Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Paul's dying charge given before God and Christ who will judge the living and the dead lays upon gospel ministers the solemn duty and responsibility of their work through the end of time. It commands proclaiming Scripture itself, the pure fountain of inspired truth, rather than human opinions, traditions, pleasing fables, or sensational stories. It requires readiness at every time and place, in favorable and unfavorable seasons, in safety and in hardship and danger, seizing and making opportunities without waiting for convenience. It commands reproving sin and sharply rebuking evil while exhorting with patience, gentleness, love, and instruction from the Word, convincing rather than condemning. It is urgent because the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine but turn to teachers and fables, and it therefore binds not ministers only but every believer to watch, endure, and do the work of witness.
Solemn Charge Before God
The charge is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, and in those direct and forcible terms is laid out the duty, importance, and responsibility of the minister of Christ. Even Timothy, zealous and faithful as he was, received this solemn summons, which binds Christ's ministers through the end of time. It commands proclaiming Scripture itself, the pure fountain of inspired truth containing the only safe principles for life, rather than human sayings, customs, opinions, traditions, pleasing fables, vain philosophy, or science falsely so called. God's Word so preached expresses His will and wisdom, explains life's purpose, and answers contempt for His law; His will is absolute, not to be changed or questioned, and frank obedience is the highest demand of reason and conscience, while following other voices leads to falsehood and great loss.
Ministry under this charge is done as in God's presence before a dying world, with sincerity and deep earnestness as a voice from God explaining the Bible and bringing hearers those things that most concern their present and eternal good. It forbids self-exaltation, levity, trifling, fanciful interpretation, and sensational stories meant to stir the imagination and excite the emotions. It requires readiness to witness for God whenever opportunity presents itself, at every time and place, before large congregations and private circles, by the way and at the fireside, to friends and to enemies, in safety and when exposed to hardship, peril, danger, reproach, and loss. Being ready in the fitting time means being alert to the privileges of the house and hour of worship and to moments when people are already talking about religion, and being ready in the unfitting time means being prepared at the fireside, in the field, by the wayside, and in the market to turn thoughts in a suitable and wise manner to the great themes of the Bible and to urge the claims of God upon the soul with a tender and fervent spirit. Many precious opportunities are lost because the moment is judged unsuitable, yet a wise appeal to conscience through the Word will accomplish what God gave it to do, and one who sows seeds of eternal truth with a burdened heart and prayers with supplication and tears will come again with rejoicing bringing sheaves.
It is Paul's dying charge to Timothy, given when Paul was about to die for his faith, urging him to discharge his duty with all care and diligence. That charge still binds ministers today and is to be heeded in the perils of the last days. It calls for spiritual-minded men who are firm in principle, have a clear understanding of the truth, and know and practice the truth, giving the people the Word rather than new and fanciful doctrines, human suppositions, or a constant set of fables from human influences. In the last-day peril of self-sufficiency, unsettling of minds by false plans, and false theories taught as truth, error must be met decidedly rather than passing safely through danger puffed up with self-sufficiency. The church of God is to stand under a plain Thus saith the Lord and not under the jurisdiction of any human power, and those entrusted with truth are to speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit to arrest growing unbelief and infidelity rather than remain silent.
The urgency comes because the time will come, and has surely come, when people will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and turn away from truth to fables. Preaching of practical piety and true godliness by the Christlike method stands in such marked contrast to the lives of professed Christians that a dish of fables from the pulpit tastes better to them than being fed with the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby. Fulfilling the charge therefore means watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of ministry. This work is the holding forth of the word of life and the preaching of the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation, grounded in all Scripture given by inspiration of God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness to make the man of God perfect and furnished unto all good works, and it can be done through fulfillment of Jesus' promise of power after the Holy Ghost comes upon disciples to be witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The same charge serves as an ordination charge for a newly ordained minister, given after prayer and laying on of hands, placing him under solemn accountability before God and the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and kingdom, commissioning him to proclaim Scripture with constant urgency whether the time looks favorable or not. It is a charge appropriate for this particular time, requiring readiness at all times, in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. It is to be read with 2 Timothy 3:10-17 for the encouragement of those faithful in service for God, presenting their godly doctrine, life, faith, longsuffering, and endurance under persecution as the opposite moral condition to last-day evil.
Its work is to correct, warn, and encourage people with patient instruction and sound teaching, whether the moment is welcome or unwelcome, in pulpit and by personal labor. It lays upon ministers today the guiding to Christ of those who have wandered from the narrow way, by wise and earnest labor in preaching at all times, so that at the end of each year souls saved can be seen as the result of that labor. It is the means God ordained for perfecting the saints in knowledge and true holiness, communicating through ministers the words of eternal life. The charge is not merely to preach the truth but to watch for souls as those who must render account to God, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine. This applies to every minister in the Michigan Conference and, in wider application, to churches throughout the world, calling ministers to wake from spiritual lethargy, let the light God has given them shine, and carry the message that prepares a people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Preach Scripture Not Opinions
Preach the word means proclaim Scripture itself, the pure fountain of inspired truth, rather than human sayings, customs, opinions and traditions. It means holding forth the word of life and the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, grounded in all Scripture given by inspiration and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, not vain philosophy and science falsely so called. It is done as in God's presence before a dying world, with sincerity and deep earnestness as a voice from God explaining the Bible and bringing hearers those things that most concern their present and eternal good. It forbids self-exaltation and requires ministry in direct and forcible terms under the solemn sense of judgment.
Pleasing fables and sensational stories meant to stir the imagination and excite the emotions have no place in this preaching, nor do amusing stories, cheap talk, levity, trifling and fanciful interpretation. New and fanciful doctrines, unsupported doctrines, human suppositions and speculation are to be kept out of teaching and out of experience, for pure and undefiled religion is not sensational and must not encourage an appetite for speculative doctrines and theories. This includes speculation about the future state and the new earth, and measuring the future life by this life, as well as cheap suppositions, guesswork fables, fanciful interpretations and original sayings manufactured to make an impression or preserve influence. Ministers are to walk firmly and decidedly as spiritual-minded men firm in principle, with clear understanding of truth, knowing and practicing the truth.
The whole Word is to be preached without partiality, not merely the prophecies and argumentative portions, with chief place given to the greatest lessons and doctrines given by Jesus Christ Himself. Preaching keeps within the bounds of It is written, refusing to torture truth to make an impression, and holds to the great pillars of faith and the clear principles of present truth. Minds are to be kept on Christ and Him crucified and on the words of eternal life with divine authority, and on the third angel's message as a warning, without diversion into political speeches, side issues, romance, or fables with no foundation in God's Word. Inexperienced ministers who hurt themselves and bring reproach by believing fables are to be directed to become converted by closely studying the Word with men of long experience and learning the first principles of the doctrine of Christ.
