Copyright © 1996-2009 Global Alphabet, Inc. All rights reserved.
BigchurchSM and Big ChurchSM are service marks of Global Alphabet, Inc.
BigchurchSM and Big ChurchSM are service marks of Global Alphabet, Inc.
 | Blogs > livingmyfaith > Recommended Reading > Continuous Preaching/Teaching |
Continuous Preaching/Teaching
|
Acts 5:42 "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." KJB When Christ gave us what has been called the Great Commission in Matthew 28 we see what he wants each and every believer to do each and every day of their now born-again lives. And this is the daily preaching and teaching of His word, the Gospel. We read in the Great Commission these great words: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20) KJB. I want you to realize something from the get go, the early Christians were very serious about doing what the Lord commanded them to do, not because they had seen all of the great miracles that He did while they were with Him during the three years of His earthly ministry. Notice, the fact, that our text tells us about how serious they were in regards to teaching and preaching the Word of God! There are several things that we need to see in the Great Commission. The first thing is the fact that Jesus was given all the power "...in heaven and in earth." What more power can there be than what was shown to man from the very beginning of time. The very fact that God spoke everything into existence by simply speaking it, what more power is there? Some seem to think that because they have many billions of dollars that they have the power to do what every they want to. I cannot help but to think that this might be true, here on this earth, but what about afterwards, where will that "money" power leave them when they die and they are standing in front of the one who has the true power? I will tell you, on their knees confessing that He is the King of King's and Lord of Lord's, and saying that they want Him to send someone to tell their families that they were wrong. Remember the story of the poor man and the rich man: And after the rich man died and found out that he was wrong: "Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:27-31) KJB. Obviously this was a Jewish rich man who found power in his wealth. Remember, when you die you cannot take it with you. What would happen if you died today, would you be as the rich man or would you be as the poor beggar, Lazarus (who was comforted in the bosom of God). The rich man died, found himself in hell and asked God to send someone to tell his five brothers about what happened to him. Folks, real power is not found in things but in God. I am not going to quote Matthew 6:33 again but read it yourself and find out for yourself what you are supposed to do. The next thing we see in the Great commission is that Jesus commands us to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...", so what is it we are to go and teach? Remember what Jesus said in Mark 16:15?"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." KJB We are to go and preach the gospel! I have spoken on numerous occasions what this "gospel" (death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Himself). When we believe, not just that Jesus died and was buried, because everyone dies at some time or another and is buried (cremation is a type of burial), but the main issue about the Gospel is that Jesus rose again the third day. That is what we are to preach to them so that they can be saved. We also need to make sure that they understand that they are sinners in need of a Savior. The very next thing we are to do is by "...baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...". I want you to understand something. BAPTISM HAS NO SAVING VALUE WHAT SO EVER BUT RATHER IT SHOWS THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE AND THAT WE ARE SHOUTING TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE HIS AND HIS ALONE. What about when Mark said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16) KJB. This is often quoted by those who believe that they need to get baptized in order to be saved, but of which baptism are they speaking of? There are two main types of Baptism spoken of in our Bible, first baptism is the baptism we receive from the Holy Spirit the instant we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and save us. John the Baptist said: "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." And then we read also from Matthew these words: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" (Matthew 3:11) KJB. The first baptism we receive, as I said earlier in this devotion, is from the Holy Ghost. The very word "baptism" is the Greek word "baptizo" which literally means, to plunge to immerse completely. We are "immersed or completely covered by the Holy Ghost” and God the Father does not see us but rather He sees the Holy Ghost and not our sins because they are covered by the blood of the Lamb of God, for when He sees the blood He will passover us and not condemn us. That is the first Baptism, the second baptism is only a picture, as I said before, the picture of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection. We are made wet by the water which completely covers us, a picture of the Holy Ghost covering us completely, and we are raised again as our Lord rose from the dead. He is standing at the Right Hand of God, so shall we be at some time in the future, but only if we are saved. The last thing that we read in the Great Commission is this: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...". You mean, the first teaching is to get them saved, and the last teaching is something different? Yes! But it is great to cover the doctrine of salvation again and again, so that they can also lead someone to the Lord the same as they were lead to the Lord. So then, what are we to teach them? We are to do what has been called "disciplining" or rather to teach them the great doctrines in the Bible. And there are many doctrines in the Bible so it will take a life time to learn them. So, are we ever completely finished in our learning about the Bible? NO! I tell you, I have my bachelors, my masters, and my doctorate in Theology but the more I learn, the more I think I have to learn. I am seeking my second doctorate and will never learn all there is in the Bible. So, do not ever think that you have learned it all because it is at that time when you will most likely be so heavenly that you are no earthly good. We are told over and over again to GO, TEACH, PREACH THE GOSPEL SO THAT OTHERS CAN COME TO THE LORD. So we will never be through doing this thing called the Great Commission because there are over 6 billion people in the world today and "most" of those will go to a Christless hell because they rejected God, the true God of the Bible, for there are many god's in this world but there is only One God who can get us to heaven, Jesus Christ, for He is the only way to the Father. (John 14:6) KJB. Both peaching and teaching is vitally important to man for it is because of this that men, women and children are saved. If we fail to teach and preach we will have to stand before God and explain to Him why not! But you know something, there is no excuse for not doing as commanded to do. The Great Commission is not given to just the Pastors and the Deacons of the church but to every one who calls themselves born-again. There are some who call themselves Christian but they teach and preach the wrong Jesus (ie., Mormon's or Jehovah's Witness). Their Jesus in definitely not the Jesus of the Bible. The Mormon's Jesus is the brother of Satan, the Jehovah's Witness's Jesus is a Spirit and not of flesh and bones. It does matter what Jesus is preached and taught! So, the only way to learn about the Real Jesus is by "Studying to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) KJB. And here is the reason why: "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness... Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:16, 19) KJB. First, get saved, Second get baptized (for not one was baptized before they received Christ as Savior), then learn more about Him by taking good Bible classes or study your self by getting a good study Bible to work with. By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co. Used with permission Assured Salvation and God's forgiveness are all that matters. |
||
10/29/2009 2:22 pm |
In the days we are talking of,Peter and John were warned many times not to preach,there were dire consequences If one did not obey they could be taken off and flogged or worse than that they could be spit on and barred from homes,people were told to stay away from them or else,But this did not stop them,in spite of the threats they kept going on ....what about us today..we too ,should live as Christ has asked us to,sharing our faith no matter what the cost,We may not be beaten or thrown in jail,but we may be spit on and ridiculed,ostracized,or slandered.To what extent are you willing to suffer for the sake of sharing the gospel with others? Love & prayers K
|
 |
 |
 |
| Become a member to comment on this blog | ||
 |
