Benard Kagaga
Preaching is the way by which the world will hear the truth that saves man from his sinful life (John 8:32). The Devil has placed many pit holes in this and men are now improvising their own ways of how man can be saved, however, God has spoken on this and how we are to do it. Therefore:
We Should Preach Boldly
Paul was not timid in his preaching for he “…had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27). True gospel preachers need to do it the same way. When some went to slay him “…he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him” (Acts 9:29). He did not give up the fight for “Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you…” (Acts 13:46), “… they speaking boldly in the Lord” (Acts 14:3).
We Should Preach Accurately
Accurate preaching is a demand from God for He said, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11). If accuracy is not a requirement in our preaching then there will be no need to “speak as the oracles of God.” “…Aquila and Priscilla…expounded unto him [Apollo] the way of God more perfectly…” (Acts 18:25-26). Paul also charges not to teach other Doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3). That means God demands exactness in what we are preaching.
We Should Preach an Edifying Message
Paul instructed the young preacher Timothy that, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (1 Tim. 1:4) and at the same time to stop strife when he said, “shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness…foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (2 Tim. 2:16, 23). Therefore, do not give heed to “…fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth” (Tim. 1:14), “for they are unprofitable and vain” (Tit. 3:9).
We Should Preach Repetitively
We should constantly remind brethren of the “thus saith the Lord,” so “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained” (1 Tim. 4:6) and “…affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Tit. 3:8). Folks, we should remind our hearers of the message they have heard.
We Should Preach Authoritatively
We, as preachers, are commanded to use authority as we are preaching the simple soulsaving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. “These things command and teach” (1 Tim. 4:11) as you speak with power. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority” (Tit. 2:15).
We Should Preach Doctrinally
Preaching is to nourish the brethren. “…nourished up [the brethren] in the words of faith and of good doctrine…” (1 Tim. 4:6). And while the preachers are doing that, “…give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13) and do not forget to “… exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2), and do not corrupt the teachings of Christ as the apostle Paul said, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Tit. 2:7)
We Should Preach Exemplarily
Preachers are to teach what they live. “…be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). Timothy as a preacher was to be as an example: “Flee…lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22). Therefore, we need to show ourselves “…a pattern of good works…” (Tit. 2:7)
We Should Preach Impartially
The Apostle Paul instructed young preacher Timothy to do “…nothing by partiality” (1 Tim. 5:21), and we are to preach “…all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Look at how John presented the whole truth to Herod who was living with his brother Philip’s wife: “For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Mat. 14:4).
We Should Preach Humbly
We should preach God’s message only…
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself (1 Tim. 6:3-5).
It is a privilege to preach (Jam. 3:1-2), and therefore let us do it honorably.
We Should Preach Militantly
We are ever at war and may “war a good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18) as we “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). To preach militantly is to preach without fear (2 Tim. 1:7), favor, or compromise, and go out to every creature to “preach” (Mark 16:15-16) and be “…set for the defense of the Gospel…” (Phi. 1:7, 17).
We Should Preach Lovingly
Preachers are given the Spirit of power and of love (2 Tim. 1:7) to go out and preach “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), so that “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not [and is not baptized] shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Are you preaching the gospel of our Lord? How do you preach? Are you still pleasing men? Then you are unworthy to be a preacher of “…the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” (Rom. 1:16).
