DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PREACH THE WORD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PREACH THE WORD

"Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.' " (Acts 17:1-3)

Even though he was known as a missionary to the Gentiles, Paul's custom for sharing the Gospel was to go to the Synagogue of the Jews first. They had historical and theological reference points to understand the coming of Christ.

Paul's testimony and witness of Christ was from the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus is revealed in the Old Testament. Paul's witness was not only based on his experience of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. It was deeply founded on the prophetic writings of the Scriptures that the Jews based their religion on.

This was the m.o. of the Lord Jesus. After the Resurrection, He showed from the Old Testament Scriptures that He was indeed the promised Messiah. Luke records that He revealed Himself to two disciples on the road to Emmaus: "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself " (Luke 24:27; also vs. 44).

.

It is not that Paul never used his personal testimony of conversion. Later in the Book of Acts, we find evidence that he did give his personal story of when the Lord Jesus appeared to him as recorded in Acts chapter 9. However, the Word of God revealed through Moses, the Psalmists and the prophets was the foundation for his presentation of Jesus as Messiah.

That is why it is so important that preachers "preach the Word" – both Old and New Testaments. This was the charge given to me at my ordination to ministry. It was the admonition of Paul to the young preacher, Timothy: "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!" (II Timothy 4:1-2).

The ability to tell stories and jokes, and give wonderful illustrations is good, but what we need is the preaching of God's Word. Thank God for faithful pastors and teachers who center on what God said. That is the basis of our faith.

Love, Dad