SUCCESSFUL SERVICE

Should we pursue success in the Lord’s service?  Let me put it this way, “Do you want to be a failure at such a vital assignment?”  I want to hear above all when I stand before the Judge, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your Lord,” (Matt. 25:23). The question is, “By what metric do we measure success?”  

In the modern church world it is has often been gauged by how many buildings we put up, how many bucks we took up, and how many backsides we sat down. Those are not insignificant, but not the final measurement. Paul lists three standards for successful service in 1 Thessalonians 2:10 that any servant of the Lord can attain.

First, we are to be devoted toward God, “how devoutly…we behaved.”  This is service that is RESPONSIVE. The grace of God was not given in vain to Paul. He was devoted to the Savior who dedicated Himself to the Apostle. His service was not to earn God’s favor, but a response to God’s love. In Rom. 12:1, he set this as our standard, “ “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” The first commandment is to love God with all our being. 

Second, we are to be just toward man, “how…justly…we behaved.”  This is service that is RIGHTEOUS. Our conduct in the world is to be just in how we deal with our fellowman. In the neighborhood, the marketplace, or wherever we go, we are to treat people right!  The second commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. To claim to love God is only credible as we love those who are created in His image. 

Third, we are to be blameless toward believers, “how…blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe.”  This is service that is RIGOROUS. We are called to scrupulously seek sanctification. Holiness is to be the gauge of our service in the fellowship of the saints. It should be more than a claim expressed, but a conduct exhibited. God is our Creator and we are to love Him, humanity is His creation and we are to love them, but the church is His Bride and we are to love her. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” (John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬‬). The church is His new creation and Christ calls us to a new love that He demonstrated —a rigorous commitment to the people of God.

Be faithful in pursuing these three spheres of service and God will make you fruitful as He sees fit.

THE PREACHER’S PERFORMANCE

For the twenty five years I served as a minster at Pole Creek Baptist Church, I was subject to an annual review by the Personnel Committee—as were all our staff. It was not a bad time, but productive as a time of self-reflection and objective evaluation. I first had to fill out a form sharing progress toward the previous year’s goals and setting forth what I believed God was directing me to do in the year to come. 

But, the truth is, people are always scrutinizing us and judging us. It is not an annual matter, but a daily one. Each week they judge our sermons as to content and delivery. They look at our work and judge us as successful or failing. They not only look at what we do but the way we do it—evaluating actions and attitudes. 

The reality is that you cannot please everyone. Not even a champion like Paul was immune from criticism. People have their favorite preachers, and it can become political, as Paul confronted in the Corinthian church in the prior chapter. 

So, what about the preacher’s performance?

Consider OUR REQUIREMENT, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (v. 1-2).

We are required to be servants of the Savior—“servants of Christ.” Church folk will have an expectation that we serve them. Yet, our duty is to serve our Master—and that will, of course, lead us to serve the members. The key, however, is that we are not seeking to be people-pleasers, but rather to please our Lord. This gets to our motivation. We are not hirelings, who labor for earthly payment, but we are shepherds who toil for eternal reward. 

We are also required to be stewards of the Scripture—“stewards of the mysteries of God.”  Good shepherds are faithful to feed the flock of God. The sheep need the Word of God. Our call is to stay true to the sound doctrine delivered to us and to fearlessly proclaim it. We hope the congregation will receive it, but the reality is that the Lord will review it. 

What does God require of the preacher?  Paul says it is, “that they be found faithful.”  We cannot always assure fruitfulness, but we can pursue faithfulness.

Thus, we should expect OUR REVIEW, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” (v. 3-5a).

There will be human judgment. “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court,” (v. 3a).  You do not have to ask—judgment will be shared. Sometimes it will be to your face, and at other times behind your back. The preacher will hear words of commendation and condemnation. It is not all that unusual for a preacher to be tempted to puff up when he receives accolades. On the other hand, his bubble may burst with the sharp word of criticism. Some brand us a hero and others count us a zero. The reality is we are more likely somewhere in the middle. Yet, Paul refused to even render a final judgment based on his own self-reflection, “In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted.“ (v. 3b-4a). Why?

There will be heavenly judgment. “It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” (v. 4b-5a).  This is the ultimate “performance review.”  Only God is qualified to render absolute judgment on our ministry, for only He is omniscient. The truth is that if others knew us like we know ourselves, then they would not think as highly of us as they do!  Yet, there are times we think we have failed, and God will find us faithful. We do not even see all the results—nor do we always grasp our motive. To God, what we do is important, but also why we do it. 

