State Street Church of Christ (Bristol, VA)

Many people, even many brethren, have very little understanding of the life and the work of gospel preachers. Preaching is not simple a job, but it is the work of a dedicated soul to the glory of God. Preaching demands one's soul, life, and all. Those who are not committed to this extent, ought to keep out of the ministry.

Preaching the true gospel is not always popular. In fact, even some in the Lord's church will align themselves with Satan and the world, against the word of truth of the gospel. Paul told Timothy to "war a good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18). He exhorted Timothy with these words: "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme" (1 Timothy 1:19,20). A gospel preacher must walk by faith and maintain a good conscience. To do otherwise is to make shipwreck of the faith!

Surely, one can see that preaching is a way of life. It demands honesty, integrity, compassion, courage, and a good conscience. Young men who desire to proclaim the gospel need to do a great deal of praying and searching of the heart before they decide to preach. True gospel preaching demand's one's soul, life, and all. Only a fully dedicated heart will be able to withstand the onslaughts of Satan. Persecutions, poverty, deprivations, and insults are often associated with faithful gospel preachers.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."

Do you still desire to preach? Are you willing to count the cost and to bear reproach for the cause of Christ and the glory of God? If you answer yes, then God will be with you in all your trials and temptations. God will help you to stand alone if necessary, but one cannot vacillate nor be neutral when it comes to preaching "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

May God bless the church with faithful men who are willing to give their souls, their lives, their all to the service of the Lord.

"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;"

"Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:" "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."

"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. "Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;" "In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;" "In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." "Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."