THE PRIMACY OF PREACHING

In the book, “The Whole Counsel of God,” the author, Tim Patrick, makes the point in chapter nine that the Word of God is to be central in worship. Practicing what he is preaching, he grounds this exhortation in Scripture, underscoring Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The foundation of doctrine—teaching, instruction, exhortation, application—was central to the church as the apostles gathered the people for worship. From that flowed fellowship with one another, as truths they held in common united them, and inspired them in obedience to Christ’s command to partake of the Lord’s Supper and directed them in their prayers. See Patrick’s diagram shared below.

Patrick points out that the church had abandoned preaching—and no wonder it plunged into heresy. Luther ignited the Protestant Reformation by the truth of Scripture and demanded that preaching be restored to the worship of the church.

In this chapter, the author quotes Kent Hughes,

“God’s word must infuse everything. The careful reading of the word must be central. Hymns and songs must be word-saturated. Prayers must be biblically informed, redolent with biblical reality—often reflecting the very language and structure of Scripture. The preaching of the Word of God must be the Word of God. Such service requires principled, prayerful thought and hard work . . . it must happen in our hearts. Corporate worship must be word-centered if it is to glorify God as it ought.” (Worship by the Book, D. A. Carson ed., p. 159).

Paul commanded, 

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Tim.‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬‬).

His final exhortation to his protege was to, “Preach the Word!” (2 Tim. 4:2a). Let us make sure that when we gather for worship that there is the primacy of preaching. It is why our pulpits are not off to the side, but centrally located. The focus is on the Word of God—not the human instrument, but the Divine message—and all flows from that.

PREACHER—PRAY!

You can preach after you pray, but you better not preach until you pray!  Paul tells his young colleague in ministry—“first of all…prayers…”. Consider these words from “Gospel Driven Ministry” by Jared Wilson:

In our devotional times and in our sermon preparation, as the Scriptures take us out of our depth, we pray for understanding, for insight, and for help in taking them to heart. Pray that God would empower you to follow his Word and give you pastoral insight to the needs of your people. Intercede for them even as you cook up the expository meal for them to eat. Make the sermon prep an act of love, both toward God and toward your congregation. 

The work of sermon preparation should also be an act of love for the lost! Pray that God would awaken souls through your ministry, that he would bring the dead to life. Pray that your words be used to amplify God’s Word, which ushers people trapped in the darkness into his marvelous light. 

Prepare yourself for ministry prayerfully. Embrace this posture of humility and beg for God’s help. Plead with him for strength, for unction, for revival. Petition him for healing and deliverance. Pray as though, if God weren’t to help you, you couldn’t get anything done that mattered. Don’t be like Uzziah, who was marvelously helped “until he became powerful” (2 Chr 26:15). Trust that God’s strength is perfected in weakness and own the expressed weakness of prayer. This is another important way we fan that flame. If the Word of God brings the fire, prayer is perhaps the stacking of the wood. We are opening ourselves to God’s power, exposing ourselves to God’s holiness, and bringing ourselves before his mercy. (P. 52, Kindle edition)

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

If we are too use to pray, then we are too busy. Consider these challenging words from Andrew Murray:

Though God had His appointed servants in Israel, watchmen set by Himself to cry to Him day and night and give Him no rest, He often had to wonder and say that there was no intercessor, none to stir themselves up to take hold of His strength. And He still waits and wonders in our day, that there are not more intercessors, that all His children do not give themselves to this highest and holiest work, that many of them who do so, do not engage in it more intensely and perseveringly. He wonders to find ministers of His gospel complaining that their duties do not allow them to find time for this, which He counts their first, their highest, their most delightful, their alone effective work. He wonders to find His sons and daughters, who have forsaken home and friends for His sake and the gospel’s, come so short in what He meant to be their abiding strength – receiving day by day all they needed to impart to the dark heathen. He wonders to find multitudes of His children who have hardly any conception of what intercession is. He wonders to find multitudes more who have learned that it is their duty, and seek to obey it, but confess that they know but little of taking hold upon God or prevailing with Him. (The Ministry of Intercession, pp. 120-121, Kindle edition).

The old hymn reminds us to “Take Time to Be Holy.”

1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek. 

2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;

And run not before Him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,

And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,

Each thought and each motive beneath His control.

Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above. (William D. Longstaff)

A MINISTRY PLEASING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD

 

Doing what is good is pleasing to God. All we are and all we do is ever in His sight and our passion should be to gain His approval. Oh to hear our Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master,” (Matt. 25:21)!  Yet, many will not hear those words. What they will hear is, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,’” (Matt. 25:42). But, it need not have been. Hell was prepared for Satan, not for men and women. Indeed, God’s heart is expressed here, that He, “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  The church has one mission—the Great Commission—to share the Gospel.

The early church got it. They went in obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit and souls were saved and baptized and discipled.  There were several factors in this. We will not examine all of them, but look at what Paul emphasized to the young pastor Timothy. This shows how to have a ministry pleasing in the sight of God. You don’t have to please me. You don’t have to please your members. But, you must seek to please your Master!  How?

A ministry pleasing in the sight of God is one WHERE THE PREACHERS FOCUS ON PRIORITIES, (v. 1-7). “First of all…” focuses on priorities.  They are—in order—prayer and preaching—intercession and then comes instruction. You recall that in the early days of the church, conflict arose. The Greek speaking widows felt they were being neglected in the distribution of food in comparison to what was given to the Hebrew speaking widows. What did they do?  What churches always do—dumped it in the laps of the preachers. Fix it, they cried. Here was the response, 

“And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’” (Acts 6:2-4). Prayer and preaching, prayer and preaching, prayer and preaching—and this was the result of those focused priorities: “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

Weigh then, the priority of prayer, (v. 1-3). Jesus did not tell His church to begin with preaching, but with prayer. They were to tarry in Jerusalem until the Day of Pentecost had come. They prayed for 10 days, preached for 10 minutes, and 3000 souls were saved!  We pray for 10 minutes, preach for 10 days, and if 3 people get saved we declare revival has come!  

There is much to do after we pray, but nothing until we pray. Every occasion offers opportunity for prayer. 

We are to offer, “supplications.”  We pray when a need arises in our lives and in the lives of others. Jesus told us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” (Matt. 6:11). 

We are to offer, “prayers.”  In this case, it is referring to communion with God specifically. Prayer is worship. It is coming into the presence of God by saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matt. 6:9). 

We are to offer “intercessions.”  This is where we plead on behalf of others, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” (Matt. 6:10). This is intercession for the Kingdom of God to be manifest on earth. 

We intercede for leaders—“for kings, and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way,” (v. 2). If we were as committed to prayer as we are consumed with politics, we might see God work in the government!  Leonard Ravenhill put it this way, “The answer to the national dilemma is not the Oval Room of the White House, but the upper room in God’s house.”

Further, we intercede for the lost. Jesus said that prayer is about forgiveness and deliverance from evil. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matt. 6:12-13). We intercede and join the Great Intercessor—(v. 5-6), since the Savior “desires all people to be saved,” or as Peter put it, God is, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2 Peter. 3:9b). Such praying honors God in the salvation of souls. 

We are to offer, “thanksgivings,” “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:13). We give thanks to God that His kingdom will triumph, His power will  prevail, and His glory will be manifested in all things for all time.

Those in Gospel ministry cannot fulfill their calling apart from calling on the Lord. We also need the support of godly men and women serving as our prayer partners, (v. 8-9a). 

After prayer, comes the priority of preaching, (v. 4-7). Sinners will not be saved apart from the preaching of the Word. The saved will not be sanctified apart from the preaching of the Word. 

Paul was, “appointed a preacher”. It is a calling from God. God only had one Son and He made Him a preacher. Do not stoop to be a President, if God has called you to be a preacher. 

He was an “apostle.”  While it is true that none share that office today, we can fulfill the function of being, “a sent one,” as the name means. It is a commission from God to evangelize. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

He was “a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”  We are to make disciples—“teaching them all things,” Jesus said in the Great Commission.  

If the preaching of the Word of God does not do it, it won’t get done!  I think of John Bunyan’s description of Interpreter in Pilgrim’s Progress.  It symbolizes the preacher.

Christian saw the picture of a very grave Person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it, It had eyes lifted up to Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, the Law of Truth was written upon his lips, the World was behind his back; it stood as if pleading with men, and a Crown of gold did hang over its head.

A ministry pleasing to God is one where the preachers focus their priorities and WHERE THE GENDERS FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, (v. 8-15).  The genders are described as, “men,” and “women.”  Only two. From the dawn of creation until the end of time—there are only male and female. The insanity of sexual perversity and gender fluidity is the last stage of a culture before its demise. Sadly, the church is being shaped by the culture instead of the church shaping the culture. The supplanting of men as spiritual leaders in the home and church begins that decline. Often, it is not just women who seek to be dominant that is the cause, but men who are effeminate and abdicate their God-assigned roles.  

This is not a matter of equality in personhood. There is an equal dignity in creation. God made both male and female. He created us different, but not one superior and the other inferior. I love how Matthew Henry stated it:

Yet man being made last of the creatures, as the best and most excellent of all, Eve’s  being made after Adam, and out of him, puts an honour upon that sex, as the glory of the man, 1 Co. 11:7. If man is the head, she is the crown, a crown to her husband, the crown of the visible creation. The man was dust refined, but the woman was dust double-refined, one remove further from the earth. …

That the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 10). Hendrickson.

There is an equal dignity in the new creation. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28). The ground is level at the foot of the cross. 

Yet, there are obvious differences in how God has designed men and women in function. There is equality in dignity, but not in duty. Women can do things men cannot. The most obvious is having babies. Men can do things women cannot—that is to supply the seed to generate those babies. Biology and theology are wed together in God’s creation order. Truth is truth in whatever realm it is found whether the Scriptures or in science. God is the source of all truth. The dignity of our gender is not restricted by God’s design, but liberated to be all He has made us to be as male and female.

The man’s responsibility is to lovingly lead in the home and the church. They can only lead as they are led—and seeking God in prayer is a vital part of that, (v. 8). We are told where men are to pray—“in every place.”  We are told about how they should pray, “lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.”  Men who take their wife by the hand and gather their children around for prayer are far less likely to see their spouse and kids in rebellion.  When the altar in the home is established, the altar in the church will be exalted.

The woman’s responsibility is to loyally submit to her husband in the home and to the elders in the house of God, (v. 9-15). 

They demonstrate submission in their dress, (v. 9). Respectability and restraint are called for. Modesty is a forgotten quality in society and this Jezebel spirit has infiltrated the church.  Some church women’s attire is scandalous. Thank God for women of modesty!

They demonstrate submission in their deeds, (v. 10). Women work for God when they labor in the home, the church, and the community. Every member of the church is to be a minister. There is ministry for women as well as men. If the women in our churches stopped serving, the doors would have to be shut. Thank God for women of industry!

They demonstrate submission in their disposition, (v. 11-14). This is not a prohibition from women teaching or testifying. They can and should pray to God and present the Gospel. This is about church leadership—specifically the pastor/teacher. Women are not to be elders in the church. They are not to exercise the authority of a shepherd over other men. Again, Paul takes us back to Genesis. God made Adam first, so man is intended to be the initiator. Adam sinned through the influence of his wife, while Eve sinned from the deception of the serpent. This gets at the heart of how God has wired us up. Not one superior to the other, just different from the other. Maintaining doctrinal integrity is of fundamental importance. Women are more inclined to soften the edge of difficult texts. When a church places women in the pulpit, doctrinal drift is inevitable. They are not meant to pilot the Gospel ship. Thank God for women of humility!

They demonstrate submission in their devotion, (v. 15). Her devotion to her children brings the greatest fulfillment she may know. That is the meaning of “saved through childbearing.”  She is saved from insignificance by this great privilege. As the poet said, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”  Her devotion to her family is bound with her devotion to the Father. She is said to abide “in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”  Thank God for women of fertility!

