The Preaching Stewardship
Preaching the Bible is God’s ordained means to save His people, by calling them to come to Him. The Lord knows those who are His because He elected them before creation (Eph 1:4–5; 2 Tim 2:19). Christ Jesus knew who He was dying for (Mt 1:21); and the Holy Spirit knows who He is gathering through the proclamation of Christ crucified.
Preaching is a grace for all elect souls who sit under the Spirit-led exposition of the Bible text. Men of God proclaim Jesus, the only Savior of sinners; and when the Spirit attends the Word in an arranged setting (Acts 13:48), God causes His elect to be born again of His Spirit (1 Pet 1:3).
The Word of truth is the Word of life for those appointed to life. Of course, God’s calling out His chosen people from every nation, tribe and tongue is a stumbling block for the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles (Rev 5:9; 1 Cor 1:23). For those who have actually been given spiritual life, we acknowledge Gospel preaching as the power of God unto salvation. Simply put, we were blind, but now we see.
When and where there is a famine in the land (Amos 8:11), spiritually, it is because there is a dearth of preaching the Bible. Men are distracted with other ideas or activities. A preacher is needed when those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are parched in a dry and weary land.
God is most gracious when He prepares a man of God, and then sends the man of God to a chosen flock to receive the glorious riches of the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). The tragedy is a flock of starving sheep, deprived at the hands of an entertainer, psychologist, or prosperity pundit.
Men of God are instructed to preach the Word (2 Tim 4:2), to tell of the excellencies of Him who has called His elect into His marvelous light. It is the Word preached that is a lamp unto their feet and light for their narrow path (Ps 119:105).
It is unbelief for a man to stand before a church and deviate from the biblical command to preach the Gospel (2 Tim 4:2). As a shepherd leads his flock to green pastures, so a preacher guides God’s people to places for them to graze on His good Word (Ps 23).
Preaching is a heralding event. It is not an offer for people to decide upon. Something has happened and the news must be announced throughout all creation (Mt 24:15; Mk 16:15).
Because men are unaware of the power, the wisdom, and the exclusive means for people to be saved, they despise preaching. The church that understands the place of preaching in worship, is truly a special place.
Preaching is a means to call all men to repent and believe the message (Acts 17:30), but preaching also is the means for God’s people to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:2; 3:18). Thus, when the Gospel is faithfully preached, both believers and the unbelieving elect of God will benefit.
Preaching, in method and Christ-centered message, serves to harden the hearts of unelect, unregenerate, unbelievers. Faithful preaching is resisted, and this is the evidence of the spiritual warfare that occurs when the Spirit of God wields the Word of God. The objective of this warfare is the tearing down of spiritual strongholds of evil. These are ideas hostile to the truth of God, being doctrines of demons, including: man-centered theology, evolutionary theory, abortion as a woman’s right, permissible sexual deviance, etc.
The man of God must be mighty in the Scriptures, an approved workman with the Word (2 Tim 2:15). He must be preparing to preach, or preaching, if he is not praying (Acts 6:4). He must rightly divide the Word of truth, and a man who is bold in his boasting of Christ the Lord (Acts 4:31).
In conclusion, here is the preaching stewardship. It is the glorious Spirit of Christ within a vessel of mercy, announcing all the counsel of God, found only in His written Word. The power is acknowledged; the wisdom is understood; and the voice of Christ is heard, as grace abounds toward His elect people. Christ’s sheep hear His voice, and they follow Jesus, for it is God the Father drawing them to Christ (Jn 6:37, 44).
Preaching affords God’s people the repeated pleasure of hearing of God’s love, providential care, chastening, and the promise of eternal life. Preaching gives Christians the blessed assurance of knowing of the inheritance reserved for them in heaven (1 Pet 1:4). This is the preaching of Christ’s kingdom, and it is the Word of life, abundant and eternal. Those who believe it will not be disappointed. Praise God for His Word, faithfully preached.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 12, 2021
