ATTENTION! THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD!

 

Tim Patrick writes this in “The Whole Counsel of God”:

“One part of the service that deserves particular comment is the up-front reading of the Bible. Imagine the situation. We’ve made sure that the ministry of the word is central and the meeting has been planned meticulously. In the middle of the meeting, the reader of our Bible passage steps up to the lectern. The microphone crackles while he fiddles with it. He begins to read with a deadly serious look on his face. His bespectacled eyes set themselves firmly on the small print of his personal Bible, which is different from the version both in the pews and on the data projector screen. He begins to read the long but exciting text of 1 Samuel 17, concerning David and Goliath. The reading is monotone, dull, sonorous. Eventually he announces the end and sits down, to the relief of those who are still trying to keep awake and keep their eyes on their own Bibles. Your planning has been scuttled at the last possible moment by poor execution of one of the key things the Bible has urged you not to neglect: the public reading of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13).” (Location 2375-2376, Kindle edition)

If there is anything that grinds my gears in a worship service, it is this! Sometimes we may blame a layman that we have entrusted with this sacred duty, but most often it is the preacher I have heard read and he does it like it is a drudgery rather than a delight—something that is required but nothing rewarding. The perception I get is that this is just something he has to get through, and I am already wondering if I will react the same way to his sermon!

There is really no excuse. It is one of the things that I have given attention to as I have stood behind that sacred desk with the precious Word of God in my hands. To show reverence for the Bible, I ask the audience to turn there and stand in respect as I read it. Across the years, I have sought to read it with honor and with the sincerity and intensity that the Scriptures merit. If it is an Old Testament story, I want to convey the drama it contains. Should it be a Gospel account of Jesus, I want the congregation to feel as though they are traveling back in time, gathered with the crowd, watching and listening to Christ, and when a passage from Paul or Peter is read, I want the people to be gripped by it. 

This is the Word of God!  Here is the commandment: “Till I come, give attention to reading,” (1 Tim. 4:13). It is not optional!

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.

FUNCTION WITH UNCTION!

If you are not excited about the One you are preaching about, then how can you expect the congregation to be?  If the Word does not stir you, then why anticipate it will stir the people?  Jared Wilson says this:

Every seasoned preacher knows the experience of unction. Every now and again, in the Spirit’s kindness, he allows us, even in the midst of going through our preplanned outline or manuscript, to find a sort of jet stream where he more or less takes over. We are speaking, but we sense his presence and feel his power. He is giving us the words to say, and every word is like an arrow to the hearts of our people—arrows that bring life and warmth! They are like the illuminating beams of the one who is the radiance of the glory of God. Never has this unction been dispensed to me when I am dryly reciting facts or covering some other perfunctory matter. 

Never has it come when I, myself, remain unmoved by what I am declaring. It comes as I worship, as if I am chipping gleefully away at the dam of the congregation’s affections and my own, and suddenly the Lord simply blows the stones away himself. We feel that living water rush.

So, pastor: study yourself hot. Pray yourself full. Preach Christ passionately and gratuitously.” (Gospel-Driven Ministry, p. 54, Kindle edition) 

GOALS IN GIVING

6 trillion dollars!  Can you imagine such a sum?  Yet, that is what has been obliterated in the stock market in only two days!  Yet, any sum—vast or small—that is given to the Lord’s work is never lost and only pays dividends of eternal worth. 

Thus, Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21). 

The purse strings are directly connected to our heart strings. Our stewardship is a spiritual x-ray of our soul. Therefore, every pastor must preach on giving and set the pattern in giving. 

Paul sets forth three goals to govern our giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9.  These are not about the sum of what we give, but the spirit in why we give.  The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart!

The first goal in giving is GRACE, (8:1-15). Four times in these verses, the Apostle calls giving a “grace.”  This is the means of our giving. It is not a legalistic obligation, but a loving motivation. It is not about how little we can give to satisfy God’s demand, but how large a gift we can give to celebrate God’s grace toward us. 

