A. It
implies knowing the Word, rightly dividing it, and making
it understandable and applicable to the lives of people.
(2 Tim. 2:15).
B.
You can quote the I-lord but not preach it (Matt. 4:6).
This is going on in liberal churches.
C.
When you preach the Word you judge everything by the
Word. For example; You can preach about science but judge
it by the Word (I Tim. 6:20).
The preacher
is to be instant in season and out of season. This seems
to indicate that the Christian worker will not always be
in the midst of a perpetual harvest. There are different
seasons and some of them are very dry. Judson labored
eight years in Burma before anyone confessed Christ.
Goforth spent four years and Carey seven years before
they won one soul to Christ. In any season we are told
to:
Reprove
- which is a general correction. To reprove is to make
sin known. This is one of the primary responsibilities
of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7,8).
Rebuke
- This is also to motivate correction but it is a
stronger term, best compared to a fist in the mouth
(Ps. 6:1; Zech. 3:2).
Exhort
- To exhort is to stir people up to do something about
what they have just heard. The old time Methodist used
to have three speakers in every service; A teacher, a
preacher and an exhorter. It was the job of the
exhorter to challenge the people to do something with
the previous messages.
All of
this work must be done with longsuffering (vs. 2)
because much patience is required for most people grow
painfully slow in spiritual matters. They will never
grow properly if they do not receive a constant influx
of doctrine (3:16,2:2, 3).
Why must
we pay such strict attention to proclaiming the Word
of God? Because the time will come (it is here) when
men will not endure sound doctrine.
The "they" of (vs. 3) seems to be directed at Christians
as there doesn't seem to be an unsaved man in the
entire chapter. Of course the liberals will never
preach on hell or the second coming because they don't
want to hear it. However many fundamentalists are
guilty of desiring to hear "selected" subjects. Some
like to hear "soul winning", but grate under the
message of "giving". Others like giving but hate soul
winning. The idea of the verse is people will not like
to hear preaching on their individual sins. Everyone
"enjoys" Dr. Slipjaw's television message on Bible
Prophecy. I wonder what kind of response he would get
if he preached a T.V. Series on "ENVY",
"GLUTTONY" and
"LAZINESS."
The word "heap" in (vs. 3) implies there will be alot of
teachers available who will be plenty willing to
scratch some ears (Matt. 24:10,11,12).
Paul had
spent 30 years offering himself up as a living sacrifice
(Rom. 12:1,2) and it was now time for him to offer
himself up in death.
The word "departure" implies something is getting ready to leave
(Phil. 1:21-22; Gen. 35:18).
Paul had
fought a good fight. Have
you?
A good
fight can be a fight to:
[1].
Overcome a bad habit.
[2]. Keep your testimony at work.
[3]. Keep your tongue in check.
[4]. Keep your mind in subjection.
The crown of
righteousness along with the other few available to the
Christian will be passed out at the Judgment Seat of
Christ.
A man that
is a success is one who finds out what God wants him to
do and does it. That man will love the appearing of Jesus
Christ.
