Oh how I wish that I could have been there to see our Lord and hear his voice call men to salvation in his first recorded public preaching-sermon-evangelistic call. It is recorded in the Gospels. You can find it in Mark 1:14-15,

“And after John had been taken in custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom is at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel.’”

Jesus had been in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted of Satan while He was there, along with the wild, menacing beasts snapping their teeth around him. What an absolutely spot-on setting for the devil to hang out in wait for Jesus. It was, could we say, a movie maker’s dream come true. It was the stuff Oscars are made of. It was the shoot-out at the OLD WILDERNESS CORRAL.

Slugging it out with the devil spiritually in spirit to spirit combat can take it out of a man, and Jesus was a man, albeit the God-Man. The angels sensed the intensity of it all, and so they ministered to him like a boxer would be tended to by his assistants in the corner between rounds. It was a three round all-or-nothing title match with the salvation of the entire world hanging on the outcome.

Praise the Lord that every round resoundingly was won by the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a unanimous decision. Satan was down for the count of ten, knocked cold by BIBLE PUNCHES from the mouth of Jesus. However, if you read the Bible carefully, the devil, though bruised and bloodied, said he would be back for a rematch to fight again the HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH AND HELL at another time. The thing about Satan is that he will never admit defeat. Like Joe Frazier, he just keeps on coming.

Also as a prelude to Jesus’ Galilean evangelistic crusade, John the Baptist, Jesus’ way-preparer, was in a real slug-fest of his own. For you see, when you follow Jesus and stand up for His Kingdom of righteousness, you will incite battles wherever you go in this world. But then again, the Baptist was not likely to be the kind of fighter who would pull his punches. He was by nature a street brawler type evangelist if there ever was one. You just have to love this fella!

“John the Baptist-Brawler” pounded on everyone from the religious elite to royalty, even slamming them for their adultery and infidelity, and in one case the fight was about to turn ugly.

“John the Bruiser” had his hands full with ADULTEROUS KING HEROD AND QUEEN HERODIAS, and Herodias’ sex-toy daughter PRINCESS SALOME. Jesus was up against the wild beasts and the wiles of the devil as if the title match needed more suspense. John was up against a family from the Jerry Springer Show. King Herod wanted a lap dance while Herodias and Salome wanted John’s head on a plate.

The next thing we know, John was in prison, and then his head became the main course served on a palace platter to the royal family. It all really makes the wilderness and the wild beasts look like Shangri-La. It teaches me this:

“THE WORD AND THE WORK OF THE LORD IS TOP PRIORITY, NOT OUR HEADS.”

Quite a humbling thought! And another is this:

“NONE OF US ARE INDISPENSABLE, FOR THE WORD AND THE WORK OF GOD

WILL GO ON WITH OR WITHOUT US.”

JESUS’ PREACHING CRUSADE IN GALILEE

What a glorious sight and sound that was when Jesus Christ made His preaching debut! Jesus began his preaching career in what we might well call his HOME STATE – GALILEE. It was in a town of Galilee where Jesus’ parents Joseph and Mary lived and where Jesus was brought up – NAZARETH OF GALILEE.

We read in Mark 1:14,

“…Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of God….”

I can just see the headline in “The Galilee Globe”:

“LOCAL BOY TURNS PREACHER.”

That wouldn’t be the last headline featuring THE MAN FROM GALILEE. Little did they know that THE LOCAL BOY would become THE HEADLINER FOR ALL ETERNITY IN THE NEW JERUSALEM NEWS.”

I too started my preaching ministry in my home state of Michigan, and many of you I am sure have a similar story. This is such a human touch in our Lord’s life on earth, because in all honesty, there really is an attachment always to your hometown and state. Jesus was called “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 1:45) as well as “A Galilean.” (Luke 22:59)

I am a Holland Michigander, and you can take me out of Michigan, but you can’t ever take Michigan out of me. Jesus was a Galilean, and you can take Jesus out of Galilee, but you could not take Galilee out of Jesus. We read in Mark 1:14,

“He came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of God.”

