INTRODUCTION We all are familiar with how politicians talk when asked a question. Such is not the case with God! God does not prevaricate or equivocate! Prevaricate: “to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.” (Dictionary.com) Equivocate: “to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.” (Dictionary.com)

INTRODUCTION Unlike man, God has always demanded that His will be made plain: Habakkuk: “Write the vision, and make it plain tables, that he may run that readeth it” (Hab. 2:2). Peter & John: “Now when they say the boldness of Peter and John that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled…” (Acts 4:13) Paul: “And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists…” (Acts 9:29); “we use great plainness of speech” (2 Cor. 3:12). Vine: boldness, (Acts 4:13); boldly (Acts 9:29); plainness of speech (2 Cor. 3:12) 1) “freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance,” 2) “to speak without ambiguity, plainly,”

Using Great Plainness of Speech www.westsidecoc.org Using Great Plainness of Speech 2 Corinthians 3:7-12

Using Great Plainness of Speech Moses You don’t have to be eloquent to speak plainly: Ex. 4:10 Consider Moses’ exhortations to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy: Deut. 27:8 His message is summed up in the words of Deuteronomy 11:26-28. People could never claim “Moses, you didn’t tell us plainly!” We must imitate the plainness of Moses speech in our teaching and preaching! Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Samuel Listen to Samuel’s plain speaking to King Saul: 1 Sam. 15:22-23 Did Saul say, “I didn’t get that, would you run that by me again?” No! Saul understood totally, absolutely! 1 Sam. 15:24-25 People should never leave our services wondering, “What is the truth?” Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Nathan Some of the plainest talk in all the Bible is when Nathan confronted David: 2 Sam. 12:1-4 David responds to Nathan’s story: 2 Sam. 12:5-6 How many gospel preachers would have stopped here?! Nathan didn’t! 2 Sam. 12:7 Nathan’s plain talk convicted the good-hearted David: 2 Sam. 12:13; Lk. 8:15 Trend today is to never give people the impression they are sinners! Ezek. 33; Gal. 2:11; 2 Cor. 5:10-11a Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Elijah Remember the great contest on Mount Carmel? 2 Kings 18 Only Elijah stood against Ahab and Jezebel’s wicked schemes: 2 Kgs. 18:20 What if you were in Elijah’s shoes?! 2 Kgs. 18:21 Elijah did not lose his courage despite being vastly outnumbered! 1 Kgs. 18:40 The people fell on their faces: “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God!” 2 Kgs. 18:39 Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Ezra Remember Ezra? “a skilled scribe of the Law of Moses” and a “priest”: Ezra 7:6, 11 Ezra preached a great “gospel meeting”: Neh. 8 Ezra didn’t just read, he helped the people “to understand the reading”: Neh. 8:8; 2 Tim. 4:2 Ezra taught some “hard doctrine”: Ezra 10:10-11 Did Ezra make it clear what they needed to do? Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Ezekiel Ezekiel was one of God’s prophets among the Babylonian exiles. The people of Judah and Jerusalem were so wicked God gave up on them! Ezek. 16:2 Lord to Ezekiel: “Son of man, cause Jeru-salem to know her abominations.” Ezek. 16:2 If a preacher tells it plainly like Ezekiel did, somebody will not like it! 2 Tim. 4:2-4 Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech John the Baptist John preached to some tough audiences: Matt. 3:4-7 Did I say, “John preached to some tough audiences.”? Lk. 3:18-20; Mk. 6:22-24 John preached with “great plainness of speech” and lost his head! Lk. 3:18-19; Matt. 14:3-4 Some preachers won’t touch “controversial” subjects: Matt. 19; Ezek. 33:8-9 Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech The Lord Jesus is the very epitome of using “great plainness of speech”: Jn. 10:23-24, 25-30 How plain was Jesus’ teaching here? Jn. 10:31- 33 Do you think the Pharisees got the point of Jesus’ teaching? Matt. 23:13-33 Is Jesus plain speaker? Lk. 13:3? Jn. 14:6? Mk. 16:16? Jn. 12:48 Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Peter The very first gospel sermon was plain and to the point! Acts 2:22-23, 36-38 Plain preaching is preaching that gets results! Acts 2:41 We must imitate Peter’s plainness of speech in our preaching: Acts 5:29-30 So many today think the secret of good gospel preaching is making people feel good about themselves…it’s not! 2 Cor. 2:15-17 Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech Paul Read Paul’s sermons in Acts and his letters…totally transparent! Recall 2 Corinthians and you can’t help but be impressed by Paul’s transparency: 2 Cor. 1:12 Paul gives the reason for his “great plainness of speech”: 1 Cor. 2:1-5 It is utter folly for us to use anything but “great plainness of speech”: Jn. 12:48; Ezek. 33 Using Great Plainness of Speech

Using Great Plainness of Speech CONCLUSION May we never shy away from using “great plainness of speech” in our preaching and teaching. “Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.” ~William Penn You can’t be too plain when people’s souls are at stake! Using Great Plainness of Speech