1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I think I'm happy that the point of today's post never came up in Homiletics class - or at least that I missed it if it did.
If any man speak... and by looking at the verse before, we see that this is a "speaking" as a gift from God. That is, there are certain people that are gifted in the area of preaching. But here's the kicker: Preacher, if you are taking on the ministry of preaching (speaking), then you are accepting that God gave you the gift to do it, and that when you speak - and this is the good part - you are to speak as the oracles of God!
Now, maybe that doesn't mean much to you, but the "oracles of God," are the messages/places/communications where God met with the people. The Scriptures are the most common example of God's oracles that we have. But preachers are to speak as if they were God communicating directly with the hearers. And the warning goes out, that God does NOT like to be misrepresented. I remember in Job 40 when God had enough of people saying, "God says this," or "God does this." He comes down in a whirlwind. (Don't' miss that - a whirlwind! not a still small voice here - we have a twister coming down.) The first thing He says, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge Gird up now thy loins like a man for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me..." He doesn't sound happy - and He starts His glorious answer to Job and his friends, by saying, "Why are you talking about what you do not know?!"
So, Preacher, you are to preach as if the message you are saying are exact words that God would have you say to the hearers. And, if that doesn't make you spend serious time in prayer about your message... maybe it should!
Just a thought...
If any man speak... and by looking at the verse before, we see that this is a "speaking" as a gift from God. That is, there are certain people that are gifted in the area of preaching. But here's the kicker: Preacher, if you are taking on the ministry of preaching (speaking), then you are accepting that God gave you the gift to do it, and that when you speak - and this is the good part - you are to speak as the oracles of God!
Now, maybe that doesn't mean much to you, but the "oracles of God," are the messages/places/communications where God met with the people. The Scriptures are the most common example of God's oracles that we have. But preachers are to speak as if they were God communicating directly with the hearers. And the warning goes out, that God does NOT like to be misrepresented. I remember in Job 40 when God had enough of people saying, "God says this," or "God does this." He comes down in a whirlwind. (Don't' miss that - a whirlwind! not a still small voice here - we have a twister coming down.) The first thing He says, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge Gird up now thy loins like a man for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me..." He doesn't sound happy - and He starts His glorious answer to Job and his friends, by saying, "Why are you talking about what you do not know?!"
So, Preacher, you are to preach as if the message you are saying are exact words that God would have you say to the hearers. And, if that doesn't make you spend serious time in prayer about your message... maybe it should!
Just a thought...
2 comments:
Well said Andy. A sobering thought to take the preaching the word of God serious!
Good to see you back!
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