God's Word contains the only safe principles for life, expressing His will and wisdom, explaining life's purpose, and guiding those who heed it in answer to contempt for God's law and the evils that follow rejection of searching truth. Since God's will is absolute, it is not to be changed or questioned, and frank and earnest obedience is the highest demand of reason and conscience, while following other voices and guides leads to falsehood and great loss. The Word is stronger than every other weapon in spiritual warfare, standing as truth against error with enduring power that nothing can replace. Teaching people to obey it and abide in Christ enables them to discern Satan's deceptions rather than being swept away by sensational claims or strange signs, with the Holy Spirit impressing its truth on hearers' hearts as the preacher dwells on its truth under its authority.
Preaching the Word includes the Sabbath truth taught clearly and forcibly, with all connected with the fourth-commandment memorial kept before the people as the test for this time. Those who stand as teachers must grapple with great themes and not occupy precious time with trivial subjects, studying the Word as a sharp two-edged sword that testifies to past truths and shows what is to be in the future. Teachers must first be learners who search the Scriptures earnestly and dig deep for its precious treasure, preaching Scripture and present truth rather than human suppositions, new theories, cheap imaginings, forced mystical constructions and fanciful imaginary doctrines.
Ready In Season Out
To be instant in season is to be alert to the privileges of the house and hour of worship and to moments when people are already talking about religion, and to be instant out of season is to be prepared at the fireside, in the field, by the wayside, in the market and in private circles to turn thoughts in a suitable and wise manner to the great themes of the Bible. That turning is done with a tender and fervent spirit urging the claims of God upon the soul, not merely preaching from the pulpit but doing personal labor for souls and seizing and improving every opportunity to further the work. Many precious opportunities are allowed to slip by because workers are persuaded the moment is unsuitable, yet no one knows what a wise appeal to the conscience through the Word may effect, for it will accomplish what God gave it to do. The one who sows seeds of eternal truth with a burdened heart, with supplication and tears and even with seeming lack of result, will come again with rejoicing bringing sheaves.
Readiness means witnessing for God whenever opportunity presents itself, before large congregations and in private circles, by the way and at the fireside, to friends and to enemies, in formal or occasional settings, to large groups or individuals. It means preaching God's Word rather than human sayings and customs at every opportunity, whether the time seems favorable or unfavorable, in safety and when exposed to hardship and peril, reproach, loss and danger. There is to be no waiting for a convenient time and no choosing of one's own time, but prompt and faithful presentation of truth without delay, guided by God's strength rather than human counsel or dependence, especially amid controversy, increasing wickedness and urgent choice between working with God and opposing truth and righteousness. Wherever there is an opportunity the worker is to press in, and where there is no opening every possible means is to be used to make one, losing no chance and missing no opportunity to let heaven's light shine through the human instrument, for every soul is precious and the Judge stands before the door. For those having the truth for the last days this is a charge to bear the Word to sinners and to fallen churches where many precious souls are, improving every possible way to flash Bible light before the people and sowing beside all waters, which requires having the light and the oil that God alone can give to burn and send forth divine truth and knowledge of what is truth.
Making opportunity when none appears, seizing opportunity as it comes, creating it by vigorous effort and sowing beside all waters belong to the verse, so that delay does not lose souls. It means making every opening to present truth and draw souls to Christ, with speech and sanctified tongues devoted to His glory and with the truths of the Word in purity and power brought into the life, instead of being engrossed in worldly business and love of trade and gain. The work is to be done now as never before and with urgent steadiness amid spiritual danger and approaching calamity, because truth is fallen in the streets, Satan has come down with great power to work with deceivableness of unrighteousness, everything shakable will be shaken, scenes of calamity are entering, and the Lord is coming very soon to establish His kingdom, while those whose life is hid with Christ in God will see His grace and salvation. Speech for God at all times, even amid a hurried, selfish and hostile world, is to be gentle, pure, elevating and holy, coming from a sincere heart and supported by consistent Christian conduct, for serious calm words spoken with right purpose can disarm opposition and win souls, while careless, trivial, harsh or denunciatory speech undermines faith and drives people farther from truth. Faithful workers therefore labor without waiting for special occasions and without judging which efforts will succeed, leaving results to God.
This readiness belongs to those bought with a price and enlisted for Christ's work and under the banner of Prince Immanuel, laborers together with God in the great work for which Christ lived and died, called to labor faithfully in His vineyard where every man is given his work, not living for perishable things but for that which endures to everlasting life. The eight-hour system has no place in it, for the minister does not count labor by hours but works at all hours and is never off duty, and as he has opportunity he does good, everywhere, at all times and in all places finding opportunity to work for God. To be instant in season and out of season is to be ready at all times and under all circumstances, in favorable and unfavorable circumstances, standing armed and equipped and prepared for service like minutemen ready at a moment's warning, depending not on personal preparedness but on trust in God. It means readiness to speak, to pray, to sing God's praises and to use influence for the Master hour by hour, speaking to this young man and that young woman, writing letters to those in peril, holding interviews requiring earnest anxious labor, visiting, praying for and with the erring and tempted, watching for every chance to minister, keeping up life and energy of character to exert a saving influence, and never laying down the burden of care and responsibility. A neglected opportunity to speak the Word of life may never offer itself again and is forever beyond recall, so there is no room to ask to be excused, and the one who loves God, meditates on His law day and night and abides as a branch vitally connected with the vine becomes one of the Lord's evergreen trees, carrying fragrance wherever he goes, with a wholesome atmosphere surrounding his soul, while the beauty of a well-ordered life and godly conversation inspires faith and hope and courage in others. Following Christ in this readiness is not freedom from conflict, child's play or spiritual idleness, but stern battles, active labor and warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil, working out salvation with fear and trembling, glorifying God with body and spirit which are His, denying self and taking up the cross, running the race with persevering earnestness and energetic movement rather than idleness, fighting the good fight of faith to lay hold on eternal life, and finding enjoyment in victories gained for Christ while working when privileged with the bread of life.
Correct Warn Encourage Patiently
The charge is to reprove sin, to rebuke gross evil sharply when it requires it, and to exhort with patience and instruction drawn from the Word, joining firm disapproval of wrong with Christlike pity and tenderness toward the wrongdoer. Ministers are not to be unduly harsh, yet forbearance must never become tolerance of wrong or excuse for it, and physical infirmity or a mild, yielding temperament does not release anyone from the duty to correct. This faithful reproving and rebuking is as essential to the prosperity of the church as gentleness, forbearance and love, correcting the opposite extreme that makes love the whole sum of Christian duty while avoiding a merely human zeal that delights in censuring and condemning brethren. Those consecrated to God will be as faithful to reprove and rebuke sin in this manner as to comfort the desponding and strengthen the weak, encouraging the obedient and warning the disobedient, speaking God's words rather than their own and refusing to yield to worldly policy or fear of consequences.
