Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Those who are called by
the Lord to carry out the task of preaching cannot escape it.
As Jonah found out, and as Paul testified, For though I preach
the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid
upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach
not the gospel. Men cannot send men to preach,
nor can they prevent those whom the Lord has sent from performing
that work. Paul declares this fact when
he describes how the Lord is pleased to bring life and immortality
to light to those whom he has ordained unto eternal life. How
then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings of good things. The Lord's hand is not shortened
to say by many or by a few. And he most certainly does not
depend on men to bring the gospel to those he gives ears to hear
it. But he does use the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe. Thus it is a great privilege which he is pleased to grant
to those heralds of his truth, which he has fitted to the task,
to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ. The greatest preacher
that has ever lived is he who said, the spirit of the Lord
God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good
tidings unto the meek. He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening
of prison to them that are bound. to proclaim the acceptable year
of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that
mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joyful mourning, the garment
of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees
of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be
glorified. He is the pattern for all who
would hereafter preach. Those who preach are to do so
without regard for their personal benefit or safety. Their one
desire is to exalt him who alone is worthy of all praise, both
as to his person as well as his work of redemption. As Paul said,
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ. They must shun personal accolades,
privileges, and titles bestowed by men. that no flesh should
glory in his presence. The Hebrew word for preach, which
is used in Isaiah's prophecy, literally means to declare good
news. The word used in the Greek by
the Lord is the word from which we get our English word evangelize,
which again means to declare good news. This is the very definition
of the gospel. While much more could be said
as to the scriptural manner in which preachers are to conduct
themselves, the most important aspect of all preaching is the
substance and basis of the message which is declared. This is that
which Paul refers to when he says, the word of faith which
we preach. It does not matter how properly
a man may conduct himself or how well-spoken he may be. If
his message deviates from that redemptive work which Jesus Christ
has performed in the behalf of sinners, then he has not preached,
but rather beat the air and been as a sounding brass and a tinkling
cymbal. Thus Paul declares, for I determine not to know anything
among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The faith which
we preach must be Christ, but of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, sanctification
and redemption, that according as it is written, He that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord. This is an inclusive and exclusive
message. No other faith will do. Nothing
can be added to or taken from it, but Christ is all and in
all. The faith which we preach must
be clearly declared to be the gift of God, lest any man should
boast. For who maketh thee to differ
from another, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou
hadst not received it? The faith which we preach must
be concerned with its object more so than its activity. Abraham
believed God. His faith is noted because of
its object and not his endeavor. God is not pleased with the act
of faith, but rather the one in whom that faith rests. As
Paul said, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that
he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against
that day. But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that
He is, a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Christ is
that one faith, one Lord, and one baptism, upon which all of
our hopes firmly rest. What faith do you preach? For
a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net.