In Season and Out of Season
From The HeartPublish date: 12/05/2010
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2 KJV
The Great Commission was a call to EVERY believer to preach the Gospel — anywhere, to anyone. Then there are those whom God has called, anointed and raised up into full-time ministry, to preach and to teach. This is more of a “pulpit” ministry; however, we are to be prepared and willing to preach the Gospel wherever we are — whether one-on-one or to a gathering of people. There is NO time, place or “season” when the Gospel should NOT be preached. The Gospel should be preached in season and out of season: whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable; whether it is convenient or inconvenient; whether it is welcome or unwelcome; whether it is popular or unpopular; whether it is invited or uninvited! It is always the season to preach the Gospel — to every creature in every nation!
I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: 2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. 5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 AMP
We cannot afford to preach based on what people want to hear — we must preach the truth of the Gospel even, and especially, when it’s not what they want to hear. Many preachers today are preaching to the “itching ears” — preaching what they think people want to hear, but that is not the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel is offensive to the carnal minds of sinners, but it brings Holy Ghost conviction to the heart, resulting in conversion and deliverance!
Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. 26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 AMP
Since the day Jesus died and rose again, it has been the NOW season for ALL men to be saved and the NOW season to preach the Gospel!
[The Servant of God says] The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple [as one who is taught]. Isaiah 50:4 AMP
The Holy Spirit promised to give us a word to speak in season. That means the right word at the right time to the right person, producing a right result. The Spirit of God knows exactly how to reach each person. Even if they reject His word, they are then without any excuses on the Day of Judgment.
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18 AMP
We are to pray and to expect God to answer at all times - on every occasion, in every season. God is not limited by circumstances — He will hear and answer every faith-filled prayer.
And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. Galatians 6:9 AMP
Keep faithfully sowing the seed of the Gospel in every season — in due season you will reap and see a bountiful harvest.