I Thessalonians 2:3 “For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
In preaching, a minister of the Gospel must confine himself to preaching “the gospel”, “the word” (II Timothy 4:2), directly and simply as it is presented in the Word of God. The awe of it, the love for it, the respect for it, the hunger for it, and attention to it is under direct control of the “God, which trieth our hearts”! Preachers must not quench the Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19); but, neither are they allowed to excite the carnal emotions of the congregation with a show; for, “bodily exercise profiteth little” (I Timothy 4:8). The word “uncleanness” has to do with those quips and stories that appeal to the carnal mind and not to spiritual thinking. This “uncleanness” includes the use of music and the beat and rhythm that excites us carnally. The word “deceit” used here, literally means straying from the subject matter of the Word of God; that is, telling long sad stories or using humanistic motivational philosophies which tell us how great and wonderful we are versus how great and wonderful God is. The word “guile” here refers to the bitter emotions that arise from constant threats of eternal punishment and such things. Ministers are charged to warn the Lord’s people of chastisement in this present life for their disobedience to God; but, ministers are not allowed to make threats of eternal punishment to the Lord’s Children; for, He plainly declared, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39). Every minister desires to deliver a pleasing and useful and comforting message; but, the first priority is “not … pleasing men”, it is to Glorify God in preaching His Word. When ministers spend much time in prayer and in dedicated “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15); the “God, which trieth our hearts” will guide the deliverance of the message and work reception in the hearts of the congregation. Right now, we need God’s Word clearly, plainly preached and taught and lived among God’s people!