The hatred of Satan has always been directed toward children. God’s pronouncement of judgment upon the devil was this, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15). Thus, Satan began his effort to destroy the woman’s seed that would crush his head. He inspired Cain to kill his brother Abel. Pharaoh commanded the male Hebrew children to be slain. Herod commands the children of Bethlehem slaughtered. But, he could not prevent Jesus—the seed of woman—from being born. Satan’s doom is sure. Yet, this does not stop Satan’s rage against children. They are brutally butchered by abortion and it is celebrated in our demonic age. Professing Christian men and women are delaying marriage and deferring childbearing with the result that fewer and fewer godly offspring are produced—and the churches age and weaken and die—while Satan laughs. 

This is the design—that men and women would marry and produce godly offspring. Yet, there are some selected saints who will not marry and some who marry that do not have children. Being single does not make one of less value.  You can live without a spouse if that is the will of God and devote yourself to the Kingdom of God, and be like Jesus who never married. Likewise, a married couple may not be physically capable of having children. Yet, they too are not less than others as Jesus never had biological children. So, we do not minimize the worth of these exceptional men and women, but recognize that these are the exceptions.  Again, we have Scriptural guidance in these matters, also, (Matt. 19:10-12; 1 Cor. 7). Fostering and adoption ought to be prayerfully considered by childless couples, as adoption is a Biblical concept and act of love as well. 

These are uncomfortable truths, but must be preached, nonetheless. We will answer to God. I want to be faithful so He will judge me “good and pleasing,” in that Great Day I stand before Him!

THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION

Early in my ministry, I picked up a book in the Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, where I was a student, that made a profound impact on me. I devoured “The Ministry of Intercession,” by Andrew Murray.  

Murray’s premise was that intercession was not praying merely for the effectiveness of Gospel ministry—needful of course—but, that it was ministry in itself. Prayer does not just prepare us for our work, but it is the work!  When I work, I can do what my hands can accomplish—and that is not much. But, when I pray, the hand of God will work, and He can do all things!

Paul writes in Romans 1:9 of his persistent prayer for the Roman church.  Of the myriad of things that might have rightly claimed the Apostle’s attention, he knew that meeting with God and pleading with God on behalf of the church was to be an unwavering commitment. 

I must confess that saying it and doing it are altogether different matters. There are times that I allow other concerns to crowd out what should be my priority, or even if going through the motions, there is little passion and my mind wanders into a myriad of places. 

But, we should not be surprised that prayer is such a struggle. Satan knows its power and will fight us ferociously. Indeed, when we enter the prayer closet, we have entered the war zone. Paul told us to don the whole armor of God for spiritual conflict and then to pray!  That is where victory is won or the battle is lost.

Here is a snippet of what Murray wrote:

We all know the difference between a man whose profits are just enough to maintain his family and keep up his business, and another whose income enables him to extend the business and help others. There may be an earnest Christian life in which there is prayer enough to keep us from going back, and just maintain the position we have attained to, without much growth in spirituality or Christlikeness. The attitude is more defensive, seeking to ward off temptation, than aggressive, reaching out after higher attainment. If there is indeed to be a going from strength to strength, with some large experience of God’s power to sanctify ourselves and to bring down real blessing on others, there must be more definite and persevering prayer. The Scripture teaching about crying day and night, continuing steadfastly in prayer, watching unto prayer, being heard for his persistence, must in some degree become our experience if we are really to be intercessors, (p. 3, Kindle Version). 

I do not share this to condemn you, but to challenge you. I speak to myself foremost and trust that if you eavesdrop, it will help you also. So, let us renew our commitment to praying unceasingly for the church. It will make us productive and the church powerful. This is the ministry of intercession.

A CHOSEN VESSEL

God informed Ananias that Saul of Tarsus—better known as Paul the Apostle—would be “a chosen vessel.”  In His sovereign grace, the Lord Jesus saved him and would set him apart to serve Him. Christ made the choice to reveal Himself and Saul chose to respond to His call. Those who are set apart for God’s use have no reason to boast of their worthiness, but only to glory in the grace of God. We are mere vessels that He pours into that we may pour out His Word.

Paul’s task would be to take the saving name of Jesus to all the world—Gentiles, Jews, even kings. It is such a privilege to represent the King of kings—to be His ambassador, (cf. 2 Cor. 4:20-21). 

