I really do not think there is a newspaper or broadcaster anywhere in the world that is able to distribute only good or positive news. Over the years I have referenced many (mostly) online newspapers from a variety of persuasions and have found that not one carries many good news stories because there are so few … and in any case, bad news stories sell news! Whatever the particular news outlet’s mission statement says, the bottom line is … sell news and make money. The Gospel is good news and most people don’t want good news because bad news sells.
Take Paul’s defense before king Agrippa as an example. What he said was carefully crafted and inspired by the Holy Spirit and presented with convicting power, yet the king thought Paul was insane. It is the same today as we bring the “Good News” of the Gospel to people … they mostly reject it … even if it is done in a respectful manner. Paul has said that he was obedient to the meeting with Jesus and starting at Damascus, then Jerusalem and Judea and then to the Gentiles lands, delivering the Gospel’s Good News to all. His message was simple, yet provocative … I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Please read on:
Ac 26:21 “That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
1) Because Paul preached the Gospel, the Jews took him captive and tried to kill him. Many in Christian Churches today want a Christianity that suits their behavior and morality. It’s almost like doing whatever they want to do during the week … from sexual immorality, theft in the market place, abuse in the home, drunkenness, horrific language and a host of the things, but as long as they find themselves in the Church on Sunday, giving their tithe they have peace of mind and access to heaven … so they think. As soon as a preacher comes along and ruffles their feathers by preaching repentance and proving repents by a change of lifestyle, they get angry and want to rid the Church of that preacher. I have been there. Instead of them getting rid of me they left and moved onto a Church where their morality were accepted. I did not rejoice in this but they cannot stand before God declaring innocence. They cannot say to God they were never told what the requirements and the outworking of the Gospel was.
2) Paul stood firm for the Gospel because he knew God was with him. I want to encourage every teaching elder (pastor) and every ruling elder (council member) as well as all Sunday School Teachers and Youth Workers as well as Missionaries. Never ever go weak on the Gospel or the requirements of the Gospel. However painful it might be and however it might affect the ministries, numbers and finances, don’t play to the gallery. Don’t let people manipulate what you preach. Remain faithful to God and He shall remain faithful to you. Your task is not an easy one. Where some will love you the majority who hear you will hate at worst or dislike at best what you say. However, as long as you are true to the Gospel … as long as you disseminate the Good News … and with it comes the bad news … God will look with favor on you. Something I learnt was that even though some leave the Church and move to another Church or leave the Church and stop attending Church … they have heard the Gospel and its requirements. For ourselves and all who profess Christ as Lord and King … a lifestyle of repentance is called for and with it there needs to be fruits of repentance. Yes it is hard. The struggle is real and you shall fail often … but there is pardon for believers and there is the Holy Spirit to help us as we cry for mercy depending upon God through prayer to help us walk the narrow pathway to glory. Never forget that God is with every Christian in their service for Him.
Ro 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
3) Fulling God’s will for himself. Paul says to Agrippa … so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. The Lord Jesus said he would speak before kings and leaders and Jews and Gentiles … and he was doing just that. Where the terms “small and great” could mean young children and older adults, in the context it means those of lower rank and those of higher rank. His audience at the court hearing was a king and queen consort, a governor, high ranking officials as well as those of lesser rank. They heard the Gospel. I have been privileged by God to preach before the queen of Albania, the American Consul-General in Pretoria, various politicians, police and military generals as well as people just like you and me. The main thing to keep in mind when preaching God’s Word is to be faithful to the Word and not to soften or flavor it to suit the gallery. Always remember that once you have preached, the Holy Spirit is the after preacher and that should the Gospel be rejected. The person has heard and cannot plead not guilty on the Day of Judgment.
4) Paul never went beyond the teaching of Scripture. To Agrippa he says:
Ac 26:22 “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead.”
One of the glorious facts about the Bible is that it is one story from start to end. What the prophets (prophetic writings) and Moses (first five books of the Bible) say about the coming Messiah, the Messiah who came (Jesus Christ) fulfilled through His death and resurrection (the Gospel). Once again we are confronted with the “purity” of the message the Church presents. Hear me beloved … the Gospel does not included politics, money, miracles and even the economic improvement of society. The Gospel is all about who Jesus is, what Jesus did, why Jesus did it and what the requirements are to access what He did. I will suggest that most preachers are sincere about what they are saying … but if what they are saying is merely to motivate people to live more moral by stopping getting drunk, commitment sexual purity, being a better employee or a better citizen, they have missed the Gospel’s intension! Remember the saying … “Keep the main the Main thing.” That is, never water down the Gospel. Never replace the Gospel. Never fear the audience. Preach Christ and Him Crucified and leave the rest to God to deal with!
5) Christ Jesus is the light of the world. What does “light” means in … would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles? It refers to “the saving Truth embodied in Christ and by His love and effort imparted to mankind.” Jesus Christ is the Gospel and the Gospel is Jesus Christ! After His sacrificial, substitutional death, He rose from the dead having secured His Father’s favor for all who trust His sacrifice for their redemption and pardon. This is the “light” He proclaimed to both the Jews and Gentiles through His meritorious work at Calvary. This is what Paul was committed to preach and it ought to be the central message in every Church, at every service. Imagine what the Church would look like if it was!
Our Father, keep us loving the Gospel and keep us sharing the Gospel and please be glorified through our service. Amen.