Ultimately, we will see OUR REWARD, “Then each one will receive his commendation from God,” (v. 5b). 

There will be this consideration. In the preceding chapter, the Apostle has noted that at the Judgment Seat of Christ, our works will be tried by holy fire. Sadly, I fear much of what I have done will be consumed as wood, hay, and straw. Hopefully, there will also be that which is revealed as gold, silver, and gems—worthy of eternal reward. 

This brings the commendation. God gets the final word. What we may discover is that some country pastor will be summoned to the front of the line—a man who labored in obscurity—and he is shocked to receive great reward. Then, we may witness some celebrity preacher who is sent to the back of the line—a man who worked in notoriety—and he is sad to receive little reward. Who knows?

God knows. 

There will be reason for all to celebrate the grace of God that enables us to do anything. Truthfully, we confess as servants, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Lk. 17‬:‭10‬‬).  Honestly, we confess as stewards that our gifts and opportunities come from God—that we neither deserve them, nor earn them.

There is a crown for the preacher to seek. Peter mentions this in 1 Peter 5:1-4. “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

Yet, what will the elders do with those crowns of glory?  In heaven, “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’” (Rev.‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭11‬). Our motive in seeking this crown is to glorify the Lord God who chose such unworthy servants and blessed us with an amazing stewardship.

Let us then be true and faithful—and leave the judgment to God.

ALL ON THE ALTAR

Early in my Christian life, I memorized Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.”

This text has been significant in directing my daily walk and for nearly fifty years shaping my ministry. While the verses apply to all believers, I want to target those who serve as elders in the church. 

Paul calls us to have A SURRENDERED BODY, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies…”. God’s Spirit indwells these physical forms. He does his work through our hands. He speaks by our voice. Our body is to be surrendered to Him. That means we are to care for our body. It is His Temple. We ought to get the proper amount of exercise, eat the right food, and have enough rest, otherwise these bodies will not function at peak efficiency.

This is the summons to A SACRIFICIAL LIFE, “a living sacrifice…”. Paul reaches into the Old Testament for an illustration of a New Testament principle. As the priests would place an animal on the altar to be consumed in fire as a burnt offering, so I am to place my life on the altar of complete surrender to be consumed with God and His service. It is not a one time decision, but a day by day, moment by moment devotion. Christian ministry is a costly matter.

We are directed to A SANCTIFIED WALK, “holy, acceptable to God…”. This is the pursuit of holiness. As God is holy, we are to be holy. We are sanctified—that is, set apart for Him. Again, the Old Testament analogy is clear—an animal had to be without blemish if it was to be fit as an offering to God. Men will evaluate us and make their judgments. But, what really matters is what God knows about us. Are we acceptable to Him?

We need A SERVANT HEART, “which is your reasonable service.”  We are saved to serve. It is what we do. It is a reasonable thing based on the mercies of God bestowed to us. Paul begins this verse with the pivotal phrase, “I beseech you, therefore, by the mercies of God…”. For eleven chapters, the Apostle has given us doctrine as to what we are to believe concerning the salvation Christ has brought. Now, in the final five chapters, he moves to duty as to how we are to behave responding to that salvation Christ has wrought. When we are tempted to give up, give in, or give out—look to Calvary. Recognize the price Jesus paid. As the hymn says, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”

That last phrase in Romans 12:1 can also be translated, “your spiritual worship.”  That would again connect this to the Old Testament sacrificial system, as the offerings were at the core of Jewish worship. This reminds us that central to why we do what we do, it is our love for God. Worship is not just a one day a week action, but a daily disposition. What God supremely desires is our heart.

This results in A STEADFAST RESISTANCE, “And do not be conformed to this world…”. The world powerfully and persistently pressures us to be conformed to its warped ideologies and sensual behaviors. To yield to these is to become disqualified for Gospel ministry. We have often seen some preacher caught up in scandal, and fail to understand that spectacle was likely the result of a sinister process. Worldliness works much like erosion—gradually eating away, unseen until there is collapse.

That resistance can only be successful if accompanied by A SCRIPTURAL MIND, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”. We will be conformed to the world, unless we are transformed by the Word. The battle is in our mind, (cf. 2 Cor. 4-5). It is a marvelous computer, and the information downloaded into that mental hard drive determines the data that will be put out. Our mind will have the malicious viruses of the world ruining it or the mighty verses of the Word renewing it. 

