Soldier for Christ

In His Name Devotionals
A SOLDIER FOR CHRIST

“His sermons are weak,” “He’s too self-focused,” “He’s one level,” “He’s arrogant,” “He misapplies and misrepresents Scripture,” “etc.” Most preachers have felt the blunt of criticism. Those who are spiritually motivated and God fearing listen intently to both good (well meaning) and bad (hurtful) criticism. Through prayer and self- evaluation, Christ-like and spiritually sound preachers always change for the best, and such change becomes obvious over time. As a public servant for God, shouldn’t a gospel preacher always be growing spiritually? Shouldn’t a gospel preacher’s spiritual growth be an obvious part of his life over the years? What does a lack of spiritual growth demonstrate? A changed life? A Christ-like life? A mind spiritually strengthening and improving? A worker growing spiritually? Or does it demonstrate the opposite?

Like Hawthorn’s “Great Stone Face,” shouldn’t a gospel preacher, after years of prayer, study, and practice, be more like Jesus? Why would any of us accept, believe in, and follow a spiritually flawed preacher? Could it possibly have anything to do with a lack of prayer and study—lack of spirituality—on our part? Perhaps something like the blind leading the blind?

Most of us are aware of and recognize Satan’s destructive use of culture and Bible criticism. But do you think that he also might have preachers who unwittingly undermine God’s truth and hurt the church?

Isn’t a gospel preacher a teacher of God’s Word? Shouldn’t he be expected and required to constantly expose and refute those who contradict Scripture (Titus 1:9)—defending God’s Holy Word from Satan’s attack? But how can he defend what he doesn’t know?

The gospel of Christ has the power to: set people free; soften hard hearts; open blind eyes; give sinners a new birth; transform life; and save families.

It is only through God’s Word, that He makes us more like Jesus Christ. That is why Christians should be greatly concerned when the Bible is attacked, misapplied, misused, or misquoted by anyone. Believers should be especially outraged when a preacher undermines the effectiveness of God’s Word by confusing and/or obscuring its meaning. Instead of hiding our heads in the sand, shouldn’t we be compelled to take action? To do something about it? What does it reveal about us if we don’t step into the fray?

Exposing attacks on the Bible is a monumental endeavor for any Christian, especially for a faithful and spiritual preacher of the gospel. Why? Because attacks come from just about every angle and take on a variety of forms. False teachers, cults, critics, cynics, false religions, scientists, philosophers, the culture, and even preachers and members of the church have all taken their shots at God’s Word.

These attacks do, however, share a common denominator. Satan launched the first attack on God’s Word in the Garden of Eden, and he has spearheaded the assault ever since. Seeking to exalt himself above the Lord, he labors ceaselessly to thwart God’s will and rob Him of His glory by attacking His truth and the people who profess it.

Put simply, God is the Father of truth and Satan is the father of lies, and that defines the battle.

Because we are followers of Christ, there is no doubt how we are to respond to Satan’s attacks on God’s truth. We are to contend for the faith – the gospel of Christ. We have been thrust into a battle over truth, and so we must don our armor and prepare for battle.

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not professing Christ, however boldly I may be confessing Him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved. And to be steady on the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point” (Martin Luther).

As a member of the body of Christ, do you share your love for God’s Word? Are you steady on the battlefield, defending the purity of its message? Have we experienced its life-changing power in our lives not only at the point of our conversion, but every day since? Do we believe that it alone can make us like Christ as it exposes our sin and hammers us more and more into His image? Do we truly believe that just as it saved and now sanctifies us, God’s Word can save anyone, anytime, anywhere? Then why do we accept and perhaps expect less from a preacher of the gospel? As defenders of God’s Word, we all need to find out where Satan’s attacks are coming from today, and if the results of that finding point to a preacher, then we must take action or be doomed to join those already spiritually consumed, devoured, and destroyed by Satan.

The Bible tells us that Scripture is a two-edged sword, able to pierce even to the division of soul and spirit. It cannot return void! For that reason alone, a preacher shouldn’t be surprised when he hears from believers whose hearts have been sadly touched to respond to the Bible teaching he provides.

God does not depend on any full time preacher to advance His kingdom. Every life He chooses to touch through a particular preacher’s outreach demonstrates His grace, not a preacher’s ingenuity. Every spiritual success reflects God’s sovereignty and mercy.

The battle for truth is raging. Are you equipped for the battle? Are you a soldier for Jesus? Are you following, leaning on, being true to, and defending a preacher or God? Is your faith grounded on God’s Word or man’s? Your answer has eternal implications!