EVERY BELIEVE IS A PREACHER

While studying today, I noticed something quite amazing. In Young's Analytical Concordance, the word, "preach" is preceded by the word "prayer." And even though that same combination may not appear as such in other languages, it does in English. I find, in the order, a clear warning to the wise; before you preach, you had better pray. First, we need to pray about any unconfessed sin, that the Lord might restore us to a state of righteousness (1 Jn. 1:9). Second, we need to pray for direction as to whom the Lord wants us to preach. Third, we need to pray for wisdom concerning what to say, and perhaps more importantly, what not to say. And finally, we need to pray for protection from Satan and his minions who desire to silence God's messengers.

When Jesus first sent out His disciples to preach (Matt. 10:7), the word Matthew used was κηρύσσω (kēryssō), which means: 1) to be a herald; 2) to publish, proclaim openly; 3) make a public proclamation. They were to be witnesses of Christ to the whole world (Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8). They were to go tell others about what they had heard, seen, and physically touched; they were to tell others about Jesus, the Word of life (1 Jn. 1:1).

Some might say, "Of course He sent His Apostles to preach, but I am not a preacher; that command was to them specifically, and does not apply to every believer." My answer to that argument is found in Matthew 28:20. JESUS TOLD THEM TO TELL US TO OBEY ALL THAT HE COMMANDED THEM TO DO! That means, you and I are to go tell others what we have witnessed in our relationship with Christ. WE are to PREACH (proclaim the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation - Rom. 1:16), WE are to BAPTIZE (those who accept Jesus as their Lord), and WE are to TEACH them to observe ALL of Christ's commands (Matt. 28:19-20).

If that is true, why is it that the vast majority of born again believers fail to preach, baptize, and teach? The answer, I believe, is the Church's failure to carry out its mission. In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul wrote, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Church leaders are not to serve primarily as soul-winners; they are to train those under their care to do the work of minister, to GO TELL SOMEBODY! Their ministry begins when a new believer "shows up on their doorstep." The shepherd's ministry to that new believer will never end. They are to continue teaching their sheep until they "all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13). I don't know about you, but I have never met a believer who "had completed the metamorphosis into the likeness of God. My understanding is that "our completion" will occur as we leave this life (1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Jn. 3:2).

So, let's let those responsible for feeding and protecting their sheep, do their job, and let us continually do ours. OUR JOB IS TO GO PREACH, PROCLAIM, WITNESS, SHARE ALL THAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US. IF WE DON'T, THE STONES WILL (Lk. 19:40)!