Occupied With The Word

My preaching colleague and fellow Hoosier, Lee Wildman, recently shared a post on facebook he entitled “Midweek Exhortation.”

It’s a rendering from Acts 18:5 that captured my attention and subsequent reflection.

Midweek Exhortation:

“Paul was occupied with the word” (ESV) (Acts 18:5)

First of all, this ought to describe my work as a preacher. What am I really occupied with? What occupies my mind and therefore my time?

Secondly, we all should be encouraged for the word of the Lord to occupy more of our thoughts and deeds.

“Let the word of the Lord dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)

Lee’s post triggered these thoughts.

I grew up on the “authorized King James version” which renders this phrase “Paul was pressed in the spirit.”

The New King James version renders it “Paul was compelled by the Spirit.”

In his commentary on Acts, Gareth Reese, observes there is a manuscript difference on this passage from the earlier versions to more recent translations. He suggested that the NASB is a better rendering. “Paul was devoted to the Word.” However, I like the more recent ESV translation that Lee shared “occupied with the Word.”

The Greek word rendered “occupied” or ‘devoted” literally means “to hold together, confine, secure, to hold fast.” W.E. Vine suggested this is the “effect of the word of the Lord upon Paul.”

Lee’s observation that those of us who preach ought to be “occupied with the Word,” is accurate and needful. If we’re not careful, we may spend more reading what others say about the Bible than reading the Bible itself.

When we’re “occupied with Word” we will, as Paul exhorted Timothy, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2).

Being “occupied with the Word” will challenge us to follow Paul’s example when he came to Corinth in Acts 18. Here’s what he later said about his preaching in that immoral, hedonistic city. “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5).

Being ”occupied with the Word” will cause us to touch the hearts of our hearers, intellectually and emotionally. To prick the conscience. And to impact one’s will or volition to accept and obey the Word. As the late Dee Bowman wrote in Common Sense Preaching, “Preaching that does not storm the will is not good preaching.” In the words of G. Campbell Morgan, “The preacher should never address a crowd without remembering that his ultimate citadel is the citadel of the human will. He may approach along the lines of the intellect, but he is after the will.”

Lee’s post, however, can be correctly applied to others in addition to preachers.

#1 We need Shepherds who are “occupied with the Word.” Men who know the Word, who possess the ability to teach. Who can recognize and refute error. And know who how to feed the flock with a spiritual diet as they watch for their souls.

#2 We need parents who are “occupied with the Word.” Mothers and fathers who will train their children in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Parents who will have the courage to set boundaries, say “no” to harmful influences, prioritize their children’s spiritual welfare, and set an example of godliness in the home.

#3 We need Christians in our congregations who are “occupied with the Word.” Men and women, boys and girls, young and old, who not only participate in Bible reading, but engage in Bible study. Who seek to be transformed by Christ instead of being conformed to the passions and pleasure of a secular society. Who seek those things which are above. Who serve as a beacon of light in a world of darkness. And who emulate the righteous character of Christ without becoming self-righteous.

“Occupied with the Word.” This single, simple phrase says a lot. What does it say to you?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman