,66; Matt. 13:20-21, 53-58; 15:12; 26:31-33). It is not pleasant to the preacher nor to the hearer to rebuke sin and to rebuke it sharply, yet this is a part of the work of God (Tit. 1:13). Sin unrebuked and unrepented of will damn both the souls of the preacher and the hearer (Ezek. 33:1-20).

Bible preaching will humble us. It rebukes and rebuffs human pride and self-aggrandizement. The gospel convicts man of sin, making him realize that he is guilty before God. Human glory and achievement cannot save him. His righteousness is as filthy rags. He owes his salvation to God’s mercy and grace, not to his own deservings and perfection. It crucifies his pride and holds human glory in contempt. The wise and the prudent of this world, in their human wisdom, despise the gospel and are not called to obedience by it, for they reject Christ and His blood (1 Cor. 1:18-31). They do not believe in damnation and eternal punishment in hell. They do not want to hear that the wicked are wicked. The wrath of God to come does not frighten them (2 Thess. 1:3-10; Rom. 3:9-18). The judgment seat of Christ and “depart from me, ye workers of iniquity,” are those burdens of Bible preaching which sinful men care not to hear or believe (2 Cor. 5: 10-11; Acts 17:30-3 1; Matt. 25:41,46). Yet this part of God’s truth must be preached and the wicked must be warned (Matt. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1: 10; 2:14-16; Rom. 2:5-6).

Conclusion

It is the fervent prayer, heartfelt hope, and burning desire of every true gospel preacher that lost people will come to Jesus. We would desire that all be doers of the word (Jas. 2:22-27), and not hearers only, that none would die unforgiven. Our Father in heaven has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (2 Pet. 3:9; Ezek. 18:23,32). Our Savior continually invites the guilty, condemned sinner to come to Him for forgiveness and rest (Matt. 11:28-30; Jn. 6:35-37; Rev. 22:17). Would to God that every soul who hears us preach, who stands condemned and unforgiven, who needs the cleansing of the blood of Jesus, who needs the salvation offered by a merciful Father made known in the gospel, would respond to Heaven’s call and duty’s demands and render that obedience to Christ and to the gospel from a sincere heart which will bring that “abundant pardon” of which the prophets and apostles spoke and preached (Isa. 55:6-7).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 9, pp. 258, 260, 279-280
May 2, 1985