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Acts 14:21-23 – The Work Of A Preacher
Several kids came up to me and innocently asked, “What do you do?” I get asked that question by adults too! My answer began with, “I pray a lot.”
Warren Wiersbe observed in his Elements of Preaching, that “PREACHING IS THE COMMUNICATING OF GOD’S TRUTH BY GOD’S SERVANT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE. If we accept this definition, we are making several important affirmations. There is such a thing as God’s truth. We can know this truth, experience it, and share it others. People can receive this truth, apply it, and be changed by it. We are also accepting some serious obligations. We must know God’s truth ourselves. We must experience the truth personally. We must know the people we minister to so that we may better apply the truth to their needs. We must diligently learn how best to communicate the truth to others. We must grow in our love for truth and our knowledge of it, so that our ministries might increase in depth and effectiveness.”
Several passages detail my work as a preacher. One such example is specifically referring to the apostles, but we see the same truths taught elsewhere concerning preachers: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Emphasis is not always stated via order, but I wonder if prayer is mentioned first purposely. I also wonder if we preachers do not spend enough time praying. Of course, that could be suggested for all of us.
In this passage the apostles did not want to take time from their appointed work to “serve tables.” To show they did not denigrate that particular work, they used the same verb to describe their own work – diakonia translates both serving (v.1) and ministry (v.4). Each work needed doing, but not by every believer. As we recast this and make application to our time today, too often elders and preachers are not able to concentrate on their work due to the other types of serving they do which instead should be shared among the others. Someone observed, “The preacher does the work of the elders, while the elders do the deacons work, while the deacons do nothing.” When that happens, everyone is being disserved because no one is serving according to their God-ordained work. While everyone needs to pray, and most likely pray more often and more intently, praying must take up a significant amount of time of those who are devoting themselves to the ministry of the word. That is why I am a minister.
Look up the following passages and look again at the word “ministry” or more specifically the form of the word as “minister,” and some other words used to describe my work: Romans 15:16; Ephesians 3:7; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 1:23; Colossians 1:25; Colossians 4:7; 1 Timothy 4:6.
Another passage in Acts describing the work of a preacher is again describing two apostles or preachers: Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:21-23). Three works are delineated in this instructive passage:
(1) Ministers of the word preach, hence we are called preachers. We preach to unbelievers by studying the word of God with them. John Wesley said, “No man ever went to heaven alone; he must either find friends or make them.” While applicable to all, it especially applies to preachers.
(2) Our work among believers is to increase the spirituality of those who accept Jesus’ teaching by strengthening through supporting, and encouraging through personal efforts. Notice that this effort includes more than simply complimenting people – it includes forewarning that not all will be easy: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Likewise, your responsibility is by responding, to be strengthened and encouraged. Attitude on the part of believers goes a long way in helping the preacher accomplish his work. If other preachers are like me, one of our greatest fears is that we are wasting our time.
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as also long to see, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying more earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:5-10)
When we preach from God’s word, our goal is not just to do a “good job.” Our main goal is change people including ourselves. Help me strengthen and encourage you by responding, by becoming stronger in the faith – by changing when change is needed.
(3) As preachers make disciples, and then help them grow in the faith, the process continues as some become changed and transformed into mature Christians and become appointed as elders. Paul instructed two preachers, Titus and Timothy to accomplish this work of a preacher. Sadly not enough preachers emphasize this aspect of their God-given work, just as many do not emphasize enough evangelizing the lost. And sadly, not enough men become strengthen and encouraged enough to spiritually grown into this needed work.
The work of a preacher is to – preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, [4] and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. [5] But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)
This is a warning to the preacher – but it is also a warning to all believers. You can either help or hurt my work as a preacher. You can strengthen and encourage me to preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. You do this:
- By enduring sound doctrine;
- By not wanting to have your ears tickled;
- By not accumulating teachers just because they make you feel good.
My job is not to make everyone feel good – it is to change unbelievers into believers; to change weak believers into strong believers; to change believing men into elders. I need your help in this. Let us all devote ourselves to more prayer.
What A Preacher Needs (author unknown)
The strength of an ox,
The daring of a lion,
The harmlessness of a dove,
The gentleness of a sheep,
The vision of an eagle,
The perspective of a giraffe,
The endurance of a camel,
The stomach of a horse,
The faithfulness of a prophet,
The fervency of an evangelist,
The tenacity of a bulldog,
The wisdom of an owl,
The industry of a beaver,
The versatility of a chameleon,
The hide of a rhinoceros,
The disposition of an angel,
The bounce of a kangaroo,
The loyalty of an apostle,
The tenderness of a shepherd,
The devotion of a mother,
And then, he would not please everyone!
But mostly, I need your prayers!
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