“Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2
Dear Ones:
When Joel’s prophecy had its fulfillment on the day of Pentecost, we find that all of the disciples in the upper room, men and women, were filled with the Spirit declaring “…the wonderful works of God.” (Acts 2:11) But when Paul writes to the believers at Rome, he speaks of “a preacher,” “… how shall they hear without a preacher?” (10:15) What is the difference then between declaring the wonderful works of God, and the preacher? It has to do with the specific work given by God, and the gift and capacity to discharge the corresponding responsibility by the Spirit.
The preacher is a herald, one whose primary objective is to declare “the word,” the gospel, in the power and demonstration of the Spirit. It is divine in its inception, and divine in its elocution. “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:15) The understanding that preaching is a divine calling convinced Isaiah to pray, “Here am I, send me?” (Is. 6:8) The Lord of the Harvest, from heaven, is the one who calls the preacher forth, teaches him what and how he is to declare “the word,” and then enables him to declare the message in power, with spiritual authority. In the context of Christ being the “Savior of all men,” Paul would write: “…where unto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle.” (1 Timothy 2:7) That which was specific to his preaching was “…the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust,” (1 Tim. 1:11) the very “words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and (to) the doctrine which is according to godliness.” (6:3) As to the significance, depth, and worth of the calling, Paul writes to Timothy in his second letter, that God “…hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to HIS own purpose and grace, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN.” (1:9) Preaching is a calling and a gift from God, as He has given some, “…apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelist; and some, pastors and teachers.” (Eph. 4:11) The point is that God calls specifically the preacher and equips him perfectly to be such. Again, Paul would write, “…And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful putting me into the ministry.” (1 Tim. 1:12) When the specific “eternal” call comes, the specific enabling accompanies it, so that God’s purposes will be fully realized.
Are we all called to be preachers, those who are the vanguard in the proclamation of the Gospel to the world? No. But we are all called to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers. We are all called to seek God concerning the accomplishment of the Great Commission, and what our calling is in the fulfillment of it. Essential to the realization of the Great Commission is the raising up, and sending forth of laborers. Among these are preachers. Our responsibility in prayer far exceeds just the supplication that the Lord will send them forth. We are called, as Paul demonstrates, to pray without ceasing. If we would see the victory of Christ revealed in the preaching, and teaching, of the Lord’s words, then there must be intercessors ever lifting them up for God’s fresh anointing and blessing. Behind every good, and effective, herald of the gospel, is the intercessor praying for God’s manifest blessing. As Charles Finney once wrote: “That which they manifestly received as the supreme, crowning, and all-important means of success was the power to prevail with both God and man, THE POWER TO FASTEN SAVING IMPRESSIONS UPON THE MINDS OF MEN.” This is only possible in answer to prayer, persistent and prevailing prayer.
Dear Father, give us to KNOW, as Paul did, what is Your calling, and what Your gifts are. Give us wisdom and knowledge to be thoroughly convinced concerning this calling, in the sphere of Thy choosing, ready to give always an answer for the hope that is within us. Make us to be faithful intercessors, believing Thee to raise up and send forth effective preachers of the Gospel. We thank Thee that You that with the calling, will come the enablement to accomplish Your blessed purposes for Your glory. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad