You Can Preach

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:14-15 NKJV

Living in LA

I live in Southern California and for almost a decade now and all that time I have watched LA Network and Cable Television. And during this time, for whatever reason or reasons, preachers have come and gone in LA television and in the pulpits of churches in and around the area.

Television Preachers

Now don’t get me wrong, a lot of these television preachers are great preachers but in my personal opinion not all of them are really great.

I mean, this is not to say that they aren’t effective in their ministries but most preachers by themselves are not really great preachers. Well of course some of them think so, but that’s another matter. And I am not even talking about their hidden lives when the cameras aren’t rolling.

Sunday Morning TV Preachers

But let us take for example Mike Webb of Foothill Family Church. Now I like Pastor Mike, I watch him preach every Sunday morning. But really, he is so well-mannered and so laid back, I can almost visualize some people on his congregation fighting not to yawn or fall asleep.

Now consider Joel Osteen who preaches at his megachurch, many people know as Lakewood Church (no not Lakewood in Los Angeles but Lakewood in Houston in Texas), can you honestly say that he is a great preacher? Okay, don’t answer that and of course if you are a member of Lakewood Church you would most probably say yes and no I am not really saying that he isn’t.

But really, even Joel himself admits he is not a great speaker. But don’t get me wrong, I also tend to watch Joel sometimes when I catch him on television.

Okay, there is a preacher named Bayless, Bayless Conley. Now he has no qualms about admitting his past life of drug and alcohol abuse among others. But other than that, he is no different or not out of the ordinary than you and me. And if you hear or listen to him speak, you will probably be thinking the same thing. But in the past I have always enjoyed watching him on network television, although I haven't seen him on for quite some time now.

Lastly, let us also consider Joseph Prince.

Now you may not know Pastor Prince but I know they have been busy of late not only in Asia but also in North America and Australia. Incidentally, he is of Indian and Chinese heritage and preaches out of Singapore. I know many Asians love Pastor Prince. But really, his noticeable Asian accent or Asian brand of humor works for him but is sometimes hard to understand. “Ni hao?”

But There is Something About Them

But still there is something about these and other preachers that can make them speak in front of crowds of people, and people from different backgrounds. And this is so because Christians believe John 4:4 which says that there is something in them who is greater than that who is in the world (all around us).

And who that is in them only becomes evident when they speak or in whatever they do. At least that should be the case and most especially when no one is watching.

Of course the saying “less talk, less mistake” is always a good idea to keep in mind. And if you keep it to mind, it should help save your hide at least a handful of times in your lifetime.

Also you should keep in mind what St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. (And) Use words if necessary."

Great Public Speakers

Now there are some great, terrific and outstanding speakers in themselves.

But really most of this “self-made”, “self-assured”, “self-confident”, "self-righteous" people have really no need for God. And yes because many of them are really that good.

But here’s some news for them, God does not need them too.

In fact, God will most probably not use them to do His work for Him.

And of course many preachers do it on their own (their own power, their own strength, their own resources, their own ideas, their own self).

But you (if you are a Christ believer) when you finally realize that you need others in order to go through life; you can then start to realize that maybe (just maybe) you might (have a) need (for) God too.

And when you do, then you can do what God wanted to do for you, what He wanted to do in your life and realize what you can do for Him.

Do not get me wrong, we cannot all be Pastors or Preachers. Why? Well who’s going to prepare your breakfast, pack your lunch or cook you dinner? Who’s going to drive you to school, to work or to wherever you need to go? Who’s going to direct the traffic as you pass by? Who’s going to teach our kids? Who’s going to deliver our mail? Who’s going to sell us our groceries and call us at night to know if want to buy something we had no idea we needed in the first place? Well somebody has to be telemarketers and debt collectors you know.

And also who would be out there writing this online for you to read?

God loves us. God welcomed us back and God will use us because with the love He gave us, we can now love Him back. No we cannot love God with our own selfish love, heck we sometimes do not love ourselves much less somebody else.

But with the love willingly gave us, we can now also love others. Yes, even the unlovable. And even that one person you have a grudge on since the third grade (and if you still have that kind of chip-on-your-shoulder well maybe sometime like anytime now you need to get pass and forgive and forget all that).

If You Are A Believer You Are Preacher

Now if you believe God, if you believe Jesus and if you believe in the Holy Spirit, then you are a preacher. And you might already be preaching and don’t know it yet.

Now the question that begs to be asked here is that are you being a good preacher helping others come to a saving knowledge of God or are you being a bad example and are actually pushing people away from the Lord because they see nothing different or good in you.

Share God. Share God’s Word. Share God’s love. Give them to others. And the Bible says God will be with you every step of the way. I know, it might not be easy or at least it’s not easy at first. But God did not say it will be. But God did say to you, “Peace!”.

And that peace is within you, even when everything else on your world or everything in the outside world is anything but peaceful.

Remember this, anything (any word) that comes out of your mouth and everything you do is you already preaching and is actually making you an Ambassador of the Risen Christ.

If God is with you or even within you then God will always become apparent in everything you do or say. All you need to do is to just do it. And yes it wouldn’t hurt if you would read the Bible and pray to God first.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV

Hub Number: #039

Date: 2010-November-09

First Hub: http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Fork-In-The-Road