While it is a privilege, it comes with a price.  Paul was to be told upfront that he would suffer much for the cause of Christ. As His ambassadors, we travel into hostile territory, and our message while welcomed by some, will bring the wrath of many. The world has a measure of tolerance—at least indifference—to religion. It is the exclusivity of the Gospel—the name of Jesus as the only means where one must be saved—that is the demand that ignites the world’s fury. 

There are several characteristics of a chosen vessel suggested in Acts 9:10-25. 

First, we see PRAYER.  Ananias was told of Saul of Tarsus, “behold, he is praying,” (v. 11). As natural as an infant who is born, crying out at his or her arrival, this is indicative of a spiritual birth into the family of God. Instinctively, we know we must pray. Yet, too often as we get busy in public work, we may neglect private worship. We will never be a choice vessel that God can use apart from a consistent prayer life. Paul was a productive worker, because he was a prayer warrior. 

Then, consider PERCEPTION. Ananias was to lay hands on him and pray, “so that he might receive his sight,” (v. 12). Paul had been blinded by the glorious light radiating from the Risen Christ—a light brighter than the noonday sun. Now, physically the scales would fall from his eyes so he could see, but spiritually his eyes would be opened also to see God’s purpose for his life. God gives vision to those He uses in His service. We can lead others because we have seen the path to travel.

Also, we must have POWER.  Paul would, “be filled with the Holy Spirit,” (v. 17). The assignment God has for us is too great for us. It is spiritual work and demands supernatural power. When we are saved, we have the Spirit residing in us, but when we are serving, we need the Spirit presiding over us. As we die to sin and become empty of self, the risen life of Christ fills us and makes us fruitful.  God fills the chosen vessel with His Spirit and pours out His power through us. 

This enables PERSISTENCE. We are told that Paul ate and, “was strengthened,” (v. 19). Just as his physical healing gave him sight, this literal food gave him strength. Metaphorically, this would be true in the spiritual dimension. Feeding upon the Bread of Life, he would be able to persist in service despite the opposition he would face. This might for ministry is mentioned in verse 22, “But Saul increased all the more in strength.”  God supported and sustained him as the Jews sought to kill him, (v. 24). J. Vernon McGee noted, “That all of God’s men are immortal until God is through with them.”

There will also be PROCLAMATION. “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God,” (v. 20). God called this chosen vessel to be a preacher. His proclamation pointed to a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ. What a privilege it is to open the Bible, preach it, and point people to the Savior!  While it is true that every child of God is called to confess Christ—to bear witness to the world—there are those selected to stand in the pulpit and preach. Spurgeon put it, “If God calls you to be a minister, don’t stoop to becoming a king.”

I PRAYED FOR YOU

 

“I prayed for you.”  When someone tells us that, it is encouraging. Though not minimizing that, there is something better. Jesus prayed for you. That prayer is recorded in John 17. 

It is true that He prayed for all believers, but originally He prayed for those He would commission to share His message—and all who would believe from their words. I think for those of us in Gospel ministry, there is a special encouragement in this intercessory prayer of our Lord. 

There is OUR STRATEGIC PLACEMENT. “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” (John‬ ‭17‬:‭11‬‬). 

We serve Christ in a fallen world. The ravages of sin are all about us. Our field of service is a battlefield. Each day we face the world, the flesh, and the devil. Satan is out to defeat us, defile us, damage us, disqualify us, and even destroy us.  But, it is no accident—God’s appointment where and when and what we are assigned to do has been selected in His providence. It is a strategic placement. Where else should we be?  The sick need a physician. If we are not among the sin-sick, howA can we help them find healing?

Then, there is OUR SANCTIFIED POSITION. “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:16-17).  

We are in the world, but not of the world. As a doctor must not be isolated from the diseased, he must, however, be immunized from the disease, else he become sick and unable to fulfill his duty. Before we can dispense the healing Word of God, we must digest it ourselves. Our spiritual health is essential and that comes from taking in the Word of God. Paul put it like this, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  (Rom.‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬‬). Our minds are renewed by the Truth and we are transformed into a sanctified servant of Christ, doing His will and work.

Finally, we consider OUR SAVING PROCLAMATION,  “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. …that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John‬ ‭17‬:‭18, 21‬‬b). 

Christ declared His redemptive mission thus, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost,” (Luke 19:10). He would also say, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” (John 20:21b). We are to extend the ministry of Jesus by seeking the lost and bringing them to Jesus for salvation. We have been entrusted with the Gospel—“the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” (Rom. 1:16). Not everyone will take the medicine, but for those who will, it is life giving! Preach and witness with conviction that God can use you to make an eternal difference in someone’s life!

Jesus prayed this for you. Even more, He is still interceding!  “He always lives to make intercession for [us],” (Heb. 7:25b).

INTAKE BEFORE OUTFLOW

 

 Old Mother Hubbard 
Went to the Cupboard,
 To give the poor Dog a bone;
 When she came there,
 The Cupboard was bare,
 And so the poor Dog had none.

As a preacher of God’s Word, we cannot give what we do not have. There must be intake before there can be outflow. If the spring is not flowing, then we cannot draw out water. Our people come to us, thirsty and longing for the Water of Life. Is the well dry?

We may all feel that way at times. Having given and given and given—we are poured out and exhausted—with nothing left to give. Yet, here comes another Lord’s Day and the assembling of the saints to drink. They are thirsty. The world they have functioned in all week has drained them dry. They look to the pulpit for help. What will you do?  Jesus provides the solution. 

There must be DESIRE. He says, “If anyone thirsts.”  

Self-sufficiency may drain our desire. Pride calls us to self-sufficiency. It’s our job to give the people the Lord’s message and satisfy their spiritual thirst.  We have been to seminary. We are the Bible experts. So, we function as professionals, just doing our job. There will be no outflow of grace from such a pulpit, for there has been no intake. God gives grace to the humble, and not the self-sufficient.

Carnal satisfaction can deplete our desire. Rather than the intake from the tributaries of truth in Scripture, we may satiate ourselves at this world’s well.  Distracted by electronic devices, addicted to worldly amusements, and gorged with fleshly pursuits, we think on Saturday night, we can borrow some other preacher’s bucket and share the contents of his intake with the thirsty Sunday morning crowd. 

Jeremiah speaks to this:  “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (‭Jer. 2‬:‭13‬‬). 

God forbid that we be a broken cistern!  Let us desire to drink deeply of Christ all week long through the fountain of the Spirit-inspired Scriptures.  Then, no matter how demanding our week has been, we may claim the promise, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled,” (Matt. 5:6). 

There must then be DIRECTION.  Jesus said, “let him come to me.”

Good intentions will not get the job done. We may have meant to dive deeply into the text we are to preach, but so many good things have detoured us from the primary task. I think of the Apostles, in the early days of the church. The congregation was growing exponentially, conflict arose, ministry demands intensified, and the church turned to the leadership. Their response was to install other godly men to care for those needs, for they said, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word,” (Acts 6:4). There must be delegation of many tasks, if there is to be the declaration of mighty truths. 

Wrong direction will keep us from the right direction. There is a place for reading commentaries and listening to podcasts. But, we must prioritize seeking Jesus. Our agenda is to drink deeply of Him, before we dive deeply into research. Pray much before you study long—to seek the Savior and not just create a sermon. You will be amazed how if you are in the Word with regularity, the Lord will fill you up, so you can pour out. Prayer and the ministry of the Word are inseparable.

Finally, this calls for DECISION. Our Lord said, “drink.”

The old adage is, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”  I can present this, but you can ignore it. You may nod your head and say, “Amen,” with your lips, while returning to the old rut of doing what you’ve always done. You may feel guilty and so drained as to despair and quit the ministry. Some preachers go down in flames of moral failure, while others just fade away.  

It is time to come and drink. Open your heart to Christ anew. The Holy Spirit promises to flow into you and then out of you!  That outflow will be “rivers of living water,” not a trickle, but a torrent!  You may be drained, but the Spirit within you never is—not even a bit—from His boundless supply. 

Let us seek the Lord, brothers. God will supply the outflow if you take care of the intake.

WORSHIP WITH THE WORD

There is a reason why evangelical church buildings have the pulpit and its lectern centrally located. The Word of God is meant to direct attention to the God of the Word. The preaching of the Word is central to worship. Since worship is meant to point us to the Lord Most High, there is no better way than via the avenue of Scripture.

