Preaching part 1
I was a preacher before even I was a pastor. I've been told I'm good with words. A pretty good public speaker. I don't like to argue, but I don't lose many either. Now that I've said all that, I want to say why any of that is important: "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25). Or let me say it another way, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Basically, knowing and believing are two of the most important things in the world. And they have to come in that (Divine) order. Because you can't believe something you don't know. Faith comes by hearing. You hear the Word (which is Jesus, which is love) of God... and then you can believe that Word. We are stablished (or established) by the gospel. By the preaching of Jesus Christ. The only way in which me being good with words matters... is if I use my words to help people. Preaching a gospel that fills people up with what God has already filled them with. And the only way I can do that is by filling myself to overflowing with what I'M already filled with... by knowing and believing that I'm filled with it. The only way I can love someone is by letting God love me and loving Him back (with that same love) BY loving the people in my life. It doesn't start with me. It starts with God. We love (HIM, by loving each other) because HE first loved us. If God didn't love us, we wouldn't have any love to give. He gave us His only begotten Son that we would not perish, but live. He gave His life for us, and to us, so that we could have it. So that we could experience it as He lives it in us, and through us, and as us. And if living and loving are the same thing (and they are), that means we experience His abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love as He LOVES in us, and through us, and as us. Receiving and releasing the life--the love--that we've been given. That's how this life--love--works. This life OF love. And that's why preaching is so important. But right here I'm going to say the most important thing I'm going to say in this Rant series, and I'm going to keep saying, and try to explain it as well as I can for next few days. Ready? Ok. Preach the gospel at all times. And if you have to... use words. Love is about more than just saying, "I love you." That's one powerful way to do it, and I believe people need to hear you say that, and I believe you NEED to say that. At the same time, actions speak louder than words, right? If you're saying you love someone but you're treating them like dirt... what's real? And more importantly, what is getting through to that person? Your words... or your actions? Spoiler alert: It's your actions. Charity is love in action. Laying your life down for your friends. Giving what you've got. Not just saying it... but doing it. Letting your life be an epistle read by all men. A love letter from God to humanity, written on the fleshly tablet of your heart. Written IN you, but proclaimed BY you. So I guess kind of what I'm trying to say--as a preacher--is, practice what you preach. Prove that you believe what you're saying by putting it into action. Don't just tell... show. Don't just speak... act.