I must admit that I don’t think of Jesus primarily as a PREACHER or EVANGELIST. First of all, I think of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Second, I think of Him as a TEACHER and not as a PREACHER. Third, I think of our Lord as a HEALER and as an EXORCIST. But then again, this could just be me. True, you will find several instances of Jesus PREACHING, but you will find many more instances of Him TEACHING. By nature, He was first of all A TEACHER, or should we say THE TEACHER.

As a matter of fact, in the same chapter after his initial public sermon, we read in Mark 1:21-22,

“And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered

into the synagogue and began to TEACH.”

“And they were amazed at His TEACHING; for He was TEACHING them as one

having authority, and not as the scribes.”

And in the very next episode in Mark 1:23-26, we find Him in the synagogue driving a demon out of demon-possessed man. If He wasn’t preaching or teaching, He was kicking demons out of people. Constant action when we follow Christ. Hear me:

“JESUS NEVER PREACHED OR TAUGHT SIMPLY FOR INFORMATION,

BUT FOR TRANSFORMATION.”

WE PREACH THE WORD – JESUS IS THE WORD PREACHING

He began His public ministry as a PREACHER, in fact, the only PERFECT PREACHER who ever preached on the face of the earth. Billy Graham was really something special with a mighty anointing of the Holy Spirit. But even Billy along with all of us pale compared to the PREACHER FROM GALILEE.

Why is that? We read of Jesus Christ in John 1:14,

“And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us….”

Jesus is the WORD. So it is:

“WHEN WE PREACH, WE PREACH THE WORD, BUT WHEN JESUS PREACHED,

HE IS THE WORD PREACHING.”

And again:

“WHEN WE PREACH, WE ARE CHANNELS OF THE WORD, BUT WHEN JESUS

PREACHES, HE IS THE WORD UNCHANNELED.”

There is a vast difference between US PREACHING THE WORD, and the WORD HIMSELF PREACHING. When people hear the Word from us, it is already second hand. When Jesus the Word preached in Galilee, those people heard the WORD first hand. When we preach, we exegete and interpret the Word, but when He preaches, HE IS THE WORD AND EXEGESIS AND THE INTERPRETATION.

Fact:

“NO PREACHER IS RIGHT ALL OF THE TIME, BUT WE HOPE THAT IT IS

MOST OF THE TIME.”

Fact:

“JESUS IS THE ONLY PREACHER WHO IS RIGHT ALL OF THE TIME, AND

YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WHEN YOU LISTEN TO AND FOLLOW JESUS.”

Just think:

“ONE DAY SOON WE SHALL SEE AND HEAR THE WORD STANDING BEFORE US

THAT WE HAVE PREACHED, AND WE SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT

WHAT WE PREACHED TO THE WORD.”

THE GOSPEL OF GOD

And what word did the WORD preach in Galilee? We read Mark 1:14,

“He came into Galilee preaching the GOSPEL OF GOD.”

That scene and those words take my breath away. How can we even begin to capture it?

FIRST of all, whatever the Gospel is, it is GOD’S GOSPEL. Did you notice that? It isn’t even Jesus the Man’s Gospel. Jesus acknowledged God’s total ownership of the Gospel. The Gospel of God was CONCEIVED BY GOD, EXECUTED BY GOD, ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD, AND THEN WRITTEN BY GOD. It is not our Gospel, nor is it Matthew’s Gospel, Mark’s Gospel, Luke’s Gospel, or John’s Gospel. Hear it now:

“THERE IS ONLY ONE GOSPEL,THE GOSPEL OF GOD,THE GOSPEL ACCORDING

TO GOD, GOD’S GOSPEL.”

You see, there are many bogus gospels in the world that are the gospels of men, but are not the Gospel of God. Gobs of them – gospels multiplying like rabbits. But they are all false! Therefore, they do not have the truth and power of God in them, and they cannot save a worm let alone a sinner. Only the Gospel of God can save sinners, and so we read Romans 1:16.

“For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL, for it is the power of God for salvation

to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Some of these false gospels of men today that we must be ashamed of are THE SOCIAL GOSPEL, THE SUCCESS GOSPEL, THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL, THE FEEL-GOOD GOSPEL, THE POSITIVE THINKING GOSPEL, THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY GOSPEL, THE NON-SINNER GOSPEL, THE SELF-ESTEEM GOSPEL, and the false-gospel beat goes on. They are all the inventions of men. They are not the GOOD NEWS of the DEATH and RESURRECTION OF JESUS FOR SINNERS. They AIN’T the Gospel of God. You say that AIN’T is bad English. Exactly, bad English for bad gospels.

