CHRIST-DAILY
DEVOTIONS
 March 14th

PREACH THE WORD!

"Preach the Word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching"  (II Tim. 4:2).

Paul clearly exclaims to "preach the word!"  Paul was charging the young preacher Timothy in his last epistle written several months prior to his death.  Timothy was evidently in Ephesus in late fall, and Paul hoped to see a visit from Timothy in Rome before the approaching winter.  Paul charged Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15). For if the word is rightly divided, there will NOT be mixtures and concoctions of flesh and spirit taught as the word.  Brothers and sisters, flesh mixture teaching is commingled scriptures, and is nothing more than religion in it finest form.  Paul wanted Timothy to preach the gospel according to the power of God (II Tim. 1:8).  The gospel that Paul preached was not according to man (Gal. 1:11).  Paul declared that he didn't receive it from man, nor was he taught it by man, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ as taught by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 1:12). 

Without Holy Spirit revelation and teaching to transform and renew the mind, we can't truly know or preach the word!  For the Holy Spirit brings true discernment (I Cor. 2:14). That transformed mind in us is the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16), and provides a mind for Christ in us to have expression in and through us to preach the word in the power of God as us.  When it comes to preaching the word, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens and empowers us to preach the word in Spirit and in truth (Phil. 4:13). After all, Christ is defined as the power of God and the wisdom of God (I Cor. 1:24). The message and the preaching of the cross is defined as the power of God (I Cor. 1:18).  Preaching the word must be sourced and energized out of Christ in us as us, with Christ speaking through us the message of 100% grace of His finished work of the cross. That is the right speaker, preaching the right message – the only true gospel of power, salvation, and liberation for all men.

When the Holy Spirit has revealed Christ in you, you will want to live the Christ-life. You will choose and want Him to live in you as you.  Christ in you will have a transformed and willing mind to use and express Himself in you.  Christ will preach the word through you.  That word will be by the Spirit – Spirit led, Spirit directed, and Spirit empowered.  "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" is not idle chatter of Paul (Gal. 2:20). This declaration is the basis of the revealed truth and liberating secret of the true gospel. Christ really lives in us.  Christ really will be faithful to do the work through us (I Thess 5:24).  Christ will be ready in season and out of season.  Christ can convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.  Christ will perfectly preach the word! V

Written by Dwight Davis
Christ-Ministries
 

                                               

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