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We have already learnt that the early apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom of God which is a message about the Lord Jesus Christ.
If they saw the need to preach about the incarnation, commands, death, burial, resurrection and the second coming of the Lord, then, today’s ministers must have the same desire to preach about Christ Jesus.
Even before Jesus started his ministry, John the Baptist, had preached about Him, testifying to the truths about Him, announcing Him to the world.
“John appeared…And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:4-8).
The Old Testaments prophets, the Law of Moses and the Psalms all preached Jesus Christ when they prophesied about the coming Messiah.
“Then he said, ‘When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, And the prophets And in the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).
They could not resist the burning desire in their hearts to preach about the Lord Jesus because they had upon them the same Spirit of God.
No genuine servant of God filled with the Holy Spirit will preach and teach without honouring and dignifying Christ in the message.
Why? Because the Bible says the Holy Spirit would declare what is Christ’s and glorify Him.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes…HE WILL GLORIFY ME, FOR HE WILL TAKE WHAT IS MINE AND DECLARE IT TO YOU….” (John 16:12-15).
This is why I find people who claim to have been called and anointed by Christ Jesus, but deny Him in their preaching and teachings strange. Yes, they are strange!
Sometimes, I doubt the spirit they are filled with. If a minister is truly filled with the Spirit of Christ, he will be committed to preaching the gospel of Christ; he will deeply love the Lord
Are you a servant of Jesus? Then you have a responsibility to properly feed the flock, tend them and care for them with love, gentleness, patience and reasonable tolerance.
You have a responsibility to shepherd them the way the Chief Shepherd instructed.
God requires of the ministers of the gospel to feed, care and tend the flock until they all mature to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Paul was determined to present perfect (mature) Christians to the Lord (Colossians 1:28). We have no option but to obey the instructions of our Master.
“Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings” (John 8:31, NLT).
The apostle John seemed to have reinforced the Lord’s exhortation when he said, “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teachings of Christ does not have God” (2 John 9).
This places a responsibility on all servants of Christ to vigorously preach about Jesus, teach His commands and live them for the glory of the Father.
By James Quansah
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