The Apostle Paul warns us about these false gospels and false gospellers in Galatians 1:8,

“But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a

gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you,

let him be accursed.”

Those who preach these false gospels remind me of a dying man. Why? Because:

“THE DYING MAN MAY HAVE BREATH IN IS MOUTH, BUT HE HAS NO

LIFE-SUSTAINING BREATH IN HIS LUNGS.”

Or again, these false gospel and gospellers remind me of an ill-prepared soldier. Why? Because:

“HE HAS PUT A FEW SNACKS  AND SWEETS IN HIS DUFFLEBAG, BUT HE HAS

NO WEAPON TO SUCCEED IN BATTLE.”

Or again, these false gospels and gospellers remind me of the unequipped man in the dark. Why? Because:

“THOUGH HE HAS A MATCH WHICH CAN CAUSE A BRIEF POOFY BLAZE, HE HAS

NOTHING WITH HIM TO GIVE LASTING LIGHT.”

Or again, these false gospels and gospellers remind me of the surface philosophers. Why? Because:

“WHILE THEY HAVE A FEW NOTIONS AND POTIONS TO WORK ON MAN’S MIND,

THEY HAVE NOTHING WITH WHICH TO CHANGE MAN’S HEART.”

SECOND, Jesus came preaching the GOSPEL of God. The word GOSPEL comes from the Greek word EUAGGELION which mean GOOD NEWS – GOOD TIDINGS – GOOD WORD. It was the GOSPEL OF GOD – THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD that the angel announced to the shepherds in the fields of Judea as we read in Luke 2:10-11,

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you

GOOD NEWS of a great joy which shall be for all the people;”

“for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord.”

Now are you sensing the overwhelmingness of all of this? It brings shivers to my back, palpitations to my heart, and tears to my eyes. Let me at least try to explain why.

A.  JESUS’ PRIORITY

The GOOD NEWS OF GOD – SALVATION FOR SINNERS was the first thing out of His mouth. Right from the outset of His public ministry, Jesus’ priority was the GOOD NEWS OF GOD FOR LOST SINNERS like you and me, even though it meant some VERY BAD NEWS – HELLISH AGONY FOR THE SAVIOR.

This is priority #1 why He came, as we read in Luke 19:10,

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

And Jesus never digressed from his priority. Hear it:

“JESUS NEVER PREACHED UP WHAT HE DID NOT CARRY OUT ALL THE WAY –

HE PRACTICED WHAT HE PREACHED.”

I don’t know why He would make someone like me His priority. I surely did not make Him my priority, not even close. But He does make us His life and ministry’s priority!

Some religious people came around to criticize Jesus. They asked the disciples in Matthew 9:11,

“Why is your Teacher eating with tax-gatherers and sinners?”

When Jesus overheard their question, He gave an answer that should have changed forever how Christians are to look at those outside of their ranks. He said in Matthew 9:12-13,

“It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those

who are sick.”

“But go and learn what this means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION AND

NOT SACRIFICE, for I did not come to call the

righteous, but sinners.”

Sorry, it is not the 99 sheep in the fold, but it is the one out in the fields of sin living the goatish life that is Jesus’ priority. Not those in the pew but those in the bar! That is why they called Jesus a WINEBIBBER AND A GLUTTON.

Has the church overall learned this? The evangelism and missions ministries should powerfully indicate this. Sinners are His priority, for His death for sinners was the first thing He preached. He could have gone in any of many directions in His first recorded public sermon. But He prioritized saving sinners! Top of the list! On the tip of His tongue! First thing on His mind! Everything else comes in second. Is Jesus’ priority our priority?

EXAMPLE:

Mel Trotter learned it. Mel was for the most part of his life a hopeless alcoholic. He came home one day from a ten-day drinking spree to find his baby son dead in his wife’s arms. He cried, “I’ve killed my son, I’ll never touch another drop.” But two hours after the funeral for his son, he pawned the little white shoes he had taken off his baby son in the coffin and went and bought booze.