Correction must call sin by its right name, name wrongdoing plainly, bring it before the wrongdoer, expose covered sins, and declare what God has said about lying, Sabbath-breaking, stealing, idolatry and every other evil. It must not help the sinner cloak sin under a deceptive garment of righteousness, soften reproof by taking the wrongdoer's side, or palm off sin as righteousness with smooth words, but must join every effort to save the sinner. Its aim is to convince rather than to condemn, standing on the platform of eternal truth without hurling thunderbolts at those in error or storming their ears with prejudice, since prejudice is not broken down that way. It never uses ridicule or railing accusation against any person or position, never sinks to the level of unreasonable and wicked men by using Satan's weapons, loose strong personal feelings, passion and bitter enmity, but uplifts Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, exalts God's law as binding on believers, reveals love for souls for whom Christ died, and remembers the infirmities of others and their long miseducation.
Reproof and rebuke must be done with all longsuffering, humility, gentleness, love and doctrine, armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly with God, and recognizing every soul as purchased by Christ's blood and valued at the cost of His life. Dealing with human minds is the nicest work committed to mortals, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued or controlled, so the minister must not lord it over God's heritage but feel the burden for souls, with a heart imbued with the Spirit of Christ, His melting love, tender sympathy, compassion and spiritual power to restore the erring. Correction explains and enforces itself by Scripture and teaching rather than by quick, sharp human words, dictating others' course or passing sentence on any who differ, and it forbids impatience and hurry to bring a person at once to the expected standard. It leaves conscience free, teaches individuals to move from principle rather than feeling or impulse, allows others to gain a living individual experience instead of depending on another to tell them what to do, and gives time for angels to move on hearts and for truth to carry on its purifying work. If it errs, it errs on the side of mercy rather than condemnation, rejecting too much talking, strong words and strong feelings, cold Pharisaism, severe judgment and harsh dealing that destroy courage and hope, and instead taking the erring in arms of faith to bear them to the cross and bring them into contact with the sin-pardoning Saviour rather than leaving them to become the sport of Satan's temptations.
The charge includes bringing the Word's warnings, reproofs and lessons directly home to individual cases and to those doing wrong, to see whether they will heed or refuse, whether the correction is welcome or unwelcome, pleasant or not. Warnings are to be given, sins rebuked, and error and wrong corrected not only in the pulpit but by personal labor, with faithful missionaries and shepherds clearly pointing out defects and errors in the church and watching over souls as those who must give account. Even when wrongdoing is found among people in responsible positions it must be corrected with great plainness, and ministers must proclaim straight truth that makes hearers' ears tingle, laying before lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God the dangers and perils around them and the doom awaiting the impenitent, meeting wrongs that seem to defy correction and covered sins that must be exposed on the right hand and on the left. Those who follow this charge help guard the cause and keep truth from stigma and reproach.
The same duty rests in organized capacity on the church toward individual members who fall into sin, to warn every soul in danger, leave none to deceive themselves, instruct with patience and teaching, call wrongdoing by its right name, and seek if possible to restore the sinner by directing the erring to Christ's mercy and encouraging repentance and faith. Members are to watch for souls as those who must give account, watching for prosperity of souls rather than for haltings and defects and refusing to sit on the judgment seat, and when one is seen in error to go kindly and tell of the matter, meeting error with truth placed in contrast to it, removing difficulties between brethren in the Lord's name and in Christ's spirit, and removing censure upon confession, since only God forgives guilt. Parents must be earnest, patient and persevering in teaching and correcting children, continuing whether the time seems opportune or not, giving intellectual culture and moral training by the Bible and Christ's character as guide and pattern, teaching, warning and counseling persistently and establishing firm, pure principles while there is opportunity. Teachers and others bearing responsibility for youth away from parents and guardians must likewise watch and pray, preserve spiritual and physical health from contamination by wrong associations, reprove, rebuke and correct with wholesome words, set in order anyone sowing tares among the wheat and refuse to allow tares to be sown, because a school cannot succeed without discipline taught by precept and carried out in practice.
Rejection of Sound Doctrine
The charge to preach is urgent because a time was foretold when people would not endure sound doctrine but, following their own lusts and desires, would heap up teachers with itching ears and turn their ears away from truth to fables. That turning means rejecting God's Word and the gospel as the power of God unto salvation in favor of new and fanciful doctrines, human suppositions, vain philosophy, vain deceit, and science falsely so called. Preaching must therefore be of the Word whether the time is favorable or not, with correcting, warning, and encouraging done with patience and sound teaching, excluding sensational religion and any appetite for speculative doctrines and theories from both teaching and experience. Pure and undefiled religion is not sensational, and the life-work is marred when such things are brought in.
That predicted time has surely come in the last days now being lived. It is seen in spiritual dullness where practical piety and true godliness in Christlike preaching stands in such marked contrast to the lives of professed Christians that they turn away, finding a dish of fables from the pulpit tastes better than being fed the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby. It is seen when many once united depart from the faith, will not endure sound doctrine, stumble and fall and are broken and snared and taken. It is seen when satanic agents work miracles and every deception to make people believe they are Christ, requiring believers to be sensible and discern whether works are by seducing power or united with Christ and His angels so as not to be ensnared. It is seen in mingled fallacies and specious errors such as those in Living Temple that beguile readers and mislead the flock, including the perverted judgment and vanity of the long-honored leading physician of the medical missionary work, repeating ground already passed over in refuting false doctrines in the early days of the message. It is seen when solemn sacred truth is put on a level with fables, romance, and fanciful interpretations having no foundation in God's Word, while inexperienced ministers hurt themselves and bring reproach by believing fables instead of holding to It is written, the great pillars of faith, the clear principles of the third angel's message, and the first principles of the doctrine of Christ learned by close study of the Word with men of long experience in the truth.
Fulfilling the charge therefore means watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of ministry. It means dwelling upon the Word instead of stories because hearers harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary need strength for the conflict, and reproof, rebuke, and exhortation with patience and teaching elevates, ennobles, refines, and purifies imperfect character without weaving finite imperfection into the ministry, leaving the gospel to stand out in elevated, sacred character. It means not keeping silent and allowing fables to be brought in and taught as truth, but standing strongly linked with appointed messengers, letting the Word go forth as a lamp that burns, and reproving wrong methods and plans through messengers who will not yoke up with them or endorse them.
Faithful Workers and Methods
The charge to preach the Word binds gospel ministers, and it binds also every believer, church member, and worker, including medical missionary workers, physicians, teachers, parents, and youth, to proclaim it and to support evangelistic work and the last message of mercy concerning Christ's soon return. It applies to those who minister the Word and to those who combat disease, requiring full faith in dealing with the sick by praying and talking with them after Bible methods and acting the part of an evangelist. Physicians in every sanitarium must give full proof of genuine conversion and remain ready at all times with greatest faithfulness, because the enemy stands close beside them to impress their minds. Those responsible for gospel work, including medical missionaries, must faithfully correct workers whose words or actions dishonor the truth or lower its standard, correcting wrongdoing, warning against it, and urging right conduct with patience and sound teaching suited to the present time to deepen piety and strengthen faith. Believers are to take the counsel to heart, support the work, be ready to speak with those who are interested, and help the lost with words that bless. The sick in sanitariums, many of whom have been under teachers with itching ears and will not endure sound teaching, often have softened minds through suffering and may be turned from fables to truth if wisely managed by workers under the Holy Spirit's guidance speaking words received from the great Teacher, while men in danger are not to be left to their own will and unsanctified devising.
