Preach the Word, in Season, Out of Season
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Rev. Tse Amable | January 28 2026 | Acts 22:22-29
KEY VERSE: “The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!” (Acts 22:22, NIV)
MESSAGE:
Apostle Paul has been presenting his defence to this crowd who followed him after his arrest. He used the opportunity to recount his dramatic conversion and the subsequent call by Jesus Christ to send him far away with the gospel to the Gentiles. The mere mention of “GENTILES” infuriated the crowd, who would not continue listening to Paul but instead shouted that he be killed. The episode recorded is a testimony of the typical response of people to the preaching of the word of God. Some of today’s self-professing Christians will continue to listen to their pastor or teacher sharing the word of God on the pulpit as long as the preacher says what they want to hear. Apostle Paul, with his own experience in hindsight, admonished Timothy to “preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV). The Amplified Bible rendered that text “Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome. Apostle Paul gave the reason for that admonition: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV) If you are a preacher or teacher of the word of God, do not allow nominal Christians and mere church attendees to control you and determine what you should preach and teach. Let the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, guide and direct you. The genuine believers who sit in front of you Sunday after Sunday are the sheep of the Lord’s pasture. He knows the green pastures his flock needs for growth and maturity. Let him feed them through your teaching and preaching.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Does preaching about sin, immorality, corruption, etc., offend you? Do you try to control your pastor by threatening to withhold financial support to the church just because the teaching and preaching of the pastor is exposing something you must repent of and forsake? Do not stand against the preaching of the word because “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NASB).
PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for giving us pastors and teachers who are feeding us with the word of truth so that we may grow thereby. Help us to submit ourselves to these shepherds of our souls so that through their teachings and preachings, we may be adequate and equipped for every good work. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: LISTENED The word translated “listened” comes from the Greek ἀκούω (akouō), which means to hear attentively, to give audience, or to receive a message with consideration. It implies more than sound perception. It involves a willingness to engage.
The crowd heard Paul, but their listening had limits. Once the message challenged their assumptions, they withdrew their attention. This shows that hearing God’s Word does not always mean accepting it. True listening remains open even when the truth is uncomfortable.
Reflect on this:
God calls His servants to speak faithfully, not to control how the message is received. Our responsibility is obedience. The response belongs to the hearers.
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