We may recall the tragedy of the Titan—a small sub that imploded in an effort to explore the Titanic wreckage, killing the five on board. So long as the air pressure inside the vessel was as great as the water pressure against the hull, all was well. When the pressure outside exceeded the inside, then came destruction. 

I need to be consistently studying, memorizing, meditating, sharing, and applying Scripture, if my mind is to be renewed. 

The end result is A SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY, “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  The human tendency in recognizing a successful preacher is in the size of the congregation and name recognition. While these may have some significance, the true measure of success is doing all the good we can in an acceptable manner according to the will of God. It is being the shepherd God had called us to be with the flock He has assigned to us. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be a lot of preachers celebrated on earth which will be burnt up under the fire of Christ’s scrutiny in eternity. Then, there will be some virtual unknowns who will be called to the front of the line and honored for faithful service though laboring in obscurity. Focus on the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God,” which is your decision and leave the results to God which He dictates.

You have longed for sweet peace,

        And for faith to increase,

        And have earnestly, fervently prayed.

But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.

        Would you walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
And have peace and contentment alway?

You must do His sweet will
To be free from all ill–
On the altar your all you must lay.

        Oh, we never can know

        What the Lord will bestow

        Of the blessings for which we have prayed,

        Till our body and soul

        He doth fully control,

        And our all on the altar is laid. 

        Who can tell all the love
He will send from above,
And how happy our hearts will be made,
Of the fellowship sweet
We shall share at His feet
When our all on the altar is laid!

        Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest,
And have peace and sweet rest,

        As you yield Him your body and soul. (Elisha Hoffman)

MAXIMUM MINISTRY

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”  (John 17:18)

Christ’s prayer recorded in John 17 was for all His people (v.20).  His commission is for every disciple of all the ages.  Yet, I think as there was a direct application to those eleven disciples (plus one counterfeit), there is a practical dimension for God’s preacher today.  Imagine, man of God—the Lord of glory standing with eyes upraised to heaven, mere hours from the agony of the cross and He prays for you!

His heart was to glorify the Father and fulfill His mission.  “I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”  (John 17:4)  Can we think of a greater goal—that in all our life and work we aim at the glory of God and faithfully finishing our assignment?

Eternal life can only be found in the Son of God (v.3).  Those the Father gives the Son in His sovereign grace will come to Him (v.2), but manifesting that salvation to sinners in view of their becoming saints is our duty (v.6).  Of the many good things I might do in ministry, I must not forget the worth of a soul.  Heaven is real and hell is also—and the proclamation of the life-changing Gospel is imperative and urgent.

God has entrusted us with the sacred message.  “ ‎For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.”  (v.8)  This is the treasure of truth contained in clay pots, and meant to be preserved in its purity—undiluted truth—and proclaimed in its power—unleashed truth.

Not all will be happy to hear the truth (v.14).  They will loathe the mirror of God’s Word in the manner in which the evil queen in the Snow White fairy tale hated to hear what the mirror on the wall honestly spoke.  There is a sanctifying power in the Word (v.17), and many would rather roll in the mud like an old hog—comfortable according to their nature.  To those who respond, however, the truth is transformative (v.19-20).  Should persecution arise, Christ will preserve us until our task is done (v.11-12), for we belong to Him and are loved by Him as the Father loves the Son (v.23-26).  When our mission is accomplished we are summoned to dwell in the eternal glory, face to face with Christ!

While the world hates us and the message is polarizing, let us seek to foster love and preserve unity among the people of God.  It was the earnest petition of Jesus and merits our deliberate effort (v.21-23).  A pugnacious preacher in spirit, always splitting theological hairs, and looking for a reason to cause strife is guilty of a severe sin.  To attack the Bride of Christ is an assault on Christ Himself who is one with her.  When the world sees our schisms, and hears venom more than grace from the pulpit, no wonder they scoff at our sermons!  There may come a time when truth, even spoken in love, angers church members who reject it—and reject us—let us love nonetheless.  If we part company may there be no bitterness on our part, only grief as a spurned lover.  This is maximum ministry—the mandate given by our Master, and His prayer for His men.

THE SUCCESSFUL SERMON

 

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

 It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:11)

What makes a sermon successful?  Is it that people applaud it?  Do we not recall the hostility the prophets often met in response to their message?  Perhaps it is by the crowds that gather in eagerness to hear us—but what of how the preaching of Jesus would lead people to walk away from Him?  The Apostles’ sermons could cause led a mob to beat them rather than a crowd to bless them!

