Preach, Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort

 Happy Sunday!

"I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with INTENSITY; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple. You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant."(2 Timothy 4:1-5 Message).

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to his son in the ministry, Timothy.  BUT God inspired them to be written so that we could also benefit from them.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."(KJV).

Verse 2 in the King James Version says, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."(2 Timothy 4:2).  Four instructions for all of us.  First PREACH.  Jesus said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and TEACH them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."(Matthew 28:18-20 CEV).  Second REPROVE.  Reprove is defined as "To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend".  Proverbs 13:24 says, "He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, But he who LOVES him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love]."(Amplified).  Don't miss this!  If you truly love someone you will tell them the truth!  Love always involves hate.  When you love people, you will hate what is killing them, hurting them, or sending them to Hell!

Third REBUKE.  Matthew 8:26 is a good example of the word rebuke.   It says, "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and REBUKED the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."(KJV).  The storm was out of order!  Jesus didn't debate with it, He told it to "Shut Up"!    Fourth EXHORT.  Exhort is defined as, "to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage."(Websters Dictionary 1828).  Hebrews 12:6 says, "The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own."(CEV).  Because He loves us he corrects us, but he doesn't leave us there sad and broken!  He encourages us to do better.  He gives us boldness to obey.  He cheers us up, and gives us courage.

That's GOOD News!

Love and prayers, Cynthia