The verse requires spiritual-minded workers firm in principle, with clear understanding of the truth, who know and practice the truth and walk firmly and decidedly. Opening the Scriptures is a most solemn work requiring men of prayer, and standing to give an exposition is only the beginning of pastoral labor to present the Word to show wherein character is deficient, feeling the burden for souls without lording it over God's heritage. Dealing with human minds is the nicest work committed to mortals, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued or controlled, so reproving and rebuking must be done armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly with God, and recognizing every soul as purchased by Christ's blood and valued so highly that He gave His life to give probation for considering eternal things. The whole Word must be preached without partiality, not merely prophecies and argumentative portions, giving chief place to the greatest lessons and doctrines given by Christ Himself, with the Word abiding within as eating and drinking the flesh and blood of the Son of God, carried into daily life as living examples of practical godliness. Ministers must continually increase in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the Word, and growth in grace and knowledge, reflecting the image of Jesus and becoming partakers of the divine nature, so that influence remains beyond the desk and does not vanish like morning dew. Preaching must impart knowledge to the intellect while the heart of the minister reaches the hearts of hearers, presenting pure teaching thoroughly winnowed rather than a mixture of truth and chaff, studied deeply and spoken earnestly and reverently to strengthen those struggling with temptation and doubt. This work of holding forth the word of life as the power of God unto salvation, not vain philosophy and science falsely so called, can be done only through Christ's promise to be with His disciples to the end and through power after the Holy Spirit comes upon them to be witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth.
The charge forbids self-exaltation, levity, trifling, and fanciful interpretation, requiring ministry done as in God's presence before a dying world with sincerity and deep earnestness to bring hearers those things that most concern their present and eternal good. It forbids proclaiming human opinions and traditions, pleasing fables, or sensational stories meant to stir imagination and excite emotions, and forbids entertaining hearers with amusing stories or cheap, trifling talk. Habitually relating anecdotes and amusing stories cheapens sermons and offers strange fire that makes no life-giving impression, while constant faithfulness to proclaiming Scripture gathers more souls. It forbids manufacturing excitement by human effort, calling instead for calm, clear preaching of the Word while the Holy Spirit, not human effort, creates healthy enthusiasm. It requires energies to be given to leading people to truth rather than divided by separate business, secular business, and other avoidable demands, since ministers need time for meditation and prayer with clear minds and strength to understand needs and serve faithfully, and a timely fitting word may save a soul who is erring, doubtful, or fainting. Warnings must be given, sins rebuked, and error corrected not only in the pulpit but by personal labor, proclaiming straight truth even when disagreeable and unwelcome, exposing covered sins on the right hand and on the left rather than indulging in relating anecdotes.
Faithful preaching is calm, clear, short, simple enough to be readily understood, and carried from house to house, and hearers are responsible not only to listen but to practice the Word and share it with others. Preaching the Word includes personal work with families as part of a faithful shepherd's ministry, not merely preaching sermons: understanding spiritual condition, encouraging and reproving with patience and sound teaching, praying with them, and binding off the harvest. The duty to reprove, rebuke, and exhort continues outside the pulpit with constant watchfulness and patient care, following public preaching with personal effort, speaking faithfully about present truth, learning the spiritual state of those around, and applying truth to their needs. Men ordained to preach must visit homes, talk with family members, learn their condition, encourage them, patiently correct them with teaching, pray with them, and bind their own interest with their hearts and souls, because a flock left unvisited is left in poor condition. After preaching, work continues through watchful care, personal visits, conversation, and spiritual counsel to exhort some, reprove others, rebuke others, and comfort the afflicted and discouraged, giving themselves wholly to this work and preserving strength to respond promptly and faithfully.
Readiness includes spreading light by both spoken word and printed page, snatching opportunities as they come and being fully prepared. Hundreds of little tracts and leaflets are to be scattered like autumn leaves, presenting warning messages, the second advent of Christ, the Sabbath in brief and its relation to doctrines proven from Scripture, health and temperance principles, and experiences of faith and hope. These silent printed words impress minds and awaken interest, diffusing light in jots and tittles, here a little and there a little, in contrast with error to break through dense darkness and let true light shine everywhere. Preaching the Word can be done through well-prepared books and periodicals used with determined energy so the world understands the message that the end of all things is near and people should prepare to meet God. It means staying ready to tell of God's love and goodness, taking every opening even with fellow travelers by giving away books and speaking briefly here a little and there a little, trusting God to prepare the way. Sanctified workers bring religion into everyday business and the workshop, keeping short pointed tracts and papers at hand in food stores and restaurants to bring truth before minds they talk with, so spoken words become good seed sown beside all waters, with present-truth publications kept readily available without delay.
Being ready in season and out of season applies to a physician's work: by presenting a high standard of Christian character while caring for troubled souls, minds, and bodies, the physician serves as a missionary for the Lord and faithfully does the Master's work, for which a reward will come. The same duty applies to preaching in the cities so their inhabitants may know Christ's saving truth. Ministers are to plan wisely as faithful stewards and give themselves to aggressive evangelistic work rather than hovering over churches already raised up, preaching in places that have not yet heard the truth and doing house-to-house work, always ready to raise up companies of believers here and there in the highways and byways. Those who work in Christ's lines have the Lord working with them and learn the greatness of His promise, finding revival of the message in their own hearts, with nothing so encouraging as labor in new fields.
When the charge is obeyed in public meetings by preaching the Word and by reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine, many hear things in the Bible they never knew were there and read their Bibles more. Hearers have responsibility to receive and obey the word as God's voice rather than turn from it, and the warning must not be silenced under the judgment of God and Christ when hearers dislike the truth. When people stubbornly refuse the Lord's counsel and reproof through His servants, they reject the Lord and bring great blindness upon themselves. When correction is done faithfully, many of the erring will feel misjudged, vindicate their own course, justify themselves, become alienated from those who reproved them, cover up sins, and make light of errors and grievous transgressions that are a stumbling block and corrupt souls, unless they humble their hearts before God and confess. The call to be ready at all times to do duty in sharing truth and leading souls to Christ applies in social gatherings and especially toward people placed under one's influence, and it is urgent because people are dying, warning of accountability before God for failing to help those who die outside Christ.
