Lion's Den

 "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 4:2....."The great need of the hour in the church of Christ is for Spirit filled, Christ centered courage." Alistair Begg

An evangelist named Paul Washer was recently asked what he thought the greatest problem in the church in America was. His blunt reply was simply, "Cowardly preachers."

Before I write about anything in that quote, I want to look at the Scripture from 2 Timothy and what it is actually exhorting, no, commanding His preachers and people to do. First off, we're to preach the Word. All the Word, that which blesses and that which brings heavy conviction. That which heals and that which cuts us to the quick. That which lifts us up, and that which takes us and our pride down. That which soothes, and that which hurts. Preach the Word, all the Word, and do it with the heart of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, we're to be prepared to do so. This means we arm ourselves with His Presence and Power through prayer and intimate time with Him and His Word. We listen to Him and seek His guidance for what it is we're to proclaim. We may have an idea for a series or topic, but we are totally available to His voice to drop it all with just a whisper from Him/

Next, we're to proclaim His Word whether the conditions for doing so are favorable or not. It's not too difficult to preach Truth when we know the atmosphere of the fellowship is hungry for that truth. What about when it's not? What about when there's an element or elements within the congregation that do not want that issue brought up? What about when we know that there will be backlash if we do? What if somebody, maybe a number of somebody's leave the church if we do? We know it's the truth that needs to be proclaimed. His voice has told us so. The voice of fear says to be silent. His voice says otherwise. Who do we listen to?

We're then directed to do three things. Correct, rebuke, and encourage. The last comes easy, the first two do not. To do so anyway will bring a cost to us. Perhaps a heavy one. Do we proclaim His whole Word, no matter the cost, or do we not? How we answer all these questions will determine whether we stand in our pulpits or in the public square with courageous hearts or hearts of water. Whether we preach words that tickle ears or pierce to the very center of a listener's being.

I'm not asking these questions of you first. I'm asking them of myself. The church is in crisis whether we realize it or not. Things have been loosed in our culture that seek the destruction of His church and His people. God needs men and women willing to go into the lion's den and proclaim Christ and His Truth there. J.B. Chapman said that, "A lion's den with God is better than a castle without His Presence." He is seeking those that He may lead into that den. Will you and I be among them? Will we trust that He is Lord even of the lions?

Blessings,
Pastor O