PREACHING THE TRUTH
Two Christians, a preacher and a taxi driver, died and went to heaven. An angel met them at the pearly gates. "Follow me", he told the taxi driver. He then led the man to a spacious mansion, furnished with priceless treasures. “I'm overwhelmed!" exclaimed the humble cabbie.
Returning to the preacher, the angel led him to a small, modestly furnished structure. "Hold on", protested the preacher. "There’s been a mistake. Shouldn't I have received the mansion? After all, I preached for over 50 years!"
"Yes", replied the angel. "But many of those in your assemblies fell asleep." "Granted", retorted the preacher, "But what entitles the taxi driver to a superior reward?" The angel said, "Because the passengers in his cab not only stayed awake, most of them PRAYED for the duration of the trip."
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It’s been said, “A faithful preacher should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” The apostle Paul wrote, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28). When preachers boldly speak the truth, even sleeping saints frequently awaken.
Unfortunately, preachers are tempted soften or dilute their messages in order to avoid offending anyone. After all, preachers who “make waves” or “rock the boat” tend to have the shortest tenures. On the other hand, preachers that “preach to please” invariably fail to help a congregation in any meaningful way.
Although the apostle Paul preached the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), he never diluted his messages in order to please men. “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16) Moreover, he exhorted Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Tim. 4:2-3).
It has been said that, “A faithful preacher always aims to please God. If he aims to please men, he will miss the Divine Mark.” Paul expressed it this way, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10).
Please pray that I will lovingly but courageously preach the TRUTH, regardless of consequence.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
Two Christians, a preacher and a taxi driver, died and went to heaven. An angel met them at the pearly gates. "Follow me", he told the taxi driver. He then led the man to a spacious mansion, furnished with priceless treasures. “I'm overwhelmed!" exclaimed the humble cabbie.
Returning to the preacher, the angel led him to a small, modestly furnished structure. "Hold on", protested the preacher. "There’s been a mistake. Shouldn't I have received the mansion? After all, I preached for over 50 years!"
"Yes", replied the angel. "But many of those in your assemblies fell asleep." "Granted", retorted the preacher, "But what entitles the taxi driver to a superior reward?" The angel said, "Because the passengers in his cab not only stayed awake, most of them PRAYED for the duration of the trip."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It’s been said, “A faithful preacher should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” The apostle Paul wrote, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28). When preachers boldly speak the truth, even sleeping saints frequently awaken.
Unfortunately, preachers are tempted soften or dilute their messages in order to avoid offending anyone. After all, preachers who “make waves” or “rock the boat” tend to have the shortest tenures. On the other hand, preachers that “preach to please” invariably fail to help a congregation in any meaningful way.
Although the apostle Paul preached the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), he never diluted his messages in order to please men. “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16) Moreover, he exhorted Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Tim. 4:2-3).
It has been said that, “A faithful preacher always aims to please God. If he aims to please men, he will miss the Divine Mark.” Paul expressed it this way, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10).
Please pray that I will lovingly but courageously preach the TRUTH, regardless of consequence.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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