How often does the man of God slump in exhaustion as the darkness of disappointment envelops him!  The preacher has poured out his soul in delivering that which the Lord has thrust upon him—“the burden of the LORD,” as the Old Testament prophets called it—and the people sat silent and unmoved as a stone.  Not to mention the times when we were met with criticism over the message—sharp barbs, poisoned with anger, plunged into our heart.

No wonder so many resignation letters are written in the pastor’s study on Monday morning.

Maybe we have failed.

That is always possible, of course.  We may have failed to prepare ourselves spiritually and studiously—our hearts empty and our mouths correspondingly.  The preacher may lean on the flesh, trust in homiletics alone, and not depend on the Holy Spirit.  Unrepentant sin may short-circuit our usefulness, damming up the flow of grace to and through us.  The pastor can become so enamored with his own popularity that he seeks his glory and not God’s.  This is the path to failure in the sermon.

Yet, we may shun all of that, ready ourselves as best of may, and still not see the visible results we desire.  It may be that we do not understand what makes a successful sermon.  It is simply this: being faithful to the Word of God in dependence on the Spirit of God—having prepared to use to the full the gifts God has placed in me, and all for His glory.  If I do that, then no matter the evaluation of man, the Word of God has accomplished its mission.  The sermon is successful.  God has promised to always fulfill its purpose.  Can you then fail?  “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’ ”  (Rom.3:4)  Only God’s verdict on our message ultimately matters, and He stamps such preaching: SUCCESSFUL!

 

THE ROD OF GOD

So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." (Exodus 4:2 )

Moses is one of the great Bible heroes. His first attempt at delivering his people, however, had been a disaster. Seeing an Egyptian abusing one of Moses' fellow Hebrews, he killed him and buried him in the sand. How long would it have taken to deliver Israel at that rate--one per day? Not only so, but Moses' bloody secret was out. The cat was out of the bag--or in this case the corpse! So, he fled for his life. He would spend forty grueling years tending his father-in-law's flock on the backside of the wilderness. This was God's discipline to humble him and shape him that He might use him. Until God brings us to the end of ourself, we will never discover what He alone can do because He alone is all we have.

There was THE SERIOUS PROBLEM Moses posed to God. When the Lord calls him, he recalls his failure, and an objection arises, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice" (4:1) It was an excuse masquerading as a reason not to obey. There was an element of truth, however. If Moses could not back up his claims, then his efforts would bring another failure, on a grander scale. The fact is that we cannot lead people wfor God publicly until the evidence is there that we have listened to God privately.

Here is THE STARTING POINT.  So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" (4:2) We often think that when we get to a certain place, obtain better resources, or develop greater skills that God can use us. What we fail to grasp is that God meets us where we are to bring us where He wants us to be. In the midst of the mundane, God can intersect with us. An old scrub bush in the wilderness can become the sacred spot where the Eternal One is encountered. The piece of wood in our hands can become a tool for God to work wonders! Remember how Jesus took a lad's lunch and fed 5,000? The starting point of the miracle was when all was surrendered to Jesus.

We must deal with THE SERPENT'S POISON.  And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. (Exodus 4:3) Moses must have wondered why God would have him throw away a perfectly good staff. When he obeyed, he found it had the nature of the serpent about it so long as Moses controlled it. Anything not surrendered to God does.

Moses then finds THE SPIRITUAL POWER.  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." (4:4-5) From now on this staff that in the hand of Moses could only do what Moses could do would be known as the rod of God and through it God would do only what He could do!

What has God called you to do? Will you surrender all you have so He can use you?

LADDER CLIMBING

 

So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”  (Genesis 32:27)

When God asked Jacob his name, the omniscient Lord was not seeking information, but confession.  They were wrestling in the dark, but God was not in the dark as to his combatant.  He just wanted Jacob to own up to his name—and thus, his nature.  The name meant “supplanter, heel-grabber” and so he was.  From conception, he struggled in the womb with his twin, Esau.  At their birth, Jacob clutches his brother’s heel as though to resist him being the first-born.  Throughout his days, Jacob sought the birthright and blessing of the firstborn—taking advantage of his brother’s hunger and his father’s blindness.  Jacob would have to leave home for fear that Esau was fed up with it and was going to kill him.  That first night away from home, Jacob had a dream—he saw a ladder stretched from heaven to earth—the throne of God above and angels ascending and descending on that heavenly ladder.  How fitting—for Jacob was a ladder climber, if ever there was one!  No matter whom he had to step on or what he had to do as he got to the top—it was only reaching the pinnacle that mattered.  To Jacob, the end justified the means.  Now, in the ultimate turning point, the God who had been disciplining him will break him—and that humiliation will pave the way for real exaltation.