Paul's dying charge given before God and Christ who will judge the living and the dead lays upon gospel ministers the solemn duty and responsibility of their work through the end of time. It commands proclaiming Scripture itself, the pure fountain of inspired truth, rather than human opinions, traditions, pleasing fables, or sensational stories. It requires readiness at every time and place, in favorable and unfavorable seasons, in safety and in hardship and danger, seizing and making opportunities without waiting for convenience. It commands reproving sin and sharply rebuking evil while exhorting with patience, gentleness, love, and instruction from the Word, convincing rather than condemning. It is urgent because the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine but turn to teachers and fables, and it therefore binds not ministers only but every believer to watch, endure, and do the work of witness.
Solemn Charge Before God
The charge is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, and in those direct and forcible terms is laid out the duty, importance, and responsibility of the minister of Christ. Even Timothy, zealous and faithful as he was, received this solemn summons, which binds Christ's ministers through the end of time. It commands proclaiming Scripture itself, the pure fountain of inspired truth containing the only safe principles for life, rather than human sayings, customs, opinions, traditions, pleasing fables, vain philosophy, or science falsely so called. God's Word so preached expresses His will and wisdom, explains life's purpose, and answers contempt for His law; His will is absolute, not to be changed or questioned, and frank obedience is the highest demand of reason and conscience, while following other voices leads to falsehood and great loss.
Ministry under this charge is done as in God's presence before a dying world, with sincerity and deep earnestness as a voice from God explaining the Bible and bringing hearers those things that most concern their present and eternal good. It forbids self-exaltation, levity, trifling, fanciful interpretation, and sensational stories meant to stir the imagination and excite the emotions. It requires readiness to witness for God whenever opportunity presents itself, at every time and place, before large congregations and private circles, by the way and at the fireside, to friends and to enemies, in safety and when exposed to hardship, peril, danger, reproach, and loss. Being ready in the fitting time means being alert to the privileges of the house and hour of worship and to moments when people are already talking about religion, and being ready in the unfitting time means being prepared at the fireside, in the field, by the wayside, and in the market to turn thoughts in a suitable and wise manner to the great themes of the Bible and to urge the claims of God upon the soul with a tender and fervent spirit. Many precious opportunities are lost because the moment is judged unsuitable, yet a wise appeal to conscience through the Word will accomplish what God gave it to do, and one who sows seeds of eternal truth with a burdened heart and prayers with supplication and tears will come again with rejoicing bringing sheaves.
It is Paul's dying charge to Timothy, given when Paul was about to die for his faith, urging him to discharge his duty with all care and diligence. That charge still binds ministers today and is to be heeded in the perils of the last days. It calls for spiritual-minded men who are firm in principle, have a clear understanding of the truth, and know and practice the truth, giving the people the Word rather than new and fanciful doctrines, human suppositions, or a constant set of fables from human influences. In the last-day peril of self-sufficiency, unsettling of minds by false plans, and false theories taught as truth, error must be met decidedly rather than passing safely through danger puffed up with self-sufficiency. The church of God is to stand under a plain Thus saith the Lord and not under the jurisdiction of any human power, and those entrusted with truth are to speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit to arrest growing unbelief and infidelity rather than remain silent.
The urgency comes because the time will come, and has surely come, when people will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and turn away from truth to fables. Preaching of practical piety and true godliness by the Christlike method stands in such marked contrast to the lives of professed Christians that a dish of fables from the pulpit tastes better to them than being fed with the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby. Fulfilling the charge therefore means watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of ministry. This work is the holding forth of the word of life and the preaching of the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation, grounded in all Scripture given by inspiration of God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness to make the man of God perfect and furnished unto all good works, and it can be done through fulfillment of Jesus' promise of power after the Holy Ghost comes upon disciples to be witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The same charge serves as an ordination charge for a newly ordained minister, given after prayer and laying on of hands, placing him under solemn accountability before God and the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and kingdom, commissioning him to proclaim Scripture with constant urgency whether the time looks favorable or not. It is a charge appropriate for this particular time, requiring readiness at all times, in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. It is to be read with 2 Timothy 3:10-17 for the encouragement of those faithful in service for God, presenting their godly doctrine, life, faith, longsuffering, and endurance under persecution as the opposite moral condition to last-day evil.
Its work is to correct, warn, and encourage people with patient instruction and sound teaching, whether the moment is welcome or unwelcome, in pulpit and by personal labor. It lays upon ministers today the guiding to Christ of those who have wandered from the narrow way, by wise and earnest labor in preaching at all times, so that at the end of each year souls saved can be seen as the result of that labor. It is the means God ordained for perfecting the saints in knowledge and true holiness, communicating through ministers the words of eternal life. The charge is not merely to preach the truth but to watch for souls as those who must render account to God, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine. This applies to every minister in the Michigan Conference and, in wider application, to churches throughout the world, calling ministers to wake from spiritual lethargy, let the light God has given them shine, and carry the message that prepares a people to stand in the day of the Lord.
Preach Scripture Not Opinions
Preach the word means proclaim Scripture itself, the pure fountain of inspired truth, rather than human sayings, customs, opinions and traditions. It means holding forth the word of life and the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, grounded in all Scripture given by inspiration and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, not vain philosophy and science falsely so called. It is done as in God's presence before a dying world, with sincerity and deep earnestness as a voice from God explaining the Bible and bringing hearers those things that most concern their present and eternal good. It forbids self-exaltation and requires ministry in direct and forcible terms under the solemn sense of judgment.
Pleasing fables and sensational stories meant to stir the imagination and excite the emotions have no place in this preaching, nor do amusing stories, cheap talk, levity, trifling and fanciful interpretation. New and fanciful doctrines, unsupported doctrines, human suppositions and speculation are to be kept out of teaching and out of experience, for pure and undefiled religion is not sensational and must not encourage an appetite for speculative doctrines and theories. This includes speculation about the future state and the new earth, and measuring the future life by this life, as well as cheap suppositions, guesswork fables, fanciful interpretations and original sayings manufactured to make an impression or preserve influence. Ministers are to walk firmly and decidedly as spiritual-minded men firm in principle, with clear understanding of truth, knowing and practicing the truth.
The whole Word is to be preached without partiality, not merely the prophecies and argumentative portions, with chief place given to the greatest lessons and doctrines given by Jesus Christ Himself. Preaching keeps within the bounds of It is written, refusing to torture truth to make an impression, and holds to the great pillars of faith and the clear principles of present truth. Minds are to be kept on Christ and Him crucified and on the words of eternal life with divine authority, and on the third angel's message as a warning, without diversion into political speeches, side issues, romance, or fables with no foundation in God's Word. Inexperienced ministers who hurt themselves and bring reproach by believing fables are to be directed to become converted by closely studying the Word with men of long experience and learning the first principles of the doctrine of Christ.
