What Shall We Speak?
Ezekiel 2:7
7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Owen D. Olbricht; FCGN, Vol 33; #10; 10/99

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. Because Israel had wandered way from God, they needed a message that would turn them back to him.
B. This could not be accomplished with a message of human origin, so God sent Ezekiel to warn Israel t leave their evil ways. Note text again.
C. He was to "speak MY (God's) words."
D. Jesus gave the apostles a great and similar command. Mk 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
E. Observe what the Gospel of Christ is: Eph 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
F. The answer to "What are we going to do?", is and always has been: "Preach the gospel some more."

II. BODY:

A. They Preached The Word.

1. Luke's history tells us that The Word was preached with boldness. Acts 4:31: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

a. It was preached wherever they went. Acts 8:4.
b. To Samaritans. Acts 8:25.
c. Even to other countries. Acts 11:29; 13:5,46,49; 14:25; 15:35,36; 16:32; 17:13; 18:11; 19:10.

2. Paul's customary approach was to discuss God's word, the Scriptures. 2 Tim 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:. Acts 17:25: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3. The apostle's saw the importance of the word.

a. They were not side tracked with mundane things others could do, but rather devoted themselves to preaching the word. Acts 6:2-4.

B. Why Preach The Word?

1. The Word of God is the gospel of our salvation (Eph 1:13; Rom 1:16).

a. It makes people: "... the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation..." 2 Tim 3:15; Acts 13:26.

2. An angel told the apostles to: Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. Acts 5:20.
3. Peter did just that to the first Gentiles to obey the Gospel. Acts 11:14.

C. Response To The Word.

1. Requires the proper frame of mind.

a. Those who had a readiness of mind received God's word. Acts 17:11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1) Readiness of mind: 1) zeal, spirit, eagerness 2) inclination, readiness of mind.

b. Those with closed minds, rejected it. Acts 13:46; 28:26,27.

2. Gladly receiving God's word brought people to believe (acts 4:4; 17:11,12) and to be baptized (Acts 2:41; 8:12; 18:8).

a. Observe the Biblical pattern in Acts: the word is preached, those who received it believed and were baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
b. Note the documentation of the fact in Acts: on the day of Pentecost (2:38-41); the Samaritans (8:12,13); the Ethiopian (8:35-39); The first Gentile converts (10:47,48; 11:1); Lydia (16:14,15); the Philippian jailer (16:32,33); the converts in Corinth (18:8).

3. When the report was given concerning those who had believed and been baptized, the statement is made that they received the word (Acts 2:41; 8:14; 11:1).

a. It is not said that they received Jesus as their personal Savior, prayed the sinner's prayer, received the Holy Spirit, or any such statement.

III. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION:

A. God expects His word to be respected and preached. 2 Tim 4:2.
B. God's word will save those who receive it.
C. The proper response to the word is faith, repentance and baptism, followed by a life dedicated to Jesus.
D. Those who receive the word were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.
E. Salvation comes to those who obey Jesus when they hear the name of Jesus and the kingdom preached. Acts 8:4,5,12.
F. Even though the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of the Apostles' hands and the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit directly from God, the reports about them simply included that they had "received the word". Acts 8:14; 11:1.
G. The description given of the response on the day of Pentecost, when preaching forgiveness in Jesus' name began (Luke 24:47), which must have set the precedence for all following conversions, was that those who received the word were baptized. This must mean that receiving the word includes baptism in order to be saved (Mk 16:15,16), for the word can make us wise to salvation, and baptism was the result of receiving it (Acts 2:41)
H. Failure to preach the word is to fail to follow the instruction of Jesus and the precedence set by the early church.
I. Receiving God's word is the only way to salvation, yesterday, today, and until the end of the world.