That cannot be measured in dollars, for Jesus presented the example of a widow who gave only two “mites.” A mite would be equivalent to about 1/8th of a penny today. Still Jesus said she gave more than all the wealthy men, “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood,” (Mark 12:44). She was motivated by grace, and that is what God is looking for in our giving. 

Of course, Jesus is the perfect model and Paul underscores that here. All we are and all we have and all we will enjoy for eternity is all of grace—the incalculable, “indescribable gift,” of Christ, (2 Cor. 9:18). God not only mandates our giving, but models true giving (Jn. 3:16). I have no right to preach this, if I do not practice this!

The second goal is GLORY, (8:16-9:5). Twice, Paul uses the word, “glory,” in presenting a goal. This is the motive for our giving. Now, he does boast in the generosity of the Macedonian churches, using them as an example to inspire the Corinthians. Yet, that goes beyond and points to the glory of God as the Provider who makes all our giving possible. All we are, all we have, and all we do is to redound to the glory of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus warned to have the proper motive for giving. 

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” (Matt. 6:1-4).

This does not mean that generosity cannot be celebrated. We already mentioned that the widow gave all she had and Jesus shone the spotlight on her. Then, I think of a very wealthy man, Barnabas, who sold all his vast possessions and surrendered the sum to the Apostles to distribute to any in need. The inspired Scriptures document that. In this text, Paul is giving a pat on the back to generous givers in stressing the Macedonian saints. Again, this gets to motive—and the heart’s passion. Is our giving for the praise of men or the praise of God?

The third goal in giving is GLADNESS, (9:6-15). “God loves a cheerful giver,” (v. 7). This is the mirth of our giving. It is not “a grudging obligation,” (9:5) in paying a bill, but a glad celebration in praising the Lord. I understand the use of online giving, or providing collection boxes, and the passing of collection plates. Any of these may be the means for offering worship to God. I do think highlighting giving in the gathering of the saints is important—as it is about worship. It is a personal matter, but a public celebration. How raucous is the rejoicing when the offering is received?

What is the business of the church when we assemble on the Lord’s Day?  It is for the purpose of exalting God in corporate worship. We may participate in worship by our singing, and with our serving, in the Scriptures, and in our stewardship. Some give madly, angry that there is the expectation that they give. Some give sadly, as they worry that they won’t have enough after they give. Some give gladly, and only these receive the blessing of God upon their giving. 

The passage closes with a summation of these goals in giving, as Paul stresses grace, glory, and gladness.  

“For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (v. 12-15)

We need more liberal preachers and churches. Not in doctrine, morals, or politics—certainly not!  But, liberal only in the matter of our giving—an abundance of grace, glory, and gladness!

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)

NECESSITY OF MINISTERIAL PROGRESS, Part 3

It is so easy to be consumed with a multitude of good things in ministry that can divert us from the one thing—a passionate pursuit of Christ. Spurgeon reminds us to seek Him. When we do, everything else will fall into its proper place. I thought of how easy it is to be a Martha scurrying about serving—and developing a cranky spirit. Then, there was Mary, seeking—and developing her love for Jesus. What does the Lord say, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Men—preach good sermons, perform good service, but pursue the Savior above all!  As you lead in worship today, be the lead worshipper, whose public exaltation of Christ on the Lord’s Day is rooted in the daily devotion of time spent at Jesus’ feet!

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. 

RECHARGED!

 Batteries must be recharged if what they power is to continue to work. Using the equipment drains the energy, and if not recharged, it will eventually become unproductive. I have a battery powered chainsaw. I used it several days ago. When the battery drained, the work ceased. But, I plan to resume cutting trees later today. I have recharged the battery. It is no different in the service of the Lord. We cannot be constantly going and doing without recharging. 

