"The Bible clearly states God's displeasure with those who heed doctrines other than that which is found in is word. Jesus warned His disciples, 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

PREACH WHAT GOD TOLD YOU TO PREACH



Christ is the A and the Z of the Christian ministry. A sermon that has no Christ is a dead failure. The minister who devotes his pulpit to anything but Christ is an imposter. Whatever great themes we may discuss, Christ must be the beginning and Christ the end. From His hand we get our commission at first, and to that same hand we at last surrender it.

Though the colleges may give you a diploma, and Presbytery lay their hands on your head, if Christ send you not forth, you go on a fool's errand; and though the schools reject you as incompetent, if the, Lord God tells you to preach, you have a right to go, and there is at least one pulpit in the land where your right to proclaim the Gospel is acknowledged.

A sermon devoted to metaphysics is a stack of dry corn-stalks after the corn has been ripped out with the husking-peg. A sermon given up to sentimental and flowery speech is as a nosegay flung to a drowning sailor. A sermon devoted to moral essay is a basket of chips to help on the great burning.

What the world wants now is to be told in the most flatfooted way of Jesus Christ, who comes to save men from eternal damnation. Christ the Light, Christ the Sacrifice, Christ the Rock, Christ the Star, Christ the Balm, Christ the Guide.

If a minister should live one thousand years, and preach ten sermons each day, those subjects would not be exhausted. Do you find men tempted? Tell them of Christ the Shield. Or troubled? Tell them of Christ the Comfort. Or guilty? Tell them of Christ the Pardon.

Or dying? Tell them of Christ the Life. Scores of ministers, yielding to the demands of the age for elegant soft speech, and flattering terms, have surrendered their pulpits to the devil, "horse, foot, and dragoon."

May Christ be the burden of our talk; Christ the inspiration of our prayers; Christ the theme of our songs Christ now and Christ forever. In that stern hour when we feel that we shall never preach again and we have ascended for the last time the pulpit all but Christ will be nothing. Philosophy nothing.... conferences nothing.... assemblies nothing.... ourselves nothing.......

but CHRIST EVERYTHING!

Paul wrote to young Timothy, 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).



Consider:

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

(Revelation 22:18-19)

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)



The Bible clearly states God's displeasure with those who heed doctrines other than that which is found in is word. Jesus warned His disciples, 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

(Matthew 16:6) Jesus recognized the false teachings of the Pharisees, and wanted His disciples to avoid such things.
Again, He applied a prophecy of Isaiah to them, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:8-9) God finds no pleasure in those who nullify His word with man's creeds and doctrines.

Paul, having concern for the Galatian brethren, for they departed from sound doctrine wrote, "...even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)

Paul wrote to Timothy warning him that some would depart from sound doctrine. He bluntly declared, "Preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season. 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 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;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-4).



If I were to tell one person my height was 5' 11", and then told another I was 6' 1", I would be pointed out as a liar. If a man tells two different stories, he is considered a liar. Is God a liar? By no means! Paul exclaimed, "...Let God be true , but every man a liar..." (Romans 3:4)

Let us further consider a truth. We all understand that 2 + 2 = 4. We know that it is not 4.0001. Anyone who tried to tell us that it was anything but 4 we would consider to be in error. The principle truth is an absolute.

Yet when it comes to the word of God people set this concept aside. Jesus said, 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

(John 17:17) Truth is not something which changes meaning from person to person or from group to group. Truth is absolute, consistent, and does not contradict itself. God's word is truth!!!

Paul wrote again to the Ephesians, "...there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6) Let us find the one body (the church) which belongs to the one Lord and His name is Jesus Christ.

In His Love,

Min. Nina