© 14 Colin Melbourne
Charge into Battle!
Every believer is charged before Heaven, 2 Tim. 4:1-5 KJV;
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Between the Living and the Dead
This is what we are here for: To be living epistles, ever holding forth the Word of Life to our doomed generation.
Sinners endure their bleak existence one breath away from God’s Judgment of sin: Oblivious of their jeopardy.
Truly we stand between the Living and the dead.
The Holy Ghost has graciously entrusted to us the ministry of reconciling men to God.
He has charged us before the divine Witnesses to preach the word, instant, that means urgently, and always.
It is an honour, our delight: And Life.
Preach the Word: Not Religion
What word are we to preach, proclaim and share?
The only word that can save any man.
The Gospel message; where we came from, what went wrong, who Christ is, what He’s done for mankind, and how He wants us to respond.
Believers are to; warn, reprove, rebuke, and exhort men to turn in sincere repentance and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ.
We are to do this in love, with patience, long-suffering, and sound doctrine.
That is why Christians are still here.
There’s no other reason.
Watch, Endure, Do and Prove
The Holy Ghost writes; we are to watch ourselves, endure slings and arrows, to be busy getting the message out, and live what we proclaim, proving our ministry, by our lives.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
I like that, don’t you?
It’s uncomplicated, simple, definite, and better yet, divine.
How to Prove the Gospel
It is a blessed fact; whenever a child of God is moved by compassion, to share the love and message of Christ, the Holy Spirit is present to empower, uphold, and impart the Life of God.
There’s no need to tarry, He’s here now, waiting for us to act on the word.
Act, and you will discover He never fails to endorse genuine faith in Him.
In a Muslim Bank
A Christian in a Muslim nation went into a bank, and during his transaction with the Muslim teller simply began relating how much God loved her, and wanted to give her peace.
Her eyes moistened, as he spoke quietly about the love of Christ.
Soon she pleaded with him to stop. Not because what he was doing was against the laws of that nation (out of season), but rather, because she was overcome with emotion.
Please stop, you’re touching my heart! she whispered in tear-welling embarrassment.
The Holy Ghost was working, so the Christian gave her a Gospel tract, and left the Lord to finish what He’d begun.
In an English Supermarket
A Christian was shopping at a Yorkshire supermarket, he sat down by the checkout to rest.
An elderly lady came and sat next to him, so he opened conversation with the word;
“Hello Luv, would you like to be sure you are going to Heaven?”
The lady turned to the stranger in astonishment and replied,
Why yes, I’d love to know that!
In a few brief sentences the believer gave the Gospel, and invited her to believe on Christ there and then.
She immediately responded in faith, and prayed to receive Christ as Lord.
The second she finished praying, she leapt up, and began rejoicing loudly,
Oh I’ve got it! Oh!
She made such a noise, a concerned crowd quickly gathered round, wondering what the commotion was about. She reassured them;
I’m alright, I’m going to Heaven, I’ve got it! she beamed.
This is what the Holy Ghost had in mind in our text.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
God confirms His word.
Go and preach the word: He will work with you.
The KJV translators used 84% of Tyndale’s translation word for word. They and William Tyndale were God’s chosen and anointed translators.
He burned with passion to get the Truth into our hands, and Catholics murdered him for doing so. You owe it to yourself to study the life and work of William Tyndale: God’s Secretary and Outlaw.
© 14 Colin Melbourne