“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them” (Acts 8:5)
Proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ is the marching order of the Church of God from its beginning. The main thrust of the Great Commission is to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). To “preach” or to “proclaim” means to announce, declare, pronounce, broadcast, decree, state etc. All Christians are called to be proclaimers and “gossipers of the Gospel”.
Why should we be restored in the work/act of proclamation?
a) The Silence of the Church. The Christian church in general has become quiet for a while. The Church is the voice of God on earth to declare the praises of Him (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 3:10). We have been silent when we were expected to raise our voices and stand up for the truth and values that build up people to become godly and to be good citizens. Satan takes advantage of the withdrawal and indifference of God’s people and the community of faith when the world is messed up. A restoration in proclamation is urgently needed in the Body of Christ.
b) The spirit of the Age. Our world is bombarded with a lot of messages that seems to give hope and future for mankind. But the truth is that “the god of this age has blinded – the minds of those- who do not believe- lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Cori.4:4). The declarations and statements of the post-modern generation are unsound, unhealthy, superficial and with no real substance. There is a spirit that deceives man in a subtle way and does not allow him/her to see the dangers and turn away from it ( 2 Cori 2:11). Boldness in proclamation of the name of Jesus over the strongholds is the need of the hour.
c) The Secret of Spiritual Blessings. (Romans 10:14; Acts 8:12; 10:44-48) The heavenly spiritual blessings are God’s provisions for the fallen man who is willing to hear the Word and repent and return to Christ. God’s riches must be made known to the spiritually poor, broken and destitute in order for them to possess the manifold blessings and privileges: salvation, deliverance, spiritual empowerment, healing, and freedom from bondages, spiritual authority and much more. Ignorance of the plan of God for man means loss of God’s provisions for all. Paul wrote, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). God is willing and ready to offer salvation and all spiritual blessings, but who will faithfully and passionately proclaim these heavenly heritage?
d) The Success of the foolishness of Preaching. (1 Cori. 1:20-25). The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers and declared that, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe..” (v.21). A preacher who announces the claims of the Scripture is a foolish person, as far as the world is concerned. Because the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection does not match with each other. But the difference is made when the preacher declares the Word of God in the power and the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. It is productive because the Word of God has power to transform people and communities.
Samaria was never the same because of the powerful proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ. Can we ignore the importance of authoritative and anointed preaching of the Word? Let there be a revival and restoration in the proclamation of Christ throughout our world. Amen.
Pastor Joe Kurian
Add Your Comment