We must see to it that our praise is Scripturally grounded. Music is an important way we express this. Yet, if the lyrics are merely meant to arouse emotions without communicating truth through sacred melodies, then we may leave the building feeling inspired, but without offering acceptable worship in Spirit and truth. While the melody is important, it is the message that is fundamental. Nor, are we to spend most of the hour singing and then a brief sermonette. As has been said, “Sermonettes produce Christianettes.”  We show his fallacy when we speak of the singing in this way, “First, we have worship and then the preaching.”  Singing is only a part of worship, not the sum of it.

We must see that our prayers are Scripturally directed. Prayers are almost treated as filler—a necessary start and finish to the worship. Yet, our Lord demanded that His Father’s house be a “house of prayer,” (Matt.21:13a). Prayer must be more than a mindless repetition of pious phrases. The Word of God is to be the launching pad for lifting holy hands to God in prayer.  Scripture directs our language and develops our faith. Biblical threads should be woven into the very fabric of all our prayers.

We must see that our preaching is Scripturally saturated. We do not casually read a text and then quickly move on to what we want to say. The text is to drive all that is said from the pulpit. The Word of God is to be central. This begins with the honor shown in the way it is read. Look at this passage from Nehemiah 8:1-12:

Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. (NKJV)

It is one reason I have chosen across the years to have people bring their Bibles, open their Bibles, stand for the reading of the Bible and read the Bible clearly and emphatically.  Throughout the message, the stress is upon what God has to say, and then what we need to do about it. The conclusion is a call to action, resting on the authority of the Word of God. Preaching is an act of worship—all that the Man of God is offered on the altar as a sacrifice in presenting the message of God.

These thoughts were inspired from reading Appendix A in Stephen and David Olford’s book, “Anointed Expository Preaching.”  For a fuller understanding, I commend it to you. 

READY TO DO HIS WILL

 

There is a fascinating contrast in our Lord’s ministry witnessed in John 14. On the one hand, the multitudes are seeking His ministry and He serves them, while later He sends them away and seeks solitude!  From telling the disciples, “They do not need to go away,” we read a short time later that “He sent them away.”

God is limitless, but humans have their limitations. Christ was God Incarnate and able thus to multiply the small supply of loaves and fish to feed thousands, while also needing to withdraw for rest and to hear from His Father. That time of prayer was our Lord’s means of receiving new direction and replenished power for His ministry. In so doing, Jesus shows us how man is meant to live—taking in that we might give out. 

All of us can sympathize with the disciples when they felt their resources inadequate for the demands. They told Jesus to send the masses away. Yet, when we are in the will of God, He will always supply us with what we need to do the work. There is no excuse for laziness in Christian service. When we reach the point of exasperation, we have not necessarily come to the point of exhaustion. Little is much, when God is in it.  You may have a little more gas in the tank when the needle rests on empty.

Yet, there will come a time that the ministry must be set aside that we may be refreshed. Praying alone is not wasting time, but is making the best use of our time. While it is true that sometimes we face a challenging time and know what we need to do, yet refuse to do it for how costly it is—making the excuse, “Let me pray about it.”  That sounds spiritual, but may be cowardice. That was not the case for Jesus. He had reached His limit for the day and now it was time for solitude. 

The key whether immersed in service or isolated in supplication is to be in the will of God. The old hymn stated it:

1 Ready to suffer grief or pain,
Ready to stand the test;
Ready to stay at home and send
Others if He sees best.

Refrain:
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.

2 Ready to go, ready to bear,
Ready to watch and pray;
Ready to stand aside and give
Till He shall clear the way. [Refrain]

3 Ready to speak, ready to think,
Ready with heart and mind;
Ready to stand where He sees fit,
Ready His will to find. [Refrain]

4 Ready to speak, ready to warn,
Ready o’er souls to yearn;
Ready in life or ready in death,
Ready for His return. [Refrain] (lyrics by A.C. Palmer)

Jesus would come down from the mountain of prayer and go to His disciples as they were toiling in storm-tossed seas. He was ready. Are you?

THE PREACHER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD POSSESSIONS, PROBLEMS, AND PRAYERS

This morning, I wrote a devotional on James 5.  It is directed to everyone, but I saw a poignant application for pastors.

