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Nobody does it better
The Old Path Magazine | Vol. 1 No. 3 | 2005 |
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 aithful
preachers of salvation can be discerned from the
unfaithful preachers of damnation and the bible
gives us clues. In the battle of who of them
preaches the truth, nobody does it better than the
faithful preachers of salvation.
False prophets will multiply in the end times, it
was prophesied. They shall come in the name of
Christ, deceiving many. Matt 24: 3-8 says –
And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the
disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us,
when shall these things be? And what shall be the
sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed
that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see
that ye be not troubled: for all these things must
come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All
these are the beginning of sorrows.
More than that, false prophets shall perform great
wonders and many would be awed by their marvelous
powers. Matt 24:24 earlier foretold that “there
shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and
able to show great signs and wonders, and deceive
the very elect if possible.”
The prophecy further says that unfaithful preachers
shall be using the same gospel, but pervert it. They
shall be using Christ’s name and be mouthing
Christian slogans, and mix their teachings with
truth that some believers may be deceived. In fact
Galatians 1: 6-7 gives proof that the faithful in
Galatia were enticed at one time with corrupt
teachings, and 2 Corinthians 11:4 shows that the
Corinthians had to be warned. From St. Paul -
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel: Which is not another; but there be some
that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of
Christ. (Gal 1: 6-7)
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom
we have not preached, or if ye receive another
spirit, which ye have not received, or another
gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well
bear with him. (II Cor 11:4)
However, God’s reaction to this corruption is that
of wanting these unfaithful preachers to be accursed
(Galatians 1:8). His word was not meant to be
corrupted. As this is not a light matter to God,
believers are warned that every spirit must not be
readily believed in but tested if one is of God (1
John 4:1) -
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
The Importance of a Preacher in our Lives
Professionals like lawyers, doctors, dentists,
engineers, scientists study long in schools to
prepare themselves for the work they would be
engaged in after graduation. There are concepts and
principles to internalize. There is much to know,
understand, apply, synthesize, analyze, and
evaluate. They hold in their hands the lives of
others in so many ways that they must make sure to
do what is right.
But if much is required of these professionals, much
more is expected of a preacher who handles the Word
of God. He should be precise to the dot and accurate
to the core. A preacher‘s responsibility goes beyond
caring for physical, social, and emotional lives. He
is the medium for salvation of souls. Without the
preacher, the Word of God cannot be preached whereby
men can be saved. Rom. 10:14 says -
How then shall they call on him in whom they have
not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?
It is through the preaching of God’s word that faith
comes (Rom 10: 17) and the faithful preacher is
tasked to preach the word (Luke 10: 10-11). Not all
preachers can save, however. Only the faithful one
used by the Lord as vessel can save – himself and
those that hear him. Proverbs 14:25 says that only a
true witness can deliver souls because a deceitful
one would only speak lies. The proof of this is
found in 1 Tim 4:16 which says -
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;
continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both
save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Marks of a Faithful Preacher
Who can Lead us to Salvation
When Jesus Christ was being hunted by the Pharisees
so that they could kill him, they would need a point
man to indicate which was Jesus (the Judas kiss)
because He looked very ordinary and had no
distinctive looks to immediately be noticeable. He
did not have the tall, dark, and handsome attributes
of the dreamboat of ladies, nor the power-figure of
authorities, nor the executive looks of educated
parliamentarians. By outward appearance then, he did
not look like someone capable of being medium for
anything to include salvation of souls. From this,
one can deduce that faithful preaching cannot be had
by just outward appearance.
As when King Saul was sick, he did not specify any
physical attribute of one who could help him, but
his skill.1 Sam. 16:17 says -
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a
man that can play well, and bring him to me.
If the faithful preacher is very much like the
inconsequential image of Jesus Christ, he is also
chosen not for education or worldly achievements,
but for wisdom and some specific skill as in the
case of Samuel. While the Jews were said to require
a sign, the Greeks would seek after wisdom (1 Cor.
1:22). God depends on the faithfulness of the
preacher and is pleased even of what wisdom he has,
to save those who believe. 1 Cor. 1:21 says –
For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
A faithful preacher is a medium for salvation by his
teachings. As such, he doesn’t just tell stories. He
is well acquainted with his resources, keeps a large
perspective over his topic, has mastery over his
material, and knows very well his objectives. He has
a good grasp of the learning needs of his learners,
and when he delivers his teachings, he does it
properly. In teaching, he does not talk for himself
or for his own glory but of the one who sent him.
This is one mark in discerning whether a preacher is
of God or not. John 7:17-18 says –
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak
of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his
own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent
him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in
him.
Employing the Word of God rightfully then, there is
no way the faithful preacher could be unrighteous.
Studying is required of him to show himself approved
unto God, with no need to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). The
faithful preacher exerts effort to study the word of
God instead of picking up interpretations of
so-called Bible scholars in their university
hermeneutics courses, and mouthing them without any
probing. Doing this implies that one is spiritually
bankrupt, having nothing to lead him to understand.
The teachings of the faithful preacher are clean,
having been entrusted with the gospel by God who
tries him. As explained in 1 Thes. 2:3-4 -
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of
uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed
of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so
we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth
our hearts.
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Doctrines of
Christ
