Preaching Exclusively

September 8

(Acts 18:4-5 NIV) “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. {5} When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: {2} Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. {5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

When Paul arrived in Corinth, he worked all week making tents and preached every Sabbath. When Silas and Timothy arrived, he was able to return to preaching the word every day. We don’t know if they both got jobs to support Paul’s ministry, or if they brought an offering along with them from Macedonia. What we do know is that they made it possible for Paul to devote himself full time to preaching and testifying about Christ. This was Paul’s passion. Knock him down -- he gets back up. Run him out of one town -- he moves on to the next one. Take away his funding -- he gets a job and preaches whenever he can. There was no stopping this guy! Paul lived to preach that Jesus is Lord. He was also very good at it -- the record speaks for itself. What are you good at? What are you passionate about? Use it to advance the gospel in some way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day