Matthew 13:44

Philippians 3:8-9

While listening to a sermon by one of my favorite modern day theologians (R.C. Sproul) my mind and spirit were captured by his opening prayer. Here is what he said; “Lord help me to preach boldly, with accuracy no matter what the cost”, (Together for the Gospel DVD series, Ligonier Ministries, 2008). In a modern setting it is truly difficult to find preachers willing to stand firm in the faith by preaching God’s word with accuracy and boldness. Many people find that hard to believe. With a thorough investigation into what happens to bold preachers who preach with accuracy will prove this maxim.

Powerful people of society have taken over many of our churches today. The preachers across this nation often go into a church with honorable intentions and great spiritual hopes. After settling into the position as pastor and starting to preach on some of the difficult subjects the powerful members become uncomfortable and show resentment for the pastor. The rest is history. The powerful member begins his/her campaign to make serving God difficult for the man if he continues preaching hard truths.

When a preacher finds himself in this position he has to make a decision. Will he stay until he is run out for the sake of truth or will he conform to the ideas of the sinners he originally hoped to help?  If the gospel is worth anything at all to the preacher he will hold to the truth without wavering. To please God is better than to be accepted by man!!

  • Justification by faith alone = Ephesians 2:8 for by grace are you saved and not of yourselves, it is a gift of God.
  • All have sinned = Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
  • Jesus is the only way to Heaven = John 14:6 I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the father but by me.
  • Some will not be saved = Matthew 7:22-23 many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me you that work iniquity.
  • We are created to glorify God = Revelation 4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
  • We are not created for our own fulfillment = Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
  • God’s word is truth = John 17:17 sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
  • There is no private interpretation of God’s word = 2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation.

Many times Christians hear someone say they belong to a church and believe it is a church that preaches truth. That is a sad mistake. Our evangelism cannot stop with knowing if someone belongs to a church. We must ask do you believe in Jesus Christ.

CHURCHES OF TODAY

1. Church of scientology (belief in science itself above anything else)

a. Many of society’s elite subscribe to this religion

2. The Church of Ed Wood (a self professed cult)

3. The Church of non-believers

4. The Church of Moo (based on silliness)

5. This one deleted due to error. With apologies to the church of wifi. They are not really a church.

6. The church of satan

7. The church of the grey (you write your own holy book)

8. The church of the spiral tree (a membership made up of pagans)

9. The church of euthanasia (pushing for controlling the population through euthanasia)

10. Church of the seven African Powers

I. TRUTH IS HARD = holds a level of difficulty

a. To Preach

i. The Preacher stands in jeopardy of offending the audience

b. To Hear

i. Truth often goes against our desire

II. TRUTH IS HAUNTING = evoking strong emotion

a. Breaking your heart = brought to the place, by the moral compass of truth, to know you have wronged God through sin

i. Understanding all sin is against God.

b. Breaking your will = no longer willing to perform particular actions

i. This is old fashioned Holy Ghost Conviction!

c. Breaks ties between people = light and darkness have no fellowship together

i. We must understand we are at enmity with those of wrong doctrine concerning scripture and God

III. TRUTH IS HONORABLE

a. Worthy to be preached

b. Worthy to die for

c. Worthy to be persecuted for

d. Worth dying for

IV. TRUTH IS WHOLE

a. Without error = Gods word given by Himself is without error as He is holy and righteous. He has no sin, therefore His word is without error.

b. Leaves nothing undone = good for all things pertaining to life and Godliness.

c. Unchanging = Gods word is unchanging and is good for all generations.

d. The final word = truth always reaches beyond emotions to give the real picture and presents things according to reality.

Gods word is true. Gods word gives direction to every life. Gods word gives answers to every question. Gods word points us to the one who gives life, direction and answers. Anything other than Gods truth will lead you into error.