Let us listen closely to our charge.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” 2 Timothy 4:2 – 3


Paul writing to this young preacher to give him his charge. This word “charge” carries a very serious meaning to it. The word means - to attest or protest earnestly – therefore we can see the importance of the word itself in reference to the word. Paul also wrote to his young preacher these words in reference to this word “charge”, “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” 1 Timothy 5:21 But here notice who Paul charges Timothy before, “ I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels…” This in itself shows us the importance of the word. This is also a charge every Independent Baptist preacher is charged with when they are ordained. In 1 Timothy 5:21 the charge is to keep order in the church, sometimes some of the membership in the church can get out of order and it is the Pastors job to keep an open eye for trouble and unruly members. Believe it or not, some people can cause more problems in a church than we want to think they can. One problem maker in a church are un-pastored ministers, or ministers who have no church of their own and all of a sudden show-up at your church, there is a reason they are not the Pastor of a church, beware of them. These would be recognized as “elders” in the church. God has set every Pastor in place as it has pleased Him, therefore you are the Pastor and leader in the church, the Lord even uses the word “rule” in reference to your title. “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 1 Timothy 3:4 - 5 As Pastors we must care for the church with the same love, care, and strength we put into ruling our homes. Not ruling as a dictator or tyrant but to rule with much LOVE leading both the church and family but ruling non the less.
Back in our text scripture the thought is the same, but the context changes from the church and family to the word. A Pastor that God has set into the church should be a strong person because the WORK is hard. The command or charge from Paul is to “Preach the word” no matter where it takes us in life. It is not lightly that I say Pastors have given their life for the word, as has Christians and churches been totally slaughtered for their standing of the word. Many preachers and churches have weakened and give into the temptations of Satan for money and larger congregations, no longer standing on the truth. As a Pastor of a small church we really cannot afford to lose another member. It is hard when one goes home to the Lord, but it is harder to see one leave because they have lost the truth. However, our charge is to “Preach the word” or to preach the truth, regardless of what happens around us in the church. We are the elected ones to carry the truth to the next generation and to make sure it does not die, no matter what. Our charge is to God Who elected us and Jesus Christ the churches Head not to any person or even to the church, if we do our Job right the church will be fine. The Lord commanded that Pastors reprove and rebuke never giving into sinfulness in the churches. The Lord warned us “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” Therefore when they leave because they no longer desire the pure word then it is not our fault. Listen, the church is the “…church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 and that is what she must be when our time has ended, and we leave the church. It is every church member responsibility to behave themselves as church members in God’s house. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God…” 1 Timothy 3:15 As Pastors we cannot allow our friendships, love for, or members tithe to get in our way of either running the church as Jesus local manager or preaching the word. We must stand tall and strong in our call, the Lords church depends on us to “Preach the Word”. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1 - 3