In utter despair, he headed along a Chicago street for Lake Michigan to end his life. But on the way the strong arm of Harry Monroe, the Superintendent of Pacific Garden Mission, pulled him inside a hall where the Gospel was being preached. That night suicidal Mel Trotter heard that there was hope in Christ.

Mel Trotter became a Christian and for the next 40 years served as Superintendent of a rescue mission in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From that base he started 60 other missions in U.S. cities, all designed to reach down-and-outers for Christ. He counseled thousands of would-be suicides, putting them on the road of new life in Jesus and Heaven. Listen:

“WHEN JESUS MAKES A HELL-BOUND LOST SINNER HIS PRIORITY, THAT SINNER

WHEN FOUND WILL ALWAYS MAKE JESUS’ PRIORITY HIS PRIORITY.”

Which all begs the real priority question, “Is Jesus our top priority? Is He the first thing out of our mouths? Is He on the tip of our tongues? Is He always the first One on our minds and in our hearts?”

Hear this:

“THE GRAND AND GRACIOUS GOSPEL TRUTH IS THAT JESUS DENIED SELF

TO SAVE SINNERS.”

Likewise:

“NO ONE EVER MADE CHRIST SECONDARY BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF

MAKING SELF PRIMARY.”

And:

“NO ONE EVER MADE CHRIST PRIMARY WITHOUT MAKING SELF SECONDARY.”

Learn this from our dear Lord and Savior:

“EVEN AS HE FACED DENYING SELF OR DENYING US, SO WE WILL EITHER

DENY SELF OR DENY CHRIST, FOR WHOEVER AFFIRMS ONE OF

THESE WILL ALWAYS DENY THE OTHER.”

In short:

“THIS IS EITHER THE GRANDEST OR THE DAMNDEST CHOICE OF THE AGES –

DO WE PRIORITIZE GOD OR DO WE PRIORITIZE SELF? THOSE WHO

PRIORITIZE GOD ARE WELCOME IN PARADISE, AND THOSE WHO

PRIORITIZE SELF ARE UNWELCOME IN PARADISE.”

EXAMPLE:

There has been much discussion over the ages about the forbidden fruit eaten by Eve and Adam. Was it an apple? Golden Delicious perhaps? McIntosh? Red Delicious? Sorry, the Bible doesn’t even say that was an apple. It could have been an orange, a banana, a pear, kiwifruit, a pineapple, or a kumquat for all we know. Maybe Eve was overcome with Mango Madness? Or Passion Fruit? The Garden of Eden may have contained fruit that no longer exists. (Joe Kovacs – Shocked By The Bible)

It really doesn’t make one bit of difference what the forbidden fruit was. Eve and Adam chose the DAMNDEST AND NOT THE GRANDEST – THEY PRIORITIZED SELF AND NOT GOD. We face that choice day after day all through life which will determine PARADISE LOST OR PARADISE GAINED.

B. JESUS’ RESOLVE

Jesus in preaching THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD right from the get-go is PROPHESYING HIS HELLISH AGONY AND DEATH ON THE CROSS for sinners. Dear Lord, You are painting Yourself dead-red into a corner. You are sealing Your own gruesome fate. You are making the bloody cross the centerpiece of your entire life and ministry.

Shouldn’t You Jesus give Yourself more time, rather than right away sealing your doom? I mean, kind of ease into it Lord, but don’t go whole-hog right out of the blocks. Shouldn’t You come into Galilee preaching something more toned down and more advantageous for Yourself. At least give Yourself some wiggle room.

Yes I know, that is how man thinks, but that is not how Christ thinks. Never! Jesus Christ never did anything from TENTATIVENESS but always from ROCK-SOLID RESOLVE. He never hedged! I am reminded of Luke 9:51 where if He goes to Jerusalem He will be walking into the lion’s mouth, and we read these words so typical of Jesus,

“…He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem.”

Other translations put it:

“…He set His face like a flint to go to Jerusalem.”

Jesus is not only sticking His neck out, He is putting it in the guillotine!

