Romans 1:16 KJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek..
• DAILY READING – John 19:16-42; 2 Chronicles 30; Psalm 86
On October 8, 1871 in Chicago, D.L Moody preached a sermon titled, “What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ.”
At the conclusion of the sermon Moody gave the people one week to make up their minds about Jesus. He then asked his music minister, Ira Sankey to sing a solo.
As Sankey sang, suddenly there was the noise of clanging of fire bells and engines outside the church. Soon, Sankey’s voice was drowned out by the increasing noise. Unable to continue the service, people in the hall rushed outside. They were shocked to find that flames of fire were sweeping toward the Hall where they were. This was the beginning of the great Chicago fire. The fire swept across the city, destroying thousands of buildings, including Moody’s church. Property worth $192,000,000 were destroyed, 100,000 people were left homeless, and 300 people lost their lives.
This fire incident opened Moody’s mind to how fragile man’s existence was in this world. Moody wished he had not asked the people to take one week to make a decision for Christ. He called it the biggest blunder of his life, and would never again give an audience such time to think of their salvation. From then on, whenever he preached, he would press upon the people to make a decision for Christ on the spot. The new urgency in his preaching, ignited revival fires, which began to blaze throughout the city bringing many souls to salvation.
In 2 Timothy 4:2 apostle Paul says ‘Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.’
Indeed salvation is literally a matter of life and death, therefore, our preaching should be a matter of greatest urgency.
Let us not delay in preaching The Word, because we don’t know what next may befall men. Let us have a sense of urgency in reaching the lost for Jesus. The world is in dire need of light. Every life without Christ is in crisis. Often times, the men and women that appear to have it all together on the outside, are actually tearing up in the inside. Anyone without Jesus is living in death and bondage. They are under torment of the adversary and within them there is a cry for freedom. We can’t therefore keep ignoring this silent cry.
Twice God told Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me” (Ezekiel 3:17; and Ezekiel 33:1-9).
We are God’s watchmen in these last hours. We have to preach The Word in season and out of season. We must understand that we are in a fierce battle with the kingdom of darkness over the souls of men. Everyday millions are headed for hell. There is no room therefore to delay or procrastinate. We have to use every available means and voice to reach the lost.
Paul in Colossians 1:28 compel us to “preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus’
Ours is to preach The Word, while The Holy Spirit does the convicting. And let us never forget also that there are many benefits attached to preaching The Gospel. Exodus 23:25-26 says ‘And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill’.
Indeed God is a rewarder. And as we obediently serve Him, in turning many to righteousness, we shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. [Daniel 12:3]
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to preach Your Word in season and out of season, As I speak, may the glorious light of Your Gospel shatter the darkness in men’s hearts, and bring them to salvation in Jesus Name.
QUOTE :
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]