First and foremost, II Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” This was something my father put deep in my heart, soul, and mind in perpetuity as I began my trek into the ministry and ordination as a young man. It is one of the portions of the Scripture that drives me daily in my exegetical studies, devotions, and constant prayer. In this day and age, it can be daunting as we face so many cultural rarities, political issues (uniformed public opinion), economic issues, moral relativism, extremes (yeah, you know what I’m talkin’ about), and just the difficulties of life. There are times when preparing a sermon, I think to myself “you can’t or shouldn’t say that” and then I immediately look in the mirror and call myself a coward for wanting to avoid the hard topics. I know that the deeper I teach the truth of the Word of God, Satan will attack me even harder, and at times it is that fight not between flesh and blood (although they play a distinct role), but against the evil principalities of darkness. I know that this will bring me pain in one way or another. For me and my Associate Pastors we have come under greater attacks from Satan than ever before, and we all believe it stems from our willingness to boldly teach the entirety of the Word of God without sanction by trends or political correctness—both exegetically and devotionally. We don’t “tickle ears” with watered-down words or faulty opinions. The line by Emerson is applicable today: “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” We are in the last days, so do we know what to do about it? A question I ask of myself in perpetual prayer.
How do I prepare myself to hear God? I make myself ready to hear the Word of God through intense prayer. I give this as an example and respectfully ask everyone to try a little test—close your lips and without making a noise say the name of Jesus repeatedly. Was there an audible utterance? No. Did you hear it in your mind? Absolutely! That is how I hear God when I pray and then read the Word of God. Interesting concept, but I assure you it works. God speaks to me through His Word and definitely not mine.
My mother was the most patient Biblical teacher who convinced me daily, rebuked me (the board of education upon the seat of understanding), and continually encouraged me. Even though my father was both father and preacher, my mother had a most profound impact on me in my development as a man. My father had the most profound impact on me as a pastor.
I have a great congregation—children, youth, adults, business owners, adults with an 8th grade education, factory workers, former addicts, and the list goes on. They all listen. I am blessed as they lean into each Sunday’s sermon. What I love most is the daily interaction with my Associate Pastor and Worship Leader as we discuss future sermons and bounce theological ideas off of one another. I am blessed to have such a partnership. Then, when I am solo with my “Troika” of Associates, there is an equality of teaching and leading one another. My last person of note is my dear friend out on the east coast who readily calls me or texts me after morning devotions, takes notes as she watches each service on line, and is so intelligent and capable to receive NOT me, but the Word of God. I am very thankful for that. It blesses me.
I don’t want to sound arrogant or untoward, but at this current time, we have progressed so amazingly in our church and my own personal Bible study preparation that I am focused on developing this success to our fullest. Practice does NOT make perfect, but perfect practice does. For me, what I have learned is that even though I may write out and develop sermons well in advance, I never go into the process with my own idea in mind. Through prayer, study, and devotion the sermon leaps out at me with such power and poignancy that I frantically take notes to capture every drop of manna. I refuse to ever accept mediocrity in my relationship with God and my deep friendship with Jesus, so I am always prepared to listen and do more. When I finally finish in this life, I so desperately want to hear “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
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