Let Jesus’ first sermon and actions teach us the unfailing rule or litmus-test as to the sincerity and rock-solidness of our resolve to follow Jesus come Hell or high water. Many there are who think that they are totally resolved for Christ and against sin and Satan, when in fact they are deceiving themselves and their resolve is no more than another new year’s resolution.

Now hear it:

“NO ONE’S RESOLVE TO COMMIT TO THE TRUTH IS WORTH A NICKLE UNTIL

YOU DECLARE THE TRUTH RIGHT IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION

AND UNTRUTH.”

Until that happens, your resolve to embrace and follow truth has the firmness of wet tissue and sloppy toilet paper which will get flushed.

And again:

“RESOLUTION HAS NO FIRM RESOLVE WHATSOEVER THAT IS NOT SECONDED

AND SUPPORTED BY STRONG ACTION.”

If you will:

“WHERE THERE IS FLINTY RESOLUTION THERE WILL BE CORRESPONDING ACTION,

BUT WHERE THERE IS NO ACTION, THERE IS NO RESOLUTION

OR FIRM RESOLVE.”

Or:

“ACTIVE RESOLUTION REMAINS ALIVE, BUT INACTIVE RESOLUTION WILL DIE.”

Hear me, there are some sitting here this morning who have been through this more times than they want to admit. You more than once resolved to follow Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you took no action to back it up, like reading the Bible faithfully, praying constantly, attending church regularly, and getting rid of all the junk in your life that needs to go. And so your resolve got smashed like a fly beneath a swatter. And so here you are back again.

EXAMPLE:

Any duck hunters here? Mallard Ducks are PADDLE DUCKS. They paddle around in shallow water and feed on marsh grasses that grow there. They eat only what they can reach from the surface.

However, occasionally a Redhead Duck or a Canvasback will slip into the duck decoys. These are DIVING DUCKS. They dive great depths to feed on plants growing on the bottom of the lake.

Now then, religious people are like those ducks. Some are PADDLE DUCKS, satisfied with nourishment they find in the shallows of the religious life. They are often also the first to be shot. Others are DIVERS, and they plunge deeply into the Word of God through study and prayer, and participation in the life and ministry of the church.

Listen:

“RESOLVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN IN THE DEEPEST SENSE OF THE WORD, OR ELSE

YOU WILL WADDLE OUT OF HERE AGAIN AND BECOME

A DEAD PADDLE DUCK.”

EXAMPLE:

Hear me! Resolve not simply TO BE SAVED, BUT TO LAY IT ALL ON THE LINE FOR CHRIST.

When missionaries were forced to leave China in 1951, and Christians began to be oppressed by the Communist Government, the future of the church there seemed bleak. In the preceding decades of missions work, many of the approximately 1 million communicants in China had become RICE CHRISTIANS – ACCEPTING THE OUTWARD FORMS OF CHRISTIANITY MORE FOR PERSONAL GAIN-FOOD-ASSISTANCE FROM CHRISTIANS THAN FROM GENUINE CONVICTIONS.

Yet during this period of terrible persecution, committed Christians, FLINTY RESOLVED CHRISTIANS who were unafraid to defy the Communists, began to meet secretly in their homes, when regular church services were outlawed during what came to be known as THE GREAT CHRISTIAN LEAP FORWARD IN CHINA.

As their pastors were killed and imprisoned for their faith, members of the laity came forward to provide leadership. When their houses were searched by the Red Guards, and all Bibles and Christian literature were destroyed, the people drew upon their deep memory of the Word of God, and shared experiences to build one another up in the faith.

Typical is the way believers cared for a Communist school teacher who became seriously ill. So genuine was their compassion that upon her recovery, she too accepted Jesus, only to suffer public ridicule on her return to work. She was required to appear before a PUBLIC CONFESSION MEETING, and she protested to her persecutors, “When I was ill, you did nothing to help me. It was the Christians who did everything.” Her critics were shamed into silence.

Today, the Church of Jesus Christ in Communist China is alive and growing because individual Christians did their part to be fishers of men. We must ask ourselves, “ARE WE RICE CHRISTIANS OR RESOLVED CHRISTIANS?

