GOOD NEWS!

A Response to "Good News!"

The Message We Preach

Are we preaching a good message or good news? This is a question that cuts to the heart of our ministry. A good message can be eloquent, inspiring, and morally uplifting. It can make people feel good, offer practical advice, and leave them with a sense of encouragement. But good news is something entirely different. The Gospel is not just good advice; it is good news. It is the announcement of what God has done, not a list of what we must do. It is the declaration of salvation accomplished, not a suggestion for self-improvement. A good message may entertain, but good news transforms. A good message may inform, but good news saves. We must ask ourselves: are we merely offering good messages, or are we proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ?

The Absence of Conviction

Many times, people are not touched or feel convicted after a message. Their needs are not met because there is no genuine conviction by the Spirit which demands a dramatic change in lifestyle. They only feel good about it. Their lifestyle remains the same as ever before. This is a tragic reality. People leave the service with a temporary emotional lift but no lasting spiritual transformation. They have heard a message, but they have not encountered the living God. They have received information, but they have not experienced conviction. And without conviction, there is no repentance. Without repentance, there is no change. Without change, there is no growth. And without growth, there is no fruit.

A Sad Sight

What a sad sight to behold! It is as if God has abandoned His people. He is not at all in the midst. The very presence that should fill the gathering is absent. The very power that should transform lives is not manifest. The very voice that should convict hearts is not heard. People gather, sing, pray, and listen, but nothing changes. They return to their homes the same way they came. Their burdens remain. Their sins remain. Their struggles remain. And the church becomes a place of religious routine rather than a place of divine encounter. This is not what God intended. This is not the church He died for. This is not the Gospel He entrusted to us.

Why Is This Happening?

Why is this happening? Doesn't God want to come and meet His people? Of course He does. He longs to pour out His Spirit. He desires to convict, heal, and transform. The problem is not on His side. The problem is on ours. Are we a stumbling block to the move of the Spirit? Do we want to control everything, and thus prevent the Spirit from doing His work? When we rely on methods, programs, and techniques rather than on the power of the Spirit, we quench His work. When we fear losing control and thus stifle the freedom of the Spirit, we grieve Him. When we preach to please people rather than to glorify God, we dilute the message. When we are more concerned with attendance than with transformation, we miss the point. The Holy Spirit is not a force to be managed; He is a Person to be yielded to. And He will not move where He is not welcome or where He is not free to do as He wills.

The Call to Return

It is never too late to change if we are in this kind of situation. God is merciful and patient. He waits for His people to turn back to Him. He is ready to restore, revive, and renew. But we must be willing to change. We must be willing to abandon our control. We must be willing to stop preaching our own messages and start proclaiming His. We must be willing to let the Spirit move as He wills, even if it is uncomfortable, unpredictable, and beyond our management. The church that is willing to change is the church that will experience the power of God. The preacher who is willing to step aside is the preacher through whom God will work.

Preach the Word as Intended

Preach the word the way it is intended with no other ulterior motives except the motive of edification, exhortation, and comfort. First Corinthians 14:3 tells us that prophecy is for the strengthening, encouragement, and consolation of the church. When we preach with these motives, we are not seeking our own glory. We are not trying to impress people. We are not building our own platform. We are building up the body of Christ. We are pointing people to Jesus. We are lifting Him up so that He can draw all people to Himself. And always lift up Christ our Cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-22 declares that we are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. When we lift up Christ, we are building on the right foundation. When we exalt Him, we are constructing something that will last.

The Promise of Change

Then, we can expect and see change. No longer the same as ever before. When Christ is lifted up, He draws people to Himself. When the Spirit is given freedom, He convicts hearts. When the Word is preached in power, lives are transformed. This is not a formula to manipulate; it is a promise to trust. God is faithful. He will do what He has said. He will move when we get out of His way. He will transform when we proclaim His truth. So let us not settle for good messages that leave people unchanged. Let us proclaim the good news that brings conviction, repentance, and transformation. Let us lift up Christ and watch as He draws all people to Himself.

Final Reflection

The good news is not just a message to be spoken; it is a power to be experienced. It is not just words to be heard; it is a life to be transformed. When we preach the Gospel as it is intended, the Spirit moves. When we lift up Christ, He draws people to Himself. And when He draws people, they change. They are no longer the same as ever before. So let us return to the Gospel. Let us return to the Spirit. Let us return to lifting up Christ. And let us watch as God does what only God can do.

Prayer for the Move of the Spirit

Lord, forgive me for the times I have preached good messages instead of the Good News. Forgive me for controlling what should be surrendered to Your Spirit. Forgive me for seeking my own glory instead of Yours. I want to see genuine conviction, repentance, and transformation in the lives of those who hear me. I want to see Your Spirit move freely. I want to see Christ lifted up and draw all people to Himself. I surrender my preaching to You. Let it be for edification, exhortation, and comfort. Let it be for Your glory. I trust You to do what only You can do. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.