Greetings in the Name of The Lord!!
I had read some words of wisdom from a Preacher friend of mine and with his permission would like to share them with you.
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 Honoring the Word of God | maqqebet |
After recent readings and study regarding Jewish esteem for the Word of God, in particular the Torah, I was stung by a twinge of conviction. Yet, I felt even greater conviction for the manner in which the Word is often treated in traditional Pentecostal/charismatic and neoPentecostal circles.
A case in point: How many services focus upon the Word of God? If you are thinking, well the Word of God is being preached every Sunday Morning and Evening, then you miss the point and are referring to a tradition that does not honor the Word of God. In fact, in some circles, it degrades the Word of God.
How many “preachers” take the Pulpit with Bible in hand, announce their text, read their text as if it is simply the preface to their message? My experience is that most homilies simply use the Word of God as an introduction to their message and thus relegate their message greater than the text itself. I’ve seen preachers dishonor the Word by racing through the reading to get to their message – at least they read their text, right?
When the message becomes more important than the Word, then we are no better than Pharisees that erected a fence through their numerous traditions. We are bombarded with self-helps, new revelations, etc., while the Word of God serves as a prop to get the speaker’s message across.
It is a dangerous thing to announce from the pulpit, “I have a word from the Lord.” In some cases there may be a prophetic message for the congregation, but illumination and expounding is not the same as the Word of God. The speaker’s message is not the word of God; it is a commentary regarding the word of God.
The more liturgical churches honor the Word through responsive readings. Yet, historically such liturgical approach to worship has been ridiculed by the “free spirit” of the holiness/Pentecostal movement. In our informal formalism, we honor the experience and dishonor the Word by placing experience over the Word of God.
Many messengers drive the message by their emotions, rhetoric, and mannerisms rather than allowing the Word of God drive the emotions. And if the emotional response is not forthcoming, some will manipulate the situation to get their desired response [thus feeding their own egos while creating an unhealthy co-dependence]
We come looking for a manifestation of God rather than to honor God. We sing songs about God that create an emotional image and then if played long enough and loud enough, pandemonium breaks loose. How often have I heard the refrain, “Boy, we had church! We didn’t even have preaching!” How asinine.
As preachers and teachers we need to get over ourselves and rethink what we are doing when we meet for church services. I have been referred to as a “great” preacher by some, but then again, as one man put it, I hadn’t challenged him to “climb up higher.”
Somewhere we missed the emphasis regarding the esteem of the Holy Scriptures that the early church continued ~ simply honoring the Word of God by public reading the Word of God.
Nehemiah 8:5-6, 8
| Quote: | | 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with {their} faces to the ground. 8And they read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. (NAS) |
1 Timothy 4:13
| Quote: | | Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. |
Revelation 1:3
| Quote: | Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it…”
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I realize that I will be called to task by some for stating this position [I was called to task and publicly embarrassed at a General Assembly for voicing an opinion – the first and last time I addressed any issues]. But, to borrow a page from Habakkuk, “I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved.” ~ 2:1.
I am not advocating the abandonment of preaching and teaching. I am not advocating there is no room for the prophetic voice. I am not advocating that there is no place for experience and emotion. I am advocating that we should be more reverent towards the Word of God and honor the Word of God.
I answered it this way,I needed to hear those words. It seems folks are seekers but do they really know what they are seeking? I will agree that you are a Great Preacher maqqabet! There are times I have meditated on those same thoughts, wondering why I have not seen passion and fire in preaching that I saw from Dad. I/we should be reaching the lost with the words of Jesus, and not on our smarts.. I hear folks talking about, this big thing over here, and that big thing over there, and chaseing miracles they can see. But JESUS is the miracle worker, and the Bible is HE speaking to us. What more do I need.
To God be all the glory for all my days.
We must proclaim from the rooftops that Jesus is the King of Kings.
Blessings to you all.
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