First, consider  THE PREACHER’S ATTITUDE ABOUT STUFF (v.1-6). This deals with the matter of our possessions. Riches may dazzle the eye with the glitter of gold and glamor of garments, but faith enables us to see beyond these to eternity and realize that is the only place of real riches. Taking advantage of others for personal profit is but fattening ourselves for the day of slaughter. Greed will destroy a ministry!  While the pastor must supply the need of family, lest he be worse than an infidel (cf. 1 Tim.5:8), he must not be driven by the greed of luxury. Whatever we possess—little or much—we cannot let it possess us!

Further, note THE PREACHER’S ASSESSMENT OF SUFFERING (v.7-12).  This deals with the matter of our problems.  The preacher must be patient and persevere. We do not grumble about others who may not be experiencing the pain we know. Rather, we surrender to the will of God. I think of Peter, when told how he would suffer for Christ, pointed to John and said, “Lord, what about this man?”  Jesus rebuked him, “what is that to you?  You follow me!” (cf. John 21:21-22). Instead of looking at other preachers who appear successful, look into the Word and see examples of others who suffered—like the prophets and Job, who nevertheless remained steadfast. Remember God is compassionate and merciful. Never doubt it!  The final chapter of the story will be glory!  As the old saying goes, “All’s well that ends well!”

Finally, observe THE PREACHER’S APPRECIATION OF SUPPLICATION (v.13-20).  This deals with the matter of our prayers.  Rather than complain, carry your burdens to the Lord.  Prayer enables us to strongly stand publicly when we weakly kneel privately. Being cast down, lift up your prayer to God. Raise your voice in song to God and this will raise you up. Call upon others—especially fellow elders—to pray for you and with you. That prayer of faith will heal. It may deliver us from suffering now, but will assuredly deliver our souls from bitterness.  Sometimes, the suffering is the scourge of God for our sin. It is His loving chastisement to correct us. The prayer of confession then restores us. Elijah was a man of powerful prayer, but still a man. Preacher, you have no excuse for not accessing God’s power. Prayer equips us to reach the straying sheep and bring them back into the fold. What a day of rejoicing when the prayer is answered and the prodigal comes home!

SHEEP NEED SHEPHERDS

God’s flock needs a shepherd. The lost sheep need someone to seek them. The weak sheep need someone to feed them. All sheep need someone to lead them. So, we see COMPASSION FOR THE SHEEP in this text. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt.9:36). The compassionate Shepherd, Jesus Christ is concerned for His flock.  May God give is the eyes of Jesus to see the need and the heart of Jesus to seek their care!

Yet, notice what He does not do. He focuses first on the need for more shepherds instead of the immediate needs of more sheep. In His humanity, He had accepted the limitations of a body. His Divine omnipresence had been set aside to embrace the restrictions of a physical presence.  While Jesus never ceased to be God, He became man—perfect man.

Now, we are not perfect.  If the flesh confined Jesus to one location at a time, then we certainly have those some limits. What is required is not one shepherd running around in a frenzy, collapsing totally exhausted, depressed with the realization that few needs have been met in comparison to the many who had no ministry.

What Jesus said to do was to take the compassion for the sheep and turn it to INTERCESSION FOR MORE SHEPHERDS. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Matt.9:37-38). 

God’s sheep are everywhere. It is a global field of labor. What we cannot do, God can do, and it is prayer that brings the power of God into human experience. God will use those who shepherd a local congregation to raise up and call to response those He is convicting by His Spirit to answer this call.  We need more preachers, more missionaries, more evangelists, more teachers—spiritual leaders of every kind. Doubtless, many shepherds need to do more and can, but they can never do enough alone.

Those shepherds who excel are not merely concerned about adding more sheep to their flock, but multiplying their ministry by raising up many shepherds. It begins with the burden—compassion to see like Jesus—and brings down the blessing—through intercession as Jesus demanded.

Thank God for every baptism a pastor has performed. Rejoice in it. Yet, how many would have been reached, if you had spent more time praying to the Lord of the Harvest and seeing more respond to the call to Gospel ministry?

May God give us compassion that leads to intercession which ends in multiplication!