We need to plug in “at Jesus’ feet,” (Luke 10:39). In the story, Martha was in a frenzy, preparing a meal, irritated that her sister Mary would not help. Yet, Jesus told her that Mary had chosen wisely. It is not that service is to be neglected, but that until our spiritual energy is replenished at Jesus’ feet, we will eventually shut down.

Think of the principle of the weekly Sabbath. Six days we are to work, but we need a day of rest. Sadly, I think some Christian workers neglect this. From Friday night until Saturday night could be a day of recharging.  What happens when we plug in at Jesus’ feet?

It is a place of RESTORATION, “Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.” (Matt. ‭15‬:‭30‬‬). The lame could not go, the blind could not see, the mute could not speak, the maimed could not work. All that would change because of time spent at Jesus’ feet. They would be restored. Those of you who serve the Lord must continue to go out on mission, you must be able to see with vision, you must be able to speak with conviction, and to serve with passion.  At Jesus’ feet is the place of restoration.

It is a place of RECEPTION, “And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” (Lk.10‬:‭39‬‬). Mary was on the receiving end of the Lord’s teaching. She was soaking in the truth, receiving the Word of the Lord with all its transforming power. On Sunday, preachers will need to stand and speak for God. How can we unless on Saturday (or another day) we have sat and soaked in the Word of God?  I cannot presume to speak for Him unless I have first heard from Him. At Jesus’ feet is the place of reception. 

It is a place of REVERENCE, “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.”  (Matt. ‭28‬:‭9‬‬). It is difficult to worship the Lord, if we wait to do so as we are leading others in worship. Our mind can be easily distracted by our responsibilities. Yet, we need a day to sit at Jesus’s feet in reverence and rejoice in Him!  I would suggest that our public expression of worship together will be real only if rooted in our private experience of worship alone.  

We can wake up on the Lord’s Day, with resignation, “I’ve got to go to church,” or with rejoicing,  “I get to go to church!”  Bowing before Him and experiencing His presence personally makes the difference. At Jesus’ feet is the place of reverence.

Let’s get alone with the Lord today, bowing at His feet, that we may stand tomorrow to serve and speak with power!

AT THE FEET OF JESUS

It is our privilege and duty to bring the congregation to the feet of Jesus in worship. We can only lead people where we have been!  As a preacher, I need to know the way, consistently coming in consecration to Christ on a daily basis.  This will ignite a passion in me, as I worship Him, to bring the people to bow before Him on the Lord’s Day. No matter what else we may accomplish, should we fail to bring the church to bow at His feet, then our purpose for gathering has failed. However, as the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”  Likewise, we may bring people before the Lord and the failure is theirs—they would not drink of the Living Water. But, let us model and bring a message that brings them to the feet of Jesus.  That we can do—and must do!

There are many lessons to learn from the visit of the Magi. It is a wise man indeed who falls at Jesus’ feet to worship Him. There are numerous occasions where this act of submission, devotion, and adoration is recorded in Scripture.

 

They bow at Christ’s INCARNATION.  “When they … saw the young Child … [they] fell down and worshiped Him.”  (Matt.2:11).  This stresses His humanity. We marvel that God would become man—the Infinite as an infant; the Creator becoming a creature!  To know He came in love to be one of us in order to save us fills us with awe.

They bow at Christ’s TRANSFIGURATION. “They fell on their faces” (Matt. 17:6).  This stresses His deity. Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of His glory. For one brief, shining moment, who Jesus was on the inside burst through to the outside. They were smitten by His splendor and fell at His feet.  Only a man could die for us, but only God could save us. How marvelous!

They bow at Christ’s RESURRECTION. “They came and  held Him by the feet” (Matt. 28:9).  This stresses His victory. He stands before them as Conqueror of death!  It is now nail-scarred feet before which they fall. Wonder and worship is their response, and ought to be ours as we bow before the One who holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave!