What is the lesson for the man of God?  It is easy to look at celebrity pastors and dream of leading a mega-church.  Perhaps a subtle seed of temptation is planted in our heart—covetousness that leads to compromise—all in the name of God—when it is really about our name.  We say we want to reach more people—and how noble is that!  I do not judge, but the Serpent has a way of twisting the good we are doing into a motive that is carnal, worldly, sensual, and devilish.  In the evangelical world today, size does matter—and sometimes that is all that does.

Please, no one read this as a judgment on mega-ministries and well-known pastors.  Doubtless, that could spring from envy on my part.  God sometimes promotes men to such effectiveness and they remain the same humble servants as ever.  There is no particular sign of God’s favor because our name is obscure or our congregation small.  We may merely be incompetent or indolent!

My simple plea is this for all of us—do not be a ladder climber!  Don’t seek the big position.  Seek a great God!  Desire His will above all.  Submit to the place He has for you—and that is mega-ministry whether you are ever asked to speak on the denominational stage or quoted on the national news.  Jacob finally found the favor he longed for—not by his self-effort and self-promotion, but in brokenness and pain.  He limped from the scars of that struggle with God for the rest of his life.  That was a needful reminder of his need to humbly walk with God rather than seek to climb the ladder.  God knows where you are and is quite capable of getting you where He wants you to be—without your help!

 

SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:13)

When Paul penned these words, his ministry would not have seemed very successful by man’s standard.  He wasn’t preaching to throngs.  There was no denominational platform to laud his ability.  The trappings of accomplishment were absent.  He was in jail!  His congregation was some Roman guards and fellow prisoners—and some of those were the dregs of society—vile and violent men.

Yet, there was no whining!  In the midst of difficult ministry, there is unbridled joy that the Apostle expresses.  He was in submission to the sovereignty of God.  Paul knew his station in life in the present season was appointed by the Lord, so he didn’t chafe in his chains, but rattled them in celebration with hands uplifted victoriously!

He claims that he can do everything God has called him to do.  There were supernatural resources available.  The limitations of his surroundings and the harsh conditions of his circumstances could not hinder the Almighty from working in and through him.  The outward situation was irrelevant.  What mattered was being faithful and fervent in duty.

Maybe you feel your present place of ministry is much like a prison cell.  The place where you labor is small and confining.  The people you minister to seem uncaring and unresponsive to your message.  How could we possibly be successful in such a ministry?  A better question would be, “With God on our side, how can we possibly not be successful?”  Remember, it is His standard of measurement and not man’s that matters. 

Some more words written from that cell to a different church are these, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).  Should we find ourselves turning on the lights, putting a roll of paper towels in the men’s restroom, teaching a Sunday School class, listening to Mrs. Jones complain about being cold (or hot) right before the worship service begins, and then pouring ourselves out in preaching to a people that sit there like stones—the only movement in the service being as people close their Bibles, grab their coats, and head out the door to the café as quickly as possible—you can be absolutely successful!

Have you given yourself wholeheartedly to the work of the Lord?  Have you rendered service to Him as a delight rather than a drudgery?  Are you working to please Him or to get a pat on the back from man?  He appreciates what we do in loving service for His cause, whether anyone else does.  God will reward us in eternity whether there is any recognition on earth.  A man of God must be liberated from the bondage of people-pleasing, by being chained to the Master’s will.

Be thankful that everywhere you go and whatever you do that you are a soldier of the Conquering King!  Paul put it this way,

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?  For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.  (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

Being true to diffuse the Gospel wherever we labor is our duty.  The response is up to them.  Some will receive our ministry as the sweet smell of Heaven’s bouquets, while others will reject our message as the sulfurous stench of Hell’s blast-furnace.  One thing is certain—we will have an impact.  God’s Word always accomplishes its purpose, as he promised.  Some are helped by it and some are hardened by it, but none are unchanged from it.  That is God’s promise in Isaiah 55:11,

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Do we feel insufficient for such a responsibility?  We should, because we are—if dependent on our own feeble resources.  But Paul would go on to say, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  (2 Cor.3:5-6)

We are not peddling the Word of God—not some hireling who hawks a product, cleverly packaged for a church consumer culture, for our profit.  There must be sincerity in our manner, integrity in our message and eternity for our motivation—and that is successful ministry!