The Word of God Preached

The Word of God Preached Genesis – Revelation March 20, 2008

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2a and applied it to Himself; “¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, " ¹⁹"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. "

Jesus was anointed and sent to preach- the gospel, deliverance and recovery, and the acceptable year of the Lord.

The Father was the first preacher. He has anointed and sent and will anoint and send other preachers. But He and His are not the only preachers.

The Bible uses several words that are translated “preach, preaching, preached.” In the Old Testament, the words all mean to call out, as in to pronounce or announce. In the New Testament, preach can mean to evangelize, to herald divine truth, to talk/ preach/ speak, or divine expression itself (logos).

Let us look at the Word of God preached.

(Much of the outline of this sermon is from a National Resurgence/Act 29 Network Conference I attended at Marshill Church in Seattle February 2008.)

GOD, THE FIRST PREACHER When God's word goes forth, something gets accomplished. In Genesis 1, 10 times the Bible says “God said”.

o By the spoken word of God: God is revealed

o Order is created

o Life is created

o Things are separated/divided

o “Good” / “very good” is pronounced

o God’s authority is displayed

GOD IS NOT THE ONLY PREACHER Satan preaches to our parents

Ø Genesis 3 Satan preaches to our parents

o Undermines God’s word

o Undermines God’s authority

o Brings together what should have been separated

The question is not; “Will there be preaching?” but “What will be preached?”

THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON Genesis 3:15

Ø Jesus is coming; conflict; wounded; victory

THE PROPHETS PREACH

Ø Repentance and the coming of Jesus

JOHN THE BAPTIZER PREACHED

Ø Repent, Jesus is at hand

After Jesus’ baptism and another sermon by God, the Father (Matthew 3:16-17 ” ¹⁶ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”) there followed

PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS Matthew 4

Ø Satan’s sermon – Life w/o God; Kingdom w/o a cross; Glory w/o humility; and included the same invitation offered to Adam.

Ø Jesus preached as well. In His sermons, He quoted God’s word.

After the time in the wilderness being tempted,

JESUS BEGINS HIS PUBLIC PREACHING MINISTRY Matthew 4:17 ¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Ø Notice: Jesus went preaching. Ministry begins with PREACHING, not sharing, proclaiming: “Repent, turn from your foolishness and false doctrine!” Later the Apostle Paul says that what he preaches is: Jesus Crucified for our sins. 1Corinthians 1:23; 2:2

God preaches; God sends preachers (prophets); God comes as Preacher (Jesus)

Jesus preaches for about 3 years and then...

Ø Jesus is crucified, rises, and ascends, but he tells his disciples, “Don’t go preaching yet. Wait for the Fortifier, the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5

The Holy Spirit descended on the church in Acts2 as He had on Jesus and the believers PREACHED Acts2:11,14-ff

Ø One evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence is PREACHING THE GOSPEL

o Acts 2 and 3 Peter preached and people got saved

o Preaching exalts Jesus – crucified, buried, and resurrected The church is born by the Holy Spirit and God uses Preaching to bring forth the church (NEXT WEEK: The Word of God preached and the church)

GOD CHOSE PREACHING AS A MEANS TO SAVE Romans 1:16 The Gospel proclaimed is what God uses to lead people to Himself.

As church history progressed, the church left the tradition of preaching and changed the emphasis to the sacraments (the mass). Part of the reformation brought about by Luther and Calvin and others was God refreshing the emphasis on His Word proclaimed from the pulpits and streets and in homes and workplaces.

GOD CALLED HIS CHURCH BACK TO PREACHING

WHEN:

God Proclaimed > Creation followed

John the Baptizer Proclaimed > Ministry of Jesus followed

Jesus Proclaimed > Hope in the resurrection life followed

Peter Proclaimed > Church; Having all things in common; Teaching; Administrating … followed

THE SERPENT HAS NEVER STOPPED PREACHING

He still preaches through big cathedrals and flashy preachers with audiences in the thousands and budgets in the millions. He still preaches in small gatherings that few who do not attend are even aware of. He is still making the same offers:

Ø You are your own authority

Ø You are equal to God

Ø You can contradict the Word of God

Ø Therefore you can live as you please

Ø He never preaches Repentance!

WHAT WE PREACH TODAY

Ø Man is a sinner. The Word of God says it. Your experience says it.

Ø God is righteous judge executing wrath. Man’s problem is not a small flaw. The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Man apart from Jesus is totally sinful and headed for eternal, deserved, punishment for his rebellion against God.

Ø God is also love and grace. He loves us first because we have nothing to love with since we are without any good in us (the condition being inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve). I hear people talk about who their parents and grandparents are … what a godly momma they had; how many preachers have been in their family… that does not impress me and most importantly, that does not impress God … because if we all go back far enough we will find that we descend from a lying farmer and a drunken sailor… The farmer being Adam and the sailor, Noah.

But God, in His grace, without us having any merit to offer, sent His unique Son, Jesus, who lived a sinless life and then offered that sinless life to pay the death penalty that had been imposed upon all men since Adam, including you.

Ø God’s love is demonstrated in the incarnation, the life, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for us

Ø God requires repentance and gives the power to repent. If you understand your need of a savior to make you right with God, that is evidence that God is offering you salvation in Him. What a total arrogant fool you would be to postpone accepting God’s offer today.

Ø There is salvation and life eternal and abundant in Jesus Christ and none other.

Ø If you want salvation, you can have it in Jesus.

ANGEL PREACHES THE LAST SERMON Revelation 22:17

Some extra scriptures:

Ezekiel 3:17-19 which places the blood of those who go lost upon the head of the preacher who does not warn the wicked of his evil way, and only by warning the wicked can a preacher escape the possibility of being responsible for his destruction.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15).

Is. 55:1-3: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Mt. 11:28: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Rev. 22:17: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.