In Nahum 1:15 the Word of God says “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace!”
This week, Michael writes that 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. According to Isaiah 52:6-7“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, Thy 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 hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Who delivers the Good News? According to 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, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” So then faith cometh 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? The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “preach as: 1. To pronounce a public discourse on a religious subject, or from a subject, or from a text of Scripture. To inculcate in public discourses. Conversion and repentance. To proclaim; to publish in religious discourses. 2. To discourse on the gospel way of salvation and exhort to repentance; to discourse on evangelical truths and exhort to a belief of them and acceptance of the terms of salvation. To preach Christ or Christ crucified, to announce Christ as the only Savior, and his atonement as the only ground of acceptance with God.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 says, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament.” God through the Holy Spirit will equip you when you speak forth His Word boldly and in love. That which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou unto faithful men and women who shall be able to teach others also.
Let's continue Michael's message on the beautiful feet that bring good tidings in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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