Preach It Boldly and Fearlessly Without Compromise
The sermon emphasizes the importance of preaching the Word with holy boldness, without compromise, and being willing to endure afflictions and hardships in ministry.
Arthur Vess passionately preaches about the importance of boldly and fearlessly proclaiming the Word of God without compromise, condemning all that is unholy and defending all that is holy. He emphasizes the need for holy boldness, which sacrifices self for God and others, contrasting it with carnal boldness that sacrifices God and others for self. Vess warns against cowardice in the pulpit, as it leads to hypocrisy in the pew, urging preachers to speak the truth even when it is unpopular or challenging.
Text
Preach it boldly and fearlessly, without compromise or adulteration. Condemn everythingunholy, and defend everything that is holy. Do not fear being charged as radical, fanatical, etc."Perfect love casteth out fear." Let holy boldness be your motto and defense. Carnal boldnesssacrifices God and others for self, but holy boldness sacrifices self for God and others. Cowardsin the pulpits produce hypocrites in the pew.
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together,and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with boldness." "Andwhen they saw their boldness, they took knowledge." If you want your hearers to respect you, letthem know that you love them, but are not afraid of them. It is God's word, and not your own, thatyou are to preach. "I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judgethe quick and the dead."
Preach the Word, be instant (constant) in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke andexhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come (has come) when they will notendure (or tolerate) sound (holy) doctrine, but after their own lusts will heap to t hemselvesteachers with "itching EARS" (for flattery and praise). And they shall turn away their ears from thetruth, (holiness) and shall give heed unto fables," untruth, falsehoods, pious fraud, pretense,flattery, counterfeit, evasions, deception, etc. Only crooks do not like straight preaching. "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of theministry. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. Preach everymessage as though it were your last one. "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken untoyou -- men -- more than unto God judge ye, for we cannot but speak the things which we have seenand heard."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Call to Boldness
- A. Condemning everything unholy
- B. Defending everything holy
- C. Embracing holy boldness as a motto and defense
- II. The Source of Boldness
- A. Perfect love casts out fear
- B. Holy boldness sacrifices self for God and others
- III. The Importance of Preaching the Word
- A. Preaching the Word with boldness and authority
- B. Being instant in season and out of season
- IV. The Dangers of Compromise
- A. The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine
- B. The dangers of heaping teachers with itching ears
Key Quotes
“Perfect love casteth out fear.” — Arthur Vess
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with boldness.” — Arthur Vess
“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you -- men -- more than unto God judge ye, for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” — Arthur Vess
Application Points
- As a minister, I must be willing to preach the Word with holy boldness, even if it means facing opposition and criticism.
- I must prioritize standing firm in my faith and being authentic in my preaching, rather than compromising for the sake of popularity or acceptance.
- I must be instant in season and out of season, and be willing to endure afflictions and hardships in order to be effective in ministry.