God's Word contains the only safe principles for life, expressing His will and wisdom, explaining life's purpose, and guiding those who heed it in answer to contempt for God's law and the evils that follow rejection of searching truth. Since God's will is absolute, it is not to be changed or questioned, and frank and earnest obedience is the highest demand of reason and conscience, while following other voices and guides leads to falsehood and great loss. The Word is stronger than every other weapon in spiritual warfare, standing as truth against error with enduring power that nothing can replace. Teaching people to obey it and abide in Christ enables them to discern Satan's deceptions rather than being swept away by sensational claims or strange signs, with the Holy Spirit impressing its truth on hearers' hearts as the preacher dwells on its truth under its authority.
Preaching the Word includes the Sabbath truth taught clearly and forcibly, with all connected with the fourth-commandment memorial kept before the people as the test for this time. Those who stand as teachers must grapple with great themes and not occupy precious time with trivial subjects, studying the Word as a sharp two-edged sword that testifies to past truths and shows what is to be in the future. Teachers must first be learners who search the Scriptures earnestly and dig deep for its precious treasure, preaching Scripture and present truth rather than human suppositions, new theories, cheap imaginings, forced mystical constructions and fanciful imaginary doctrines.
Ready In Season Out
To be instant in season is to be alert to the privileges of the house and hour of worship and to moments when people are already talking about religion, and to be instant out of season is to be prepared at the fireside, in the field, by the wayside, in the market and in private circles to turn thoughts in a suitable and wise manner to the great themes of the Bible. That turning is done with a tender and fervent spirit urging the claims of God upon the soul, not merely preaching from the pulpit but doing personal labor for souls and seizing and improving every opportunity to further the work. Many precious opportunities are allowed to slip by because workers are persuaded the moment is unsuitable, yet no one knows what a wise appeal to the conscience through the Word may effect, for it will accomplish what God gave it to do. The one who sows seeds of eternal truth with a burdened heart, with supplication and tears and even with seeming lack of result, will come again with rejoicing bringing sheaves.
Readiness means witnessing for God whenever opportunity presents itself, before large congregations and in private circles, by the way and at the fireside, to friends and to enemies, in formal or occasional settings, to large groups or individuals. It means preaching God's Word rather than human sayings and customs at every opportunity, whether the time seems favorable or unfavorable, in safety and when exposed to hardship and peril, reproach, loss and danger. There is to be no waiting for a convenient time and no choosing of one's own time, but prompt and faithful presentation of truth without delay, guided by God's strength rather than human counsel or dependence, especially amid controversy, increasing wickedness and urgent choice between working with God and opposing truth and righteousness. Wherever there is an opportunity the worker is to press in, and where there is no opening every possible means is to be used to make one, losing no chance and missing no opportunity to let heaven's light shine through the human instrument, for every soul is precious and the Judge stands before the door. For those having the truth for the last days this is a charge to bear the Word to sinners and to fallen churches where many precious souls are, improving every possible way to flash Bible light before the people and sowing beside all waters, which requires having the light and the oil that God alone can give to burn and send forth divine truth and knowledge of what is truth.
Making opportunity when none appears, seizing opportunity as it comes, creating it by vigorous effort and sowing beside all waters belong to the verse, so that delay does not lose souls. It means making every opening to present truth and draw souls to Christ, with speech and sanctified tongues devoted to His glory and with the truths of the Word in purity and power brought into the life, instead of being engrossed in worldly business and love of trade and gain. The work is to be done now as never before and with urgent steadiness amid spiritual danger and approaching calamity, because truth is fallen in the streets, Satan has come down with great power to work with deceivableness of unrighteousness, everything shakable will be shaken, scenes of calamity are entering, and the Lord is coming very soon to establish His kingdom, while those whose life is hid with Christ in God will see His grace and salvation. Speech for God at all times, even amid a hurried, selfish and hostile world, is to be gentle, pure, elevating and holy, coming from a sincere heart and supported by consistent Christian conduct, for serious calm words spoken with right purpose can disarm opposition and win souls, while careless, trivial, harsh or denunciatory speech undermines faith and drives people farther from truth. Faithful workers therefore labor without waiting for special occasions and without judging which efforts will succeed, leaving results to God.
This readiness belongs to those bought with a price and enlisted for Christ's work and under the banner of Prince Immanuel, laborers together with God in the great work for which Christ lived and died, called to labor faithfully in His vineyard where every man is given his work, not living for perishable things but for that which endures to everlasting life. The eight-hour system has no place in it, for the minister does not count labor by hours but works at all hours and is never off duty, and as he has opportunity he does good, everywhere, at all times and in all places finding opportunity to work for God. To be instant in season and out of season is to be ready at all times and under all circumstances, in favorable and unfavorable circumstances, standing armed and equipped and prepared for service like minutemen ready at a moment's warning, depending not on personal preparedness but on trust in God. It means readiness to speak, to pray, to sing God's praises and to use influence for the Master hour by hour, speaking to this young man and that young woman, writing letters to those in peril, holding interviews requiring earnest anxious labor, visiting, praying for and with the erring and tempted, watching for every chance to minister, keeping up life and energy of character to exert a saving influence, and never laying down the burden of care and responsibility. A neglected opportunity to speak the Word of life may never offer itself again and is forever beyond recall, so there is no room to ask to be excused, and the one who loves God, meditates on His law day and night and abides as a branch vitally connected with the vine becomes one of the Lord's evergreen trees, carrying fragrance wherever he goes, with a wholesome atmosphere surrounding his soul, while the beauty of a well-ordered life and godly conversation inspires faith and hope and courage in others. Following Christ in this readiness is not freedom from conflict, child's play or spiritual idleness, but stern battles, active labor and warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil, working out salvation with fear and trembling, glorifying God with body and spirit which are His, denying self and taking up the cross, running the race with persevering earnestness and energetic movement rather than idleness, fighting the good fight of faith to lay hold on eternal life, and finding enjoyment in victories gained for Christ while working when privileged with the bread of life.
Correct Warn Encourage Patiently
The charge is to reprove sin, to rebuke gross evil sharply when it requires it, and to exhort with patience and instruction drawn from the Word, joining firm disapproval of wrong with Christlike pity and tenderness toward the wrongdoer. Ministers are not to be unduly harsh, yet forbearance must never become tolerance of wrong or excuse for it, and physical infirmity or a mild, yielding temperament does not release anyone from the duty to correct. This faithful reproving and rebuking is as essential to the prosperity of the church as gentleness, forbearance and love, correcting the opposite extreme that makes love the whole sum of Christian duty while avoiding a merely human zeal that delights in censuring and condemning brethren. Those consecrated to God will be as faithful to reprove and rebuke sin in this manner as to comfort the desponding and strengthen the weak, encouraging the obedient and warning the disobedient, speaking God's words rather than their own and refusing to yield to worldly policy or fear of consequences.