C. JESUS’ FOOLISHNESS

After all, what you say first sets up everything else! How you start is critical! You know – FIRST IMPRESSIONS. If you lose your audience early, it is hard to get them back on board. Hook and set them solid right away, and chances are they won’t get off the hook later.

You see Jesus, that is exactly what preachers are doing today. They are telling people that if they follow You, You will give them SUCCESS and PROSPERITY and HEALTH and MIRACLES and POWER and so on. As matter of fact, they preach that if people have enough faith and positive confession, they can make all of their pains and problems go away. And Lord, it is working, at least in the sense that preachers and churches are racking up big numbers of souls and baptisms. They even post them on Facebook like Indian scalps.

In other words Lord, when You preach Your opening pubic sermon – BY ALL MEANS MAKE GOOD AND DESIRABLE SENSE.

Shouldn’t You Jesus rethink your starting approach, given the fact that even You in Your Word admit that THE GOSPEL OF GOD IS FOOLISHNESS TO PEOPLE? You know, God dying for sins that weren’t His own to begin with. And then dying on a cross reserved for murderers, crooks, rapists and such. What sense does that make? I mean, crucify the murderers, thieves, and rapists and have it over with.  Why take the rap for that trash? IT ALL SOUNDS CRAZY!

Jesus, You Yourself tell us in I Corinthians 1:18 and 23,

“For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing FOOLISHNESS…but we

preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to

the Greeks FOOLISHNESS.”

Just thought we would remind You Lord, that this might be a foolish launching pad for Your Kingdom. That which appears to people as FOOLS GOLD doesn’t sound like a wise first choice.

Listen up now and listen good. To understand this, there is a key question sandwiched in between verses 18 and 23, and that is found in I Corinthians 1:20,

“…Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world.”

THE GOD OF THE GOSPEL knows what He is doing, but we have a hard time thinking like He thinks. You see, He knows that if He doesn’t right from the start – yes right here humble man’s mind and make his smarts look foolish, the unbroken and unhumbled mind of man will be a snare and an obstacle to him all along the way. There will be all through the Christian life events that don’t make sense to the human mind. Man’s mind must be humbled before the surpassing and often “confusing” mind of God right away, or else he will stumble over his own mind again and again.

Hear it:

“MAN BY NATURE LOVES THE NOTIONS OF HIS MIND MUCH MORE THAN HE

LOVES THE WISDOM OF GOD.”

If you will:

“MAN BY NATURE LOVES THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF HIS HEAD MUCH MORE

THAN HE DOES THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD’S HEART.”

You know what man’s knowledge does to man, don’t you? We read in I Corinthians 8:1 NASV,

“…knowledge makes arrogant….”

Or in I Corinthians 8:1 KJV,

“…Knowledge puffeth up….”

So the first thing God does with HIS GOSPEL is to UNPUFF THE PUFFY MIND OF MAN. Listen:

“GOD MUST BRING MAN TO BOW BEFORE THE ‘WEAKNESS’ OF GOD, AND BRING

HIS WISDOM TO BOW BEFORE THE ‘FOOLISHNESS’ OF GOD, LESS MAN

REMAIN TOO STRONG-MINDED AND TOO WISE TO BE SAVED.”

If you will:

“MAN’S WAY OF DISGRACE IS TO GET ALL PUFFED UP WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE,

AND THEN TO MAKE OTHERS LOOK STUPID – TO GET HIGH-MINDED

AND  THEN MAKE  OTHERS LOOK LOW-MINDED.”

However:

“GOD’S WAY OF GRACE IS TO FIRST MAKE MAN’S WISDOM FOOLISHNESS,

AND THEN SMARTEN MAN UP IN THE SURPASSING WISDOM OF

THE GOSPEL OF GOD.”

Frankly:

“I DESIRE FOREVER TO LOOK FOOLISH TO MAN AND WISE BEFORE GOD,

THAN TO BE WISE IN THE EYES OF MEN AND FOOLISH

IN THE EYES OF GOD.”

And so we read in I Corinthians 1:21,

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not

come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness

of the message preached to save those who believe.”

Thank God for His extreme wisdom through the foolishness  of preaching. Amen!

(JESUS’ FIRST PUBLIC PREACHING PT. 2 now posted.)