Paul wrote with urgency, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).
I’m going to stick with what God has promised to use: the preaching of the Word of God. This exhortation is not addressed to the hearer; it is for Timothy. The one who is to obey this command is the one proclaiming the message. It is for the pastor.
Paul urged Timothy to proclaim the truth in his public ministry and adhere to it in his personal life. God was watching him, as was Jesus Christ who will judge all people. Jesus Christ will judge Christians at the judgment seat of Christ and then appear again at the Second Coming (cf. 1:10) and set up His millennial kingdom on the earth. Consequently Timothy needed to herald the Word of God (v. 2) and faithfully carry out the ministry that God had given him (v. 5).
Preach or proclaim the Word of God! That is the primary responsibility of every leader of God’s people (cf. 1:14; 1 Tim. 6:20).
The Word of God must be proclaimed in season and out of season. There is no need for meaningless and silly substitutes for God’s Word. The substitutes may entertain but will definitely distract the lost and the saved from needed conviction or edification. The truth is needed!
Sadly, but not surprisingly, trending in an alarming number of churches, God’s people are being told what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. The urgency and the task of ministry is to deliver truth. I intend to continue doing just that, by God’s grace, until the day He calls me home.
I’m sticking with the charge. I’m sticking with preaching the word!
-Pastor Kurt Seboe