FIVE "MUSTS" OF THE MESSAGE
by Ralph Sutera
Part 1
We live in an age where western-style culture has permeated our thinking of what is normal for a Christian. The philosophy of our age is in thinking "What is in it for me?" God's message is not that at all, and any ministry that projects such thinking is adding to the superficial type experience some professing Christians find themselves.
1. The MUST of the CHARACTER OF GOD
Our culture is guilty of a three-fold sin that has even affected the Church. We are guilty of humanizing God, deifying man, and minimizing sin. Preaching must begin where God begins – in His character. He is the originator of all Truth and Who is Himself all Truth revealed through Jesus Christ. Therefore, the message to be valid must begin with how He reveals truth about Himself and what are necessary ingredients to satisfy His holiness. We must always remember that the character of the One being worshipped determines the qualifications necessary of those who worship Him. Psalm 24:1-4 Therefore, revival –oriented (as well as all other) preaching must begin with the character of God being brought into sharp focus, so that all our decision making processes are determined according to how they relate to the character of God. Isaiah 5:16.
Man would want to believe that the most important thing in life is how he can enhance his own interests and improve his own life-style, with very little thought as to how it all relates to the character of a holy God. And so, biblical preaching must have at its start and center the character of God with all His attributes. When decisions are made on the basis of His character, the affects are not merely emotional, but with the heart motivations that produce holy living. Psalm 99:9
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