Later, John would record how he would bow at Christ’s GLORIFICATION.  “I fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:17a).  This stresses His supremacy. Those who bow before Him now as the Lord and Savior, will bow before Him in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. When we gather for worship, spiritually we may bow before the glorified Christ in anticipation of literally bowing before Him someday!

The Gospel song, written by Squire Parsons, Jr., puts it:

If I leave this world of sorrow sometime before you do,

Just look for me in heaven and we'll talk the ages thru;

But if, at first, you fail to see me, let me tell you where I'll be,

I'll be thanking Christ, my Savior, for saving a wretch like me.

Don't look 'neath the gates of pearl, don't look on the streets of gold,

Don't look by the walls of jasper, nor among the many sights untold;

For I've been longing and I've been waiting for the precious, holy One to meet,

There I'll be thru the countless ages, look for me at Jesus' feet.

A PASTOR AND HIS PRAISE

 

There may be someone in your congregation who is designated as a worship leader, but pastor—you are the lead worshipper!  Someone may have the duty to direct the music, but the preacher needs to inspire others by his model of participation.

Heaven will be a place of praise. Songs of worship will fill the air. We see it in Revelation 15:2-4.  If we will do it in eternity, then why not tune up on earth?

The pastor should plan for worship. Spontaneity is fine to an extent.  Yet, we are not perfect; we are not in heaven, yet. Now, we deal with time and space, so to be most proficient, we ought to plan. Whoever directs the music ministry, the pastor needs to meet with them and be involved. I loved coordinating music with my message.

The pastor should prepare for worship. Our hearts should daily delight in God. If personal worship is the order of our week, then we will have no difficulty worshipping God with the congregation on the Lord’s Day.

The pastor should insist on principles in worship.  We are reminded here of the principle of the glory of God. Those who lead and sing are to magnify God, not seek applause from men.  Another principle is the Word of God. These sang the songs of Moses and the Lamb.  This suggests songs that are filled with truth from the Old and New Covenants—the entirety of Scripture. If the lyrics are not thoroughly Biblical and theologically sound, then it does not matter if they are popular or emotionally stirring—they are not worthy of being in the worship of God by His people.  No one is better positioned to give this oversight than the one designated overseer of the church—the elders who are called to promote sound doctrine.

Pastor, sing joyfully, enthusiastically, loudly.  Before a sermon is  spoken from your mouth, may there be a song that is sung from your heart!

PREACHER, HOW IS YOUR LOVE LIFE?

When I ask, “How is your love life?” I am not referring to the romantic relationship with your wife—important as that is. My question is drawn from our Lord’s accusation against the church at Ephesus, “you have left your first love” (Rev.2:4).   While it was addressed to the church as a whole, the first one to see it and need to apply it was the “angelos,” (Rev.2:1a), the messenger and pastor of that local assembly.  While he would not bear sole responsibility for the degree of the church’s passion for Christ, he would carry a significant role in it.

Jesus is vitally interested in His pastors—the stars He holds in His hand—and vigilantly involved with His churches—the lampstands He walks among (Rev.2:1b).  His focus with Ephesus—beginning with her pastor—was not what they believed in their heads, or did with their hands, but what they lacked in their hearts.  

There was CHRIST’S COMMENDATION. The church—and I would assume the preacher—had many commendable qualities. Jesus acknowledges their dedicated activity and doctrinal fidelity (Rev.2:2-3,6).  We must attend to those.

But, then came CHRIST’S CONFRONTATION. They left their first love. It does not say they lost it, but left it. It was not accidental, but willful. Life is full of choices. Little by little we can immerse ourselves in church business and forget our primary duty, to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourself.  Labor without love leads to haughtiness: “Look what I have done compared to you!”  Doctrine without devotion leads to harshness: “You do not believe like I do!”  It is not a question of either/or but both/and.  Old Vance Havner said, “You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically and empty as one spiritually!”

