“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” – 2 Timothy 4:2
LIGHT FOR NOW: We don’t preach ourselves; we preach Jesus.
Paul’s instruction to Timothy a protégé of his in our opening text was for Timothy to preach the word. And he (Timothy) was to be instant in this (preaching the word) in season and out of season. The word preach from its root word “kerusso” means to announce, to herald or to proclaim a news or message. Now, the Question is, what was the word Timothy was to preach? Paul had already established in the previous chapter (that is, chapter 3) that Christ is the message (2Timothy 3:15-17). Hence, the word Timothy was to preach is Christ Jesus (salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus). Timothy was not to preach himself; He was not to preach his achievement, neither was he to preach his experience. He was to preach the word and not himself because he (timothy) is not the word. Jesus is the word. This fact is made louder in John Chapter 1 “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God”. The word in John chapter 1 was in reference to Jesus because Jesus in the word.
That is why in verse 14 of John 1, “the word was made flesh”. That is, God became a man which is Christ Jesus. Meaning Christ Jesus is the word who pre-existed as God (John1:1) in order to save man. He is the word; He is the reason for the utterances of the prophet in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus therefore becomes the focus of the message we preach because he is the message himself. We are not to preach ourselves; we are to preach Jesus. We are the messengers. We have a similar duty as the town crier. The town crier announces the message he is sent to announce, he doesn’t announce the message he feels he should announce. We are not to announce the message we feel we should announce, we have a specific message which is Christ Jesus. We are not to add details or power to the message. The message itself is power.
Paul alludes to this in Romans 1:16, it reads “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jews first and also to the Greek”. The message on its own has its power. You are not the one making the message powerful; the message on its own has an inherent ability to do what it talks about. So, you can’t do more than to preach a message already called “His Power”. Therefore, we preach a message that has its own inherent power. It is a Christ centered message. He is the message; he is the word; he is the focus. The gospel of Christ does not focus on us; the gospel of Christ focuses on Christ. Jesus is the word. Hallelujah.
INSTRUCTION: Jesus is the word, preach the word.
PRAYER: Father, I stay consistent to the preaching of your word. I am instant in season and out of season; this I do to the glory of your name. Amen.
For More Light; get the message, “The gospel of Christ” by Dr. John Linus
QUOTE: If you are preaching your word, you are not preaching his word and if you’re a preaching his word, you are not preaching your word.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2 Timothy chapter 3; EVENING: John chapter 1
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 