The Preacher’s Greatest

1. Jeremiah 4:19-22 Because he loved, he hurt.

2. Ephesians 4:15-16 We are not to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, “but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things unto him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.”

3. John 21:15-17 Peter’s love questioned then, notice the progression. Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.

4. It was love that motivated…

1) Jeremiah to peach–cast into a pit of slime, but he still said captivity is coming Jeremiah 38:1-6

2) Isaiah to preach–preached captivity and walked naked Isaiah 20:3

3) John the Baptizer to preach–had his head cut off, preached truth Matthew 14:3-11

4) Stephen the first Martyr to preach–was stoned, called Jews hypocrites Acts 7:57-60

5) Paul the Apostle to preach–suffered many things, yet said woe if he preach not the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:6

6) Jesus our Lord to preach and die on the cross–he said father forgive them, Luke 23:34.

1. Jeremiah 5:1-3; 6:16

1) We see in these verses what repentance is–change of heart.

2) We see in these verses why people will not do it–their own stubborness.

2. Jesus preached repentance

1) From the beginning of his ministry–Matthew 4:17, “From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2) On the limited commission–Mark6:12, “And they went out and preached that men should repent.”

3) To those who needed to repent–Luke 5:31-32, “And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a Physician; but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

4) The necessity of it–Luke13:3,5 “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.”

5) The great commission–Luke 24:46 “And he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

3. The apostles preached repentance.

1) Paul preached repentance to the Athenians–Acts 17:30.

2) Peter also–2 Peter 3:9 “God is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness, but longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

4. J.W. McGarvey said, “Among all the conditions of pardon and eternal life, it (repentance) is the most difficult to bring about.”

5. Afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. King Louis XV of france had two court preachers. Read from McGarvey

1. A great inward desire for the word–Jeremiah 20:7-9 “O LORD, thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

2. A great outward example of the word without–1 Timothy 6:11-14 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. The attitude of a lion–1 Timothy 1:18-19 “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.”

4. The meekness of a lamb–2 Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

5. The watchfullness to warn others–1 Timothy 4:1-6 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

6. The obligation to be sound in the faith–2 Timothy 1:13 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

7. The discipline to put the scriptures in–2 Timothy 2:14-15 “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

8. The courage to let the scriptures out–2 Timothy 4:1-8 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”