In a Bible Study this week someone told me something that shocked me: “I don’t like that scripture”. In speaking to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul never shirked from giving them the whole counsel of God. I am sure they too did not like all they heard. Acts 20:27 (ESV) — 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Even though these truths were presented with tears and through trials, Paul still spoke up.

Acts 20:19–21 (ESV) — 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The result of preaching the whole counsel of God was profound:

Acts 19:4–5 (ESV) — 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus… 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Friend, are you proud of God’s Word? Or are you ashamed – preferring instead the popular and politically correct message?