Just Preach The Word

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
-2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT)

Having just taught Timothy the importance and use of the Word of God, Paul gives Timothy a charge. It's a charge that we need to heed, especially in our times today. We'll dig more into why we need this charge tomorrow, but for now, let's look at what Paul charged Timothy to do.

Verse 1 says, "I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his kingdom:" This is a charge that Paul is serious about. Paul is not merely urging Timothy to do a certain thing. Instead he is urging him, in the presence of God and of Jesus, to do this certain thing. You know it's serious. It's kind of like a "triple dog dare you" kind of challenge. What is he challenging Timothy to do? Verse 2 says, "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." His challenge is to preach the word of God. Preach means to deliver, to proclaim to give instruction. Timothy was to deliver, proclaim and to instruct the Word of God. He was to be prepared to preach, whether the time is favorable or not. The purpose of his preaching was to patiently correct, rebuke and encourage his people with good teaching. Timothy had quite a challenge, but I'm sure he was ready for that challenge. What does this have to do with us today?

We must be ready, we must be prepared to to present the Word of God. Peter writes, in First Peter 3:15, "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." You must be prepared to present the Gospel, even when conditions don't seem favorable to you. The last two weeks on SLTV, our Monday evening Bible study, we've talked about having strength to follow Jesus, no matter what. Are you prepared to deliver the Word of God? If your faith was challenged, would you defend it? If someone blatantly twists and skews the message of the Word of God, will you defend it? Friends, we've buried our heads in the sand long enough, are you ready to make a stand and proclaim the Word of God? Think About It.