Bring Good News – Part 1 - Speaking and Preaching

THis week, Michael writes: God often uses the least expected thing to do His best work.  He used undistinguished fishermen and a ragtag team of Galileans to change the world.

Isaiah 52:6-7 Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’” How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, ho says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

These verses lead to the great gospel message in Isaiah 53:4-6 about the supreme sacrifice Jesus paid on our behalf. “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

For he who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Nahum 1:15 “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.!”

Who delivers the Good News? 

Romans 10:14-17 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? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

How do they receive the word of God?  Faith comes by hearing the Word. They won't hear the word unless someone preaches it. As men and women of God, and Ambassadors for Christ, we have been called and commissioned with the mission of speaking and preaching or "heralding" the Word of Truth. What are the credentials required to preach the Word?  Do you need to go to seminary and earn a Doctorate of Theology before you can preach? 

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Let continue Michael's message on "The Good News" of Jesus Christ on the next post.

In Christ, Brian