How does God make a truth preacher in our time!
A. Things a truth preacher must be:
1. Ro.10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the
message is heard through the word of Christ.
2. John 6:63
It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profited nothing;
the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are life.
3. 1 John 5:7
It is the Spirit that bears witness, for the Spirit is the truth.
4. Acts 11:15
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come
on us at the beginning.” (Acts 2:1-4)
5. 1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words
of God. … so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus.
B. In the case of Apollos: (Acts 18:24-28)
1. He was a Jew, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man. 18:24
2. He was mighty in the scriptures. 18:24
3. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord.
4. He was fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the
things concerning Jesus. 18:25
5. He knew only the baptism of John. 18:25 (He had a short coming!)
6. He speaks boldly in the synagogue. (He was bold on what he knew!)
7. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them and
expounded unto him the way of God more accurately. 18:26
(God sent ordinary believers to guide him into the truth!)
8. When he wanted to go to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and
wrote to the disciples to receive him. 18:27
9. He helped them much that had believed through grace; for he
powerfully confuted the Jews, publicly, showing by the scriptures
that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 18:27-28)
Using what is in the Bible to show Jesus was the Christ.
C. In the case of Apostle Paul: (Acts 22:3-15)
1. He was a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in Jerusalem.
2. He was thoroughly trained in the law and was zealous for God.
Jesus had to appear to him in person to change him! Acts 9
3. God appointed him to know His will … to hear a voice from Jesus.
4. He was to witness unto all men of what he had seen and heard.
D. They utilize the mind of Christ in preaching! (1 Cor.2:1-16)
1. My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 2:4
2. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God. 2:5
3. We have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor.2:12-16
Let what is in the Bible explain itself! (1 Cor.2:12-13)
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who
is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but
in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in
spiritual words!
(In our day's expression this is let Bible words explain Bible truth!)
God bless you all! Sept., 26, 2008.