The Whole Plan of God
Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God. Acts 20:26–27 (CSB)
Everybody has favorites. It may be favorite foods, or favorite activities. We certainly have favorite people. It is only natural to have preferences, but just because we favor sugary desserts over fruits and vegetables, we know that if we indulge in such things, we will not have a healthy, balanced diet.
Paul was declaring to the Ephesian church that he had not merely instructed them in the things that were pleasant and tasty, but that he had given them the whole plan of God. In doing so, he was able to say that he had fulfilled his responsibility to them. What they would do with the instruction that he gave them was up to them.
Vision International University, led by our friend Dr. Stan DeKoven, has the motto “Bring the Whole Word to the Whole World.” It requires diligence and intentionality to convey the entire truth of the gospel. Although there has always been heresy and false teaching, the greater danger facing the church today is an unbalanced spiritual diet.
It is good to be circumspect and evaluate how well we are following the Lord’s command to the disciples before his ascension. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Matthew 28:20 (NLT). Whether we say the whole plan of God or all the commands that Christ has given us, we must not be negligent in our duties and responsibilities to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:12 (NIV)
Truth, The Whole Truth…
They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.” Isaiah 30:10 (NLT)
Telling the truth is not always easy. In part, it is not easy to tell the truth, because frequently people do not want to hear the truth. It is more convenient to be blissfully ignorant than to be confronted by the truth. How many of God’s prophets have been killed because they told the truth?
When Paul told the Ephesians that he was innocent of the blood of all men, he might have had Ezekiel’s warning to the watchmen in mind:
If I say to the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him—you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life—that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself. Ezekiel 3:18–19 (CSB)
Few people, including pastors and church leaders, relish the prospect of being unpopular. It is natural to want to be liked and even appreciated. However, we have a duty to perform, and we will be held accountable if we omit portions of God’s instructions because we fear that people will find them unpalatable.
We have a stewardship from God to whom we will give an account. For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
A Joy and Delight
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)
God’s words contain comfort and encouragement, but they also present a challenge, exhorting us to holiness and devotion. God calls his people to turn away from the things of the world and be devoted to him.
To be effective communicators of God’s word, we must first take his instructions to heart. If God’s words are not a joy and a delight to us, how can we persuade anyone else of their value?
In Psalm 119, we have many examples of someone who is delighted by the instruction and commands of God. Here are a few examples:
Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it. Psalm 119:35 (CSB)
If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction. Psalm 119:92 (CSB)
If we do not find delight in the commands and instructions of God, how can we be persuasive when teaching and preaching? Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 (NLT). We must not be apologetic when instructing the whole plan of God.
Discipline may not be pleasant while it is being administered, but the outcome is that we have the privilege of sharing in God’s holiness (Hebrews 12:5-11). We know that God has breathed into all Scripture, and that it is all profitable, and the outcome is that we will be equipped for every good work. If we are going to be effective communicators, we must find joy and delight in all of God’s word.
Preach the Word
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)
Paul was not making a suggestion; he was giving a command. At times it will be easy, and you will find receptive listeners. But there will be resistance. If you faithfully preach the word and proclaim the whole plan of God, at times you will find rejection.
Like the watchmen of Ezekiel, we stand on the wall, and we carry great responsibility. People’s natural inclination is to gravitate to those who will tell them only pleasant things. At times we will feel as though we are standing alone. Even those who are close to us might abandon us, but the Lord has promised that he will be with us to the end of the age.
The whole plan of God is not only necessary, but also wonderful and perfect. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11 (NIV)
Steve Ekeroth