"Binding the Word of God"
David Green

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” (II Timothy 2:1-9)

We'll take our text from verse 9, where the Bible says “the word of God is not bound.” Nor should it be bound! After all, the Lord has not placed any boundaries upon it. That means that we should not either. As we will see, many churches and people who name the name of Christ have done this very thing.

“ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

 Here is the Great Commission that was given to the Lord's church. We are to do a lot of preaching and teaching. And, if we are going to present the truth, it must come from the Word of God! There are no limitations to the ways we can do this....we can and should be teaching and preaching His word anywhere and everywhere we can.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  (Mark 16:15)

 Our audience is very broad...We are to go into ALL the world and preach to EVERY creature! Nobody is to be left out. Rich, poor, black, white...all need to hear the gospel.

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” (Acts 19:20)

The results of the work of the early church was that the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed. How is it in our day and time? We need to examine ourselves...how is the Word of God in our community? Has it spread to our neighbors? What about beyond our community? What efforts do we put forth into the work? Being a missionary Baptist Church is more than just sending a love offering to the missionary. It's about personal evangelism...it's about spreading the word of God beyond the four walls of the church. The minute you walk out the front doors to leave the church service, you are entering the mission field.

“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” (Acts 5:27-28)

These men of God filled the city of Jerusalem with doctrine. Far too often, we fill the church-house with doctrine but that's as far as we go with it. Why not venture out into the world? What's wrong with a radio ministry? Why not go door-knocking? How about a nursing home ministry or even a prison ministry?

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” (Matthew 10:27)

We live in an exciting age! New technologies are all around us. This is the digital age. The Word of God can be communicated all around the world in ways we never thought possible. Think about it. I can preach a message here, and within a very short time it can be listened to by someone thousands of miles away on the other side of the world. We can now send CDs or even DVDs with sermons on them to people so that they may hear the word being preached.

Unfortunately, there are some in our churches that are afraid of new technology. This is a shame. Imagine a few years ago, the printing press was a new technology, but the true followers of Christ saw it as a new opportunity to spread the Word of God to the people. We need to also be like that with each new opportunity that comes our way!

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”  (Romans 10:8-15)

Of course these new technologies do not replace personal evangelism, but they are another tool that we can use to further the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. A radio program or a webpage with sermons on it can reach into places we may not be able to physically get to.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” (II Corinthians 4:3)

Are we putting bounds on the Bible? Do we set limitations on when and where the gospel can be preached? Are we bold and loud in the church house, but then silent when we are in the world? Are we truly using every avenue that we can use to spread the word of God to the regions beyond? Why fear new technologies? If they be used for the spreading of the truth, why not use them?

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