Its all about Jesus..nothing else!
I have been reading over Psalm 22 and also preparing a study on the physical and medical suffering of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross. This Wednesday evening we teach on this matter at the chapel after prayer.
But it is impossible to read Psalm 22, and then the supporting medical information explaining the suffering of our Lord on that cruelest of crosses, without it bringing tears to your eyes and an absolute feeling of awe and thanksgiving. For Jesus suffering, was for each of us and it was horrendous. How He loves us!
As a preacher and pastor for over 31 years now, I am deeply concerned at the moving away from Biblical teaching in today’s pulpits. Today much of the language and nature of that which is paraded as teaching has no biblical reference and even much of the terminology cries of pop psychology and popular business mantra.
We hear words like self-esteem, customers, dream your dream, goal setting, the power of positive thinking, marketing, people management and one could easily attend such a ‘preaching’ session at the next ‘how to be a millionaire’ workshop in town or even the next ‘well-being’ focus support group meeting where Christ is not mentioned and find no difference in the mindset or content of the ‘lecture’ from that at some churches sadly where the Bible is not taught.
Words like sin, selflessness, submission, repentance, humility, faithfulness, forgiveness, thanksgiving, contentment, sacrifice, fear of the Lord, heaven, hell…are all but forgotten as they have been deemed to be unnecessary, passed their due date or simply too uncomfortable and not popular.
The pulpits of the Church of Jesus Christ are only to be filled with the teaching of God’s Word – Paul’s final instructions to Timothy, a young Pastor at Ephesus were, “Preach the Word!” 2 Timothy 4:2
The Gospel is not a business, it is as Paul again wrote – 1Cr 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Cr 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.
The Church of Jesus Christ is NOT an organisation, it is the body of Christ a living organism – 1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
May this Easter be about the cross of Jesus Christ and may any other ‘gospel’ be banished from the pulpits of our churches and may the true power of God be released for the changing of lives from living in sin and shame to the glorious transformation of becoming a forgiven and blessed child of God.
May the Bible be open and may God’s holy Word resonate throughout our nation as our country and its families are falling and hurting under the weight of empty words.
Rom 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..
Easter is All about Jesus and its All about His death on a cross and His miraculous resurrection……nothing else matters!