“In Every Way Christ Must Be Preached!”

“In Every Way Christ Must Be Preached!”
A pastor with many congregations asked a layman to preach in the main congregation while he went to another congregation. When he returned majority of his Christians complained to him that he should never allow that man to mount the pulpit again. He asked to know what happened but they simply told him the sermon was the worst they had ever listened to. The pastor was silent for some time. Then he asked the complainants, “Did the preacher call the name of Jesus Christ?” They responded in the affirmative. So he asked them, “If the preacher called the name of Christ in his sermon what else did you want to hear?” They left like timid and fearful dogs with their tales between their hind legs.
Paul was in prison and those who were in competition with him took advantage to preach messages that would hurt his spirit. When he got news of this he told the Philppian Christians, “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has hapoened to me will turn out for my deliverance…”(Phi.1:15-21).
Nothing should seperate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus. Even those who say there is no God are unconsciously accepting his existence. Even those who think Jesus Christ is not the same today as he was yezterday and forever will be, are unconsciously saying He Is! You cannot say something does not exist unless you have an idea of that thing.
Whether from a bad preacher or those who preach from false motives our joy should be that “in every way Christ is preached.”
Jesus Christ is the answer to every human predicament.
I remember the origins of catacombs. When the early believers were being persecuted they started worshipping in secret places underground called catacombs. To identify themselves each time they met in public they adopted the sign of the fish.
The fish in Greek is called ΙΧΘΥΣ (ichthys), which is an acronym or acrostic for Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios , Sōtēr; which translates into English as ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God Saves.
Nothing in all creation can stop us from exalting the name of the Lord Jesus Christ but we must be wise as serpents and cunning as doves. We shall overcome but let us listen to the doctors through whom God is speaking to us without compromising our fath.
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ our prayer is that no matter the weather or season, let your name be preached. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!