I Approve This Message?

If you turn on the television today, you will eventually see an advertisement by one of the Presidential candidates supporting their campaign or attacking someone else’s. At the conclusion of the ad, the candidate says "I'm .....and I approve this message". This concluding statement, while rather corny in my opinion, got me thinking.

As a communicator of God's truth, I long for God to approve my message to the world and to his Church. Sadly, many pastors who stand behind GOD'S PULPIT waste the time that they have and do not preach the Word of God in an unadulterated and undiluted manner. They choose to preach messages that lack true biblical content and appeal exclusively to one's feelings while providing a myriad of illustrations in hopes to make the congregation laugh and feel good about themselves. While God has challenged me to pray for these Pastors rather than speak gossip about them, I have been internally challenged to be different and to utilize the time God has given me behind his pulpit. Please pray that I will, according to 2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present myself APPROVED to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." According to scholars, the word "approved" means "proven to be worthy after testing". John Macarthur says "What is the goal of the teacher? To make a maximum effort so he might someday stand alongside God unashamed because he has proven himself to be worthy". Now, there is one more nugget of truth that I want to bring to light through this well known scripture passage. The phrase "rightly dividing the word of truth” refers to "cutting a straight line". For a preacher to "cut a straight line", he must preach the Word, not his opinion. The Apostle Paul spent hours and hours a day laboring to make tents. In order to make these tents, he had to utilize animal hides, skins, and other materials. He had to meticulously cut these materials in order to piece together a successful tent. At times, logic would tell us that he had to cut straight lines in order for each piece of material to line up together. It took many hours and wasn't an easy task. Just as Paul had to pay attention to detail, cut straight lines, and work extremely hard to put together a tent, I have been challenged to exhaust myself in the meticulous study of God's Word and prayer. In addition, I long to "cut straight lines" when I have the opportunity to preach. Why? The scripture commands me too. The Apostle Paul, in the midst of false teaching and heresy, commands his young protege in the faith, Timtothy, to "cut straight lines" when he handles the Word of God.

As a preacher, it's not about the illustrations and 3-point sermons we provide, even though they can be effective, it's about exalting the God behind and in every word and command written in the precious scriptures. Please pray that I am diligent in studying the scriptures so that I can "cut a straight line" while preaching God’s truth. Furthermore, pray that I will saturate every message in prayer. Finally, please pray that my heart is humbled and that the Holy Spirit fills me and guides me behind the pulpit.