We conclude with CHRIST’S CALL (Rev.2:5,7).  “Remember,” the first love and recall those early days when the romance of redemption was a fire inside you. “Repent,” and rekindle that flame. Do it, “or else,” Christ will come and turn the lights out in the church house. If but one member of the church will respond, then Christ can bring revival to that church—and the foremost person in need of repentance could be the man in the pulpit!  May God use this text as a spiritual x-ray to disclose our heart condition!  Now, if you will excuse me, I have something to do—to tend to my soul!

“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

THE PULPIT AS THE ALTAR; THE SERMON AS THE SACRIFICE

Pastoral ministry can be painful. Preaching can be exhausting and often met with apathy from some, hostility from others. When tempted to quit, let us look beyond the pews to Calvary. Consider the outpouring of Jesus’ blood and pour yourself out in your preaching. 

The pulpit is your altar and your sermon the sacrifice, ignited by gratitude for the mercy of God that would make you—an undeserving sinner—to be a custodian and communicator of God’s Word. Our voices ought to rise from the fires of hell with shrieks of pain for all eternity, but instead they may rise today with shouts of praise for grace that saved us and selected us to preach the Gospel!

“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.” (Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

ALL ON THE ALTAR

The Old Testament sacrificial system with its priesthood, altar, and sacrifices foreshadowed Christ, the Great High Priest, who offered Himself as a Lamb on the cross in fulfillment.  Yet, what Christ did absolutely, we are as His followers to do spiritually as  a kingdom of priests, offering spiritual sacrifices on the altar of our commitment.  That is the imagery Paul uses in this text.  Paul so describes the sacrificial gift of money brought by Epaphroditus from the Philippian church. There is a principle that we may apply to any gifts God graces us with—and how we may worship Him through the sacrificial offering of those for God’s glory.  Allow me to specifically speak to the preacher.

THERE IS THE SCENT OF THE SERMON. It is to be “a fragrant offering.”  Now, some sermons just stink! That brings no honor to God or help to the congregation. In contrast to that, If you have smelled a steak cooking on a grill—an aroma that makes you salivate—this should be akin to the scent of our sermon. In our prayerful preparation and passionate presentation, the offering of the message can make each one attending hunger for God and His Word—as Psalm 34:8 says to, “taste and see that the LORD is good!”

THERE IS THE SACRIFICE IN THE SERMON. It is “a sacrifice.”  The Old Testament worshipper was not to bring the worst of the flock, but the best. God was to get the firstfruits and not the leftovers. As David declared, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing,” (2 Sam.24:24). There is a price to pay for preaching that is for the glory of God and good of man. You don’t grab sermon scraps from a book or podcast, stick it in the microwave and go through the motions from the pulpit!

THERE IS THE SATISFACTION FROM THE SERMON. It is “acceptable and pleasing to God.”  If meant to only satisfy yourself in doing your job, or to tickle the ears of the people so they magnify you, then as a preacher your motivation is deadly. We pray that people will be touched by the truth, but it is not that they will always react with acceptance, they may respond with anger. We will find joy if the sermon is acceptable to God. Fundamentally our focus is on God being satisfied. If God is pleased, it ultimately matters not whether anyone else is.

Dear God, may the preacher offer in the sermon his all on the altar—a living sacrifice to You, that is holy in its conception and acceptable in its communication—as his spiritual act of worship!

THE HONOR OF SERVING GOD

There are times we as God’s leaders go to the House of God with dread and leave with discouragement.  We may know there are critical people who lie in wait to eviscerate us with the sharp sword of their tongue.  Pastors encounter vexing decisions where all options are painful.  You prepare a meal—a sermon you pour yourself into—and many choose to stay away, gorging themselves on the world’s candy.  Then, there are members you once counted on now counted among those who abandoned your flock for the mega-ministry down the road.  It is hard.  We are human.  God understands.  All that I have said is true, but it is not all the truth.

