4 Reasons Why You Should Keep Preaching the Word of God
Encouragement for preachers from 2 Timothy.
You’ve had some hard days as a preacher, am I right?
We’ve all had those moments when we wonder if we shouldn’t be doing something else with our lives. Maybe we’ve even struggled with our faith - should we just walk away from this whole “Christianity” thing?
When Paul wrote 2 Timothy by inspiration, I believe Timothy had some of the same struggles we sometimes have. God used the final recorded words of the apostle Paul to encourage a struggling Christian, a proclaimer of His word.
Preachers, we need to “hang in there” - and here’s why.
Because the Word of God is a Message of Victory
Paul was well aware of Timothy’s struggles. He even knew about the tears Timothy had cried (2 Timothy 1:4). He speaks of the faith of Timothy’s grandmother and mother in the past tense (2 Timothy 1:5) - which might indicate that they had died. And now Paul - Timothy’s “father” in the faith - was in prison and soon to be executed by Rome.
Timothy was hurting and struggling, and Paul reminded him that God had given them a spirit of “power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He urges Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel because the “good news” they believed and proclaimed was a message of victory.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2 Timothy 1:8-12)
Had they suffered for the message they proclaimed? Yes. Was Paul going to die for the gospel of Christ? Yes. Did that mean the message of good news had been defeated? Absolutely not. Christ has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Preacher, whenever you proclaim God's word, you are proclaiming a message of Christ’s ultimate victory. You proclaim how we have been given victory through Him (1 Corinthians 15:57).
In light of the fact that the Word of God is a message of victory, Paul commands Timothy to “hold fast” (2 Timothy 1:13-18). Remain faithful because, in Christ, you have victory.
Because the Word of God is a Message of Strength
When life appears to be crumbling all around us, that’s when we feel weak. No doubt, that’s what Timothy was feeling, and Paul encouraged him to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).
He reminds Timothy to “endure hardship” (2 Timothy 2:3), to “compete” (2 Timothy 2:5), and to work hard (2 Timothy 2:6). The strength Timothy would need to do this was drawn from strength “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Even though Paul was sitting in a Roman prison cell, the word of God was not contained or chained (2 Timothy 2:8-9). Not even the most powerful nation in the world could tamp down and extinguish the gospel message.
No chains are strong enough to hold the word of God.
And so, in light of the word of God being a message of strength, Paul again urges Timothy to remain faithful (2 Timothy 2:10-13).
Preacher, the message you live out and the message you preach is a message of strength - nothing or no one in this world can overcome or overpower the strength of the gospel.
Because the Word of God is a Message of Truth
After Paul reminds Timothy that God’s word is a message of victory and strength, he tells Timothy that the word of God is also a message of truth.
He urges Timothy to put great effort into knowing and proclaiming “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and to avoid things that are not right or would be of “no profit” (2 Timothy 2:14, 16).
Those who “strayed concerning the truth” proclaimed a message like “cancer” (2 Timothy 2:17-18). Their message did no good for those who heard it - it was only harmful. The Lord is fully aware of “those who are His” and those who proclaim harmful messages (2 Timothy 2:19-21). Paul described to Timothy what his life should look like as a follower and proclaimer of the message of truth (2 Timothy 2:22-26).
There would be people who turned away from God’s way to chase after their own desires. Paul commands Timothy to “turn away” from such people - don’t chase after their way of life (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Those who resisted the truth would eventually have their foolishness made known to everyone.
So Paul pleads with Timothy to examine how he has lived - he had suffered and was soon to die for the truth (2 Timothy 3:10-13). Paul wasn’t asking Timothy to do anything he hadn’t already done.
Paul reminded Timothy that he had been taught the truth - the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17). The Scriptures were all he needed to live the Christian life and teach others to live for and serve God.
Paul concluded his plea to Timothy with a powerful charge: “Preach the word!” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). His commitment to the truth with the right attitude and mindset would be what ultimately mattered for his ministry (2 Timothy 4:3-5).
Preacher, the message you proclaim must be the truth. Sometimes there may be a small group of people who want to hear it - sometimes, no one may want to hear it - but the truth is what we must proclaim and live by.
Because the Word of God is a Message of Comfort
Paul wraps up his letter to Timothy by reminding him that God’s word is a message of comfort.
The “crown of righteousness” awaited Paul at the finish line, and the Lord, “the righteous Judge,” would give this same crown to all those who also “loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
As Paul neared the end of his life, most of his traveling companions had left - for one reason or another. Only Luke was with him (2 Timothy 4:11).
We picture Timothy feeling somewhat alone in his struggles, and Paul reminds the younger preacher that he, too, knew what it was to be alone and feel deserted. At one point, “all forsook” the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:9-16). And yet, Paul wasn’t alone because “the Lord” stood with him and strengthened him (2 Timothy 4:17-18). He knew the Lord would walk this final mile of life with him.
Paul urged Timothy to do everything he could to come to see him one final time before the end (2 Timothy 4:19-22).
Preacher, the message we live by and proclaim is a message of supreme comfort. The Good Shepherd will always walk with us through the heartaches and struggles (Psalm 23).
There’s not a gospel preacher who doesn’t need encouragement sometimes. So when you go through those difficult times, realize that we’ve all been there in some form or fashion.
Even our brethren we read about in the New Testament struggled in similar ways, and God made sure to encourage them.
Keep proclaiming the message of victory, strength, truth, and comfort!