When I was but a young man just beginning in ministry, I was walking from my apartment up the few steps to where my car was parked. As I stepped up, I heard the Voice of the Lord bubbling up inside of me. He said, among several other things, “What you preach to people will be produced in them!” What an amazing concept. The Word of God is called a “seed” by Jesus in Mark 4. And seeds are designed to produce. When we sow the good seed of the Word of God into the good ground of a receptive and obedient heart, fruit for the Kingdom of God always results.
It amazes me often, though I suppose it shouldn’t, that so many professing Christians have such little actual knowledge of the Word of God. Even if they are able to quote certain passages from memory, it seems that the words they have memorized have had little actual effect on their everyday lives. I wonder sometimes whether we have collectively lulled our congregations into a complacent slumber by preaching an anthropo-centric rather than a Theo-centric message. While most certainly there are benefits and privileges to being “in Christ,” and most certainly we are called to exercise authority in the earth, we cannot forget that privilege does not exist apart from responsibility, and authority does not exist apart from accountability. While we must teach to build faith for physical, emotional, and relational healing, we must also “reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Timothy 4:2).
As Pastor Jack Irvin, Sr., has noted, by primarily preaching a “me” centered message, we have produced “me” centered Christians. Again, I am not saying we must stop teaching on our benefits, privileges, and authority. Rather, we need to bring what we have not preached as fully to the attention of our hearers. It is not an either/or, but a both/and proposition.
This inevitably leads to the topic of “worship” in our local assemblies. Are the songs we sing primarily anthropocentric or Theocentric? Do they emphasize MY struggle, MY pain, MY journey, MY opinion, MY…MY…MY…? Or do they primarily focus on the Glory and Majesty of an Almighty and Holy God? Of course we will sing about all that Jesus has done for us, and offer Him praise and thanksgiving. But where is our primary emphasis, on what Jesus has done for US, or on what JESUS has done for us? It’s a subtle distinction perhaps to some, but one to seriously and prayerfully consider.
If we are going to produce disciples of integrity, we must preach, teach, and yes, demand integrity of those who have presented and submitted themselves for discipleship. If we are going to produce Christians of high moral and ethical character, we must present the character of Christ both through teaching and example. If we are going to produce those who manifest the supernatural power of Christ to destroy yokes and break chains of sin, bondage, sickness, and defeat, we must both teach and model with excellence the supernatural power of God. For too long, many who claim to be discipling others have been like Eli, unwilling to confront and deal with obvious sin in those who were closest to him. As it cost Eli, it has also ultimately cost many of us, as we overlooked areas that should have been addressed early on in the discipleship process, because of our great affection for those involved. Dr. Mack Ballard once warned me many years ago to not allow my deep affection and commendable desire to be merciful to cause me to refuse to confront what, at the time, desperately needed to be confronted. How I wish now that I had more fully and completely obeyed his wise counsel.
For those who are connected, receptive, and obedient, we will indeed see what we preach and teach produced in them. For those who rebel, we know that the same sun that melts wax hardens clay. The prodigal who departed had to wake up in the pig pen, face to face with the consequences of his unwise choices, before he was willing to repent and return to the Father’s house. I learned far too many vital lessons the “hard” way, when I could have been spared much pain and heartache. Sadly, the “hard way” is the only way that some will learn.
At the time I received this word from the Lord, I was surprised that the Lord would speak such a word to my heart. I did not think I would ever need it, and replied to the Lord, “That’s a message for pastors. You need to find a pastor to tell that to.” Of course, I’m sure God chuckled at my naiveté and immaturity. Not only have we pastored local assemblies, we have now been moving into other areas where this word is certainly apropos.
Yes, we need exhortational, prophetic preaching. Yes, we need to hear a fresh “now” word from the Lord. But we ALSO must have solid, systematic, and sound teaching of the WHOLE counsel of the Word of God, with as much emphasis on what God is making us, as on what He has given us. Be Blessed!