Correction must call sin by its right name, name wrongdoing plainly, bring it before the wrongdoer, expose covered sins, and declare what God has said about lying, Sabbath-breaking, stealing, idolatry and every other evil. It must not help the sinner cloak sin under a deceptive garment of righteousness, soften reproof by taking the wrongdoer's side, or palm off sin as righteousness with smooth words, but must join every effort to save the sinner. Its aim is to convince rather than to condemn, standing on the platform of eternal truth without hurling thunderbolts at those in error or storming their ears with prejudice, since prejudice is not broken down that way. It never uses ridicule or railing accusation against any person or position, never sinks to the level of unreasonable and wicked men by using Satan's weapons, loose strong personal feelings, passion and bitter enmity, but uplifts Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, exalts God's law as binding on believers, reveals love for souls for whom Christ died, and remembers the infirmities of others and their long miseducation.
Reproof and rebuke must be done with all longsuffering, humility, gentleness, love and doctrine, armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly with God, and recognizing every soul as purchased by Christ's blood and valued at the cost of His life. Dealing with human minds is the nicest work committed to mortals, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued or controlled, so the minister must not lord it over God's heritage but feel the burden for souls, with a heart imbued with the Spirit of Christ, His melting love, tender sympathy, compassion and spiritual power to restore the erring. Correction explains and enforces itself by Scripture and teaching rather than by quick, sharp human words, dictating others' course or passing sentence on any who differ, and it forbids impatience and hurry to bring a person at once to the expected standard. It leaves conscience free, teaches individuals to move from principle rather than feeling or impulse, allows others to gain a living individual experience instead of depending on another to tell them what to do, and gives time for angels to move on hearts and for truth to carry on its purifying work. If it errs, it errs on the side of mercy rather than condemnation, rejecting too much talking, strong words and strong feelings, cold Pharisaism, severe judgment and harsh dealing that destroy courage and hope, and instead taking the erring in arms of faith to bear them to the cross and bring them into contact with the sin-pardoning Saviour rather than leaving them to become the sport of Satan's temptations.
The charge includes bringing the Word's warnings, reproofs and lessons directly home to individual cases and to those doing wrong, to see whether they will heed or refuse, whether the correction is welcome or unwelcome, pleasant or not. Warnings are to be given, sins rebuked, and error and wrong corrected not only in the pulpit but by personal labor, with faithful missionaries and shepherds clearly pointing out defects and errors in the church and watching over souls as those who must give account. Even when wrongdoing is found among people in responsible positions it must be corrected with great plainness, and ministers must proclaim straight truth that makes hearers' ears tingle, laying before lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God the dangers and perils around them and the doom awaiting the impenitent, meeting wrongs that seem to defy correction and covered sins that must be exposed on the right hand and on the left. Those who follow this charge help guard the cause and keep truth from stigma and reproach.
The same duty rests in organized capacity on the church toward individual members who fall into sin, to warn every soul in danger, leave none to deceive themselves, instruct with patience and teaching, call wrongdoing by its right name, and seek if possible to restore the sinner by directing the erring to Christ's mercy and encouraging repentance and faith. Members are to watch for souls as those who must give account, watching for prosperity of souls rather than for haltings and defects and refusing to sit on the judgment seat, and when one is seen in error to go kindly and tell of the matter, meeting error with truth placed in contrast to it, removing difficulties between brethren in the Lord's name and in Christ's spirit, and removing censure upon confession, since only God forgives guilt. Parents must be earnest, patient and persevering in teaching and correcting children, continuing whether the time seems opportune or not, giving intellectual culture and moral training by the Bible and Christ's character as guide and pattern, teaching, warning and counseling persistently and establishing firm, pure principles while there is opportunity. Teachers and others bearing responsibility for youth away from parents and guardians must likewise watch and pray, preserve spiritual and physical health from contamination by wrong associations, reprove, rebuke and correct with wholesome words, set in order anyone sowing tares among the wheat and refuse to allow tares to be sown, because a school cannot succeed without discipline taught by precept and carried out in practice.
Rejection of Sound Doctrine
The charge to preach is urgent because a time was foretold when people would not endure sound doctrine but, following their own lusts and desires, would heap up teachers with itching ears and turn their ears away from truth to fables. That turning means rejecting God's Word and the gospel as the power of God unto salvation in favor of new and fanciful doctrines, human suppositions, vain philosophy, vain deceit, and science falsely so called. Preaching must therefore be of the Word whether the time is favorable or not, with correcting, warning, and encouraging done with patience and sound teaching, excluding sensational religion and any appetite for speculative doctrines and theories from both teaching and experience. Pure and undefiled religion is not sensational, and the life-work is marred when such things are brought in.
That predicted time has surely come in the last days now being lived. It is seen in spiritual dullness where practical piety and true godliness in Christlike preaching stands in such marked contrast to the lives of professed Christians that they turn away, finding a dish of fables from the pulpit tastes better than being fed the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby. It is seen when many once united depart from the faith, will not endure sound doctrine, stumble and fall and are broken and snared and taken. It is seen when satanic agents work miracles and every deception to make people believe they are Christ, requiring believers to be sensible and discern whether works are by seducing power or united with Christ and His angels so as not to be ensnared. It is seen in mingled fallacies and specious errors such as those in Living Temple that beguile readers and mislead the flock, including the perverted judgment and vanity of the long-honored leading physician of the medical missionary work, repeating ground already passed over in refuting false doctrines in the early days of the message. It is seen when solemn sacred truth is put on a level with fables, romance, and fanciful interpretations having no foundation in God's Word, while inexperienced ministers hurt themselves and bring reproach by believing fables instead of holding to It is written, the great pillars of faith, the clear principles of the third angel's message, and the first principles of the doctrine of Christ learned by close study of the Word with men of long experience in the truth.
Fulfilling the charge therefore means watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of ministry. It means dwelling upon the Word instead of stories because hearers harassed by temptation and wrestling with the adversary need strength for the conflict, and reproof, rebuke, and exhortation with patience and teaching elevates, ennobles, refines, and purifies imperfect character without weaving finite imperfection into the ministry, leaving the gospel to stand out in elevated, sacred character. It means not keeping silent and allowing fables to be brought in and taught as truth, but standing strongly linked with appointed messengers, letting the Word go forth as a lamp that burns, and reproving wrong methods and plans through messengers who will not yoke up with them or endorse them.
Faithful Workers and Methods
The charge to preach the Word binds gospel ministers, and it binds also every believer, church member, and worker, including medical missionary workers, physicians, teachers, parents, and youth, to proclaim it and to support evangelistic work and the last message of mercy concerning Christ's soon return. It applies to those who minister the Word and to those who combat disease, requiring full faith in dealing with the sick by praying and talking with them after Bible methods and acting the part of an evangelist. Physicians in every sanitarium must give full proof of genuine conversion and remain ready at all times with greatest faithfulness, because the enemy stands close beside them to impress their minds. Those responsible for gospel work, including medical missionaries, must faithfully correct workers whose words or actions dishonor the truth or lower its standard, correcting wrongdoing, warning against it, and urging right conduct with patience and sound teaching suited to the present time to deepen piety and strengthen faith. Believers are to take the counsel to heart, support the work, be ready to speak with those who are interested, and help the lost with words that bless. The sick in sanitariums, many of whom have been under teachers with itching ears and will not endure sound teaching, often have softened minds through suffering and may be turned from fables to truth if wisely managed by workers under the Holy Spirit's guidance speaking words received from the great Teacher, while men in danger are not to be left to their own will and unsanctified devising.
