Where are the preachers?

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Today, I'm going to share about one of my favorite things in all of the world....preaching. Not so much about the mechanics of preaching, but about the necessity of preaching and preachers. There are perhaps none so maligned in this world as those who preach the gospel. Preachers are often parodied in cartoons, sitcoms, and other media. They are typically displayed as angry, narrow-minded, hate-filled, cold figures. Satan has done a tremendous job of stereotyping preachers as being totally irrelevant to the society around them. However, they are God's tool and instrument here in the earth, to spread forth the Word of eternal life. We read in II Timothy that in the last days, men will heap "teachers" unto themselves because they have "itching ears" and desire to hear fables instead of truth (II Tim 4:3). I think it is noteworthy that it is teachers that will be in demand....not preachers. This is not to denegrate the office of the teacher. We read in Ephesians that there are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (some combine the two offices of pastor/teacher) whose job is to equip the saints to do the work of ministry. Teachers are vital to the health and spiritual growth of the Christian community. But without the preacher, the message of the teacher becomes difficult...if not impossible.

The prophet Isaiah foretold that Jesus the Messiah would come to "preach good tidings unto the meek.." (Isaiah 61:1) This prophecy came to fulfillment in Luke 4:18-19. Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh to preach God's message :

Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

Jesus validates and confirms Jonah's preaching in the gospels:

Luke 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is he

Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, declares that Noah was a "preacher of righteousness"

II Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

We find John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness when his ministry began.

Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

Jesus' ministry was characterized by preaching (among other things like healing the sick, etc.,etc.)

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him

We also see the disciples preaching the Word of God (when Jesus was with them...and after His ascension)

Luke 9:6And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women

Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached

Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Acts 15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Acts 20:9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more

Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him

I think it might be in order here, to look at a definition of the word preach. The word translated "preach" is the Greek word "Kerusso" and here is how it is defined as from the Strong's Concordance:

1. to be a herald, to officiate as a herald
a. to proclaim after the manner of a herald
b. always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed

2. to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done

3. used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers

So we can see, that preaching is defined as a demonstrative action. It is an impassioned plea from one heralding that there is a judgement to come...a heaven to embrace...a hell to shun. People often wonder why preachers get so animated....it's the nature of the office! A preacher that is not emotionally involved in his topic and has no passion is a preacher that needs to sit down in my humble opinion. His message is one of life and death- heaven or hell- it demands attention and it requires that the messenger proclaims with the utmost urgency, fervency, and gravity! Thank God for the true preachers of the gospel!!

I realize that the world thinks preachers are silly and foolish. God even told us in His word that they would. However this is HIS method (not ours). God has chosen the "foolishness" of preaching (not foolish preaching, mind you) to save them that believe. Have a look at this beautiful passage about preachers in I Corinthians:

I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe

You may not agree with it, and you may think it is silly for a man to ascend into a pulpit (or wherever he preaches...whether it be a pulpit, a street corner, or out in the wilderness like John the Baptist) and herald the good news of the gospel like a trumpet (Isaiah 58:1)- but it is the method God has chosen to save them that believe! God has commanded the preachers to preach, but we must preach His message and not our own.

Acts 10:42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

II Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus

II Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

A preacher must be called of God. He cannot take this office upon himself or he will be destined for failure.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The preacher must faithfully discharge all the duties of his ministry. If he refuses the call to preach the gospel, he faces the judgement of Almighty God. Paul understood the Divine Mandate upon every preacher called of God. I cannot state this any more eloquently or gravely than he did to the Corinthians:

I Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

I close this article by asking again....where are all the preachers of righteousness? I pray that God will raise up an end time army of gospel preachers who will uncompromisingly proclaim the goodness of God and the horrors of hell. I'm going to leave you today with one of my favorite poems called "the Preacher" by Matthew Simpson. God bless you today!

"His throne is the pulpit; he stands in Christ's stead; his message is the word of God; around him are immortal souls; the Saviour, unseen, is beside him; the Holy Spirit broods over the congregation; angels gaze upon the scene, and heaven and hell await the issue. What associations, and what vast responsibility! "

Truth Ablaze-the online ministry of Liberty Worship Center
Wingate, NC