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Prophetically positioned to preach passionately. Oh wow, talk about alliteration. That opening line reminds me of some of the things I heard when I went to a preaching and communication colloquium. And I have to admit, I had to look up what the word colloquium meant before I attended. About that opening line though. I want to say a few things about the tone of preaching today. Yes, I do believe that God has called preachers today for such a time as this to preach a passionate word! Now at the risk of sounding too subjective let me offer a couple passages.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 ESV
[1] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. [6] For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, [7] always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. [8] Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. [9] But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Additionally...
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 ESV
[1] Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, [2] not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. [3] Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion (falling away) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, [4] who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Lastly...
Matthew 24:24 ESV
[24] For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Clearly, we can see from these passages that as time progresses the days become increasingly evil. Sin abounds and mankind becomes more self-indulgent, more reckless, more susceptible to deception. Sin and lawlessness run rampant. Now I know this seemingly paints a pretty grim picture. However, it is in the midst of this that God is raising up some of the most passionate voices for the gospel that the world has ever known. He has prophetically positioned passionate preachers for this day. Hallelujah! I want to be one of those voices. I want you to be one of those voices. A passionate proclaimer of truth in these perilous times! I believe we will see some of the greatest moves of God, some of the greatest ministries, some of the greatest teachers rise up in our day with a mighty call of God on their life to be an end-time proclaimer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our spirits shouldn't be dampened by the overwhelming amount of sin and destruction in the world. Our spirits should be wide-open to God to use us like never before! Like Esther, our call to rise up will deliver many from the very destruction I speak of.
Esther 4:14 ESV
[14] For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Let's be bold and move into the fullness of God's plan for us as HIS called people! We have been called for such a time as this!