The verse requires spiritual-minded workers firm in principle, with clear understanding of the truth, who know and practice the truth and walk firmly and decidedly. Opening the Scriptures is a most solemn work requiring men of prayer, and standing to give an exposition is only the beginning of pastoral labor to present the Word to show wherein character is deficient, feeling the burden for souls without lording it over God's heritage. Dealing with human minds is the nicest work committed to mortals, meeting prejudice and hearts never subdued or controlled, so reproving and rebuking must be done armed with the mind of Christ, walking humbly with God, and recognizing every soul as purchased by Christ's blood and valued so highly that He gave His life to give probation for considering eternal things. The whole Word must be preached without partiality, not merely prophecies and argumentative portions, giving chief place to the greatest lessons and doctrines given by Christ Himself, with the Word abiding within as eating and drinking the flesh and blood of the Son of God, carried into daily life as living examples of practical godliness. Ministers must continually increase in efficiency, power in prayer, intelligence in handling the Word, and growth in grace and knowledge, reflecting the image of Jesus and becoming partakers of the divine nature, so that influence remains beyond the desk and does not vanish like morning dew. Preaching must impart knowledge to the intellect while the heart of the minister reaches the hearts of hearers, presenting pure teaching thoroughly winnowed rather than a mixture of truth and chaff, studied deeply and spoken earnestly and reverently to strengthen those struggling with temptation and doubt. This work of holding forth the word of life as the power of God unto salvation, not vain philosophy and science falsely so called, can be done only through Christ's promise to be with His disciples to the end and through power after the Holy Spirit comes upon them to be witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth.
The charge forbids self-exaltation, levity, trifling, and fanciful interpretation, requiring ministry done as in God's presence before a dying world with sincerity and deep earnestness to bring hearers those things that most concern their present and eternal good. It forbids proclaiming human opinions and traditions, pleasing fables, or sensational stories meant to stir imagination and excite emotions, and forbids entertaining hearers with amusing stories or cheap, trifling talk. Habitually relating anecdotes and amusing stories cheapens sermons and offers strange fire that makes no life-giving impression, while constant faithfulness to proclaiming Scripture gathers more souls. It forbids manufacturing excitement by human effort, calling instead for calm, clear preaching of the Word while the Holy Spirit, not human effort, creates healthy enthusiasm. It requires energies to be given to leading people to truth rather than divided by separate business, secular business, and other avoidable demands, since ministers need time for meditation and prayer with clear minds and strength to understand needs and serve faithfully, and a timely fitting word may save a soul who is erring, doubtful, or fainting. Warnings must be given, sins rebuked, and error corrected not only in the pulpit but by personal labor, proclaiming straight truth even when disagreeable and unwelcome, exposing covered sins on the right hand and on the left rather than indulging in relating anecdotes.
Faithful preaching is calm, clear, short, simple enough to be readily understood, and carried from house to house, and hearers are responsible not only to listen but to practice the Word and share it with others. Preaching the Word includes personal work with families as part of a faithful shepherd's ministry, not merely preaching sermons: understanding spiritual condition, encouraging and reproving with patience and sound teaching, praying with them, and binding off the harvest. The duty to reprove, rebuke, and exhort continues outside the pulpit with constant watchfulness and patient care, following public preaching with personal effort, speaking faithfully about present truth, learning the spiritual state of those around, and applying truth to their needs. Men ordained to preach must visit homes, talk with family members, learn their condition, encourage them, patiently correct them with teaching, pray with them, and bind their own interest with their hearts and souls, because a flock left unvisited is left in poor condition. After preaching, work continues through watchful care, personal visits, conversation, and spiritual counsel to exhort some, reprove others, rebuke others, and comfort the afflicted and discouraged, giving themselves wholly to this work and preserving strength to respond promptly and faithfully.
Readiness includes spreading light by both spoken word and printed page, snatching opportunities as they come and being fully prepared. Hundreds of little tracts and leaflets are to be scattered like autumn leaves, presenting warning messages, the second advent of Christ, the Sabbath in brief and its relation to doctrines proven from Scripture, health and temperance principles, and experiences of faith and hope. These silent printed words impress minds and awaken interest, diffusing light in jots and tittles, here a little and there a little, in contrast with error to break through dense darkness and let true light shine everywhere. Preaching the Word can be done through well-prepared books and periodicals used with determined energy so the world understands the message that the end of all things is near and people should prepare to meet God. It means staying ready to tell of God's love and goodness, taking every opening even with fellow travelers by giving away books and speaking briefly here a little and there a little, trusting God to prepare the way. Sanctified workers bring religion into everyday business and the workshop, keeping short pointed tracts and papers at hand in food stores and restaurants to bring truth before minds they talk with, so spoken words become good seed sown beside all waters, with present-truth publications kept readily available without delay.
Being ready in season and out of season applies to a physician's work: by presenting a high standard of Christian character while caring for troubled souls, minds, and bodies, the physician serves as a missionary for the Lord and faithfully does the Master's work, for which a reward will come. The same duty applies to preaching in the cities so their inhabitants may know Christ's saving truth. Ministers are to plan wisely as faithful stewards and give themselves to aggressive evangelistic work rather than hovering over churches already raised up, preaching in places that have not yet heard the truth and doing house-to-house work, always ready to raise up companies of believers here and there in the highways and byways. Those who work in Christ's lines have the Lord working with them and learn the greatness of His promise, finding revival of the message in their own hearts, with nothing so encouraging as labor in new fields.
When the charge is obeyed in public meetings by preaching the Word and by reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine, many hear things in the Bible they never knew were there and read their Bibles more. Hearers have responsibility to receive and obey the word as God's voice rather than turn from it, and the warning must not be silenced under the judgment of God and Christ when hearers dislike the truth. When people stubbornly refuse the Lord's counsel and reproof through His servants, they reject the Lord and bring great blindness upon themselves. When correction is done faithfully, many of the erring will feel misjudged, vindicate their own course, justify themselves, become alienated from those who reproved them, cover up sins, and make light of errors and grievous transgressions that are a stumbling block and corrupt souls, unless they humble their hearts before God and confess. The call to be ready at all times to do duty in sharing truth and leading souls to Christ applies in social gatherings and especially toward people placed under one's influence, and it is urgent because people are dying, warning of accountability before God for failing to help those who die outside Christ.