Psalm 84 reminds us that it is an honor to serve God in any capacity.  If our heart is on God, and worshipping Him, we can “have a spell,” in His house, whether anybody else is moved at all.  We can overcome the dread and discouragement with delight and have a passion for experiencing the presence of God among the people of God!

May God give us this perspective:

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! 

My soul longs, yes, even faints

For the courts of the LORD;

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,

And the swallow a nest for herself,

Where she may lay her young—

 Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,

My King and my God. 

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

They will still be praising You. Selah (Ps.84:1-4)

As a man of God, I am still a man—and so as not to give in to discouragement, I need the strength of the Lord—and it is available!  We may call on Him as these worship leaders:

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,

Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 

 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,

They make it a spring;

The rain also covers it with pools. 

They go from strength to strength;

Each one appears before God in Zion. 

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;

Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 

O God, behold our shield,

And look upon the face of Your anointed.  ‎(Ps.84:5-9)

I am convinced that God gives grace and glory.  He has been faithful to me in nearly four decades of preaching the Gospel.  When I look beyond my circumstances to my God in faith, it makes all the difference in my service.

Make this your conviction:

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

The LORD will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly.

 O LORD of hosts,

Blessed is the man who trusts in You!  (Ps.84:10-12)

I count it an honor to be employed in the service of my Lord.  Can I get a witness?

TRUMPETING THE TRUTH

“Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps." (Numbers 10:2)

The people of God are to be divinely directed.  Numbers is a book about walking with God.  The Hebrew title of the book is literally, "In the Wilderness."  This world is a wilderness.  We are pilgrims on a journey.  The wilderness is a place fraught with peril.  Our opportunity is limited, our responsibility is large, and our enemy is fierce--therefore, we must be led by the Lord, lest we become diverted by detours, delayed by dead-ends, or decimated by the Devil.  In the previous chapter, God had provided Israel guidance by His presence--the glory cloud--that moved out when they were to move and stopped where they were to camp.  Now, we find they were directed by not only the sight of the cloud, but the sound of the clarion.  The cloud represents the presence of God in His Spirit who guides the believer today, and the trumpet symbolizes the precepts of God in Holy Scripture that guide us as well.

Paul uses this analogy when confronting the confusion in the Corinthian church, "For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?  So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken?  For you will be speaking into the air."  (I Cor.14:8-9)  Communicating God's message must be done clearly.

There were three basic purposes of these trumpets.  This is most instructive to the church today.

They were sounded for WARNING (Num.10:1-8).  Think of them as an alarm going off.  When God directed them by the movement of the cloud, the priests were also to blow these silver trumpets to warn the people it was time to move or time to stop.  We are too easily distracted by the world or dulled by slumber and so we may miss God's leading without someone putting the trumpet of truth to their lips and waking us up.  The teacher and preacher seek to do this each Sunday morning--to wake us up and move us out!  God has places for the church to go.

The silver trumpets were for WARRING (Num.10:9).  The people of God are not sightseers on a walk, but soldiers in a war!  The church is God's army.  On Sunday morning, we assemble at headquarters to receive our marching orders.  The preacher puts the trumpet of truth to his lips and conveys the battle plan.  We are equipped for the spiritual conflict awaiting us on Monday by hearing the truth on Sunday.  There is the "fog of war," and we cannot fight effectively without clear communication from our Commander.  The Word of God is our powerful weapon too!

The trumpet blasts were also for WORSHIPPING (Num.10:10).  Israel was to be assembled for worship as the trumpets sounded.  The Word of God is central in our worship.  That is why you find the pulpit at the center of most sanctuaries.  Whether that truth is sounded in song or sermon,  we will not have worship apart from the communication of the Word.

One of these days, the last trumpet will sound, and God's saints will be gathered home!  Until then may the truth be trumpeted loud and clear--for we will give an account (see 2 Tim.4:1-8).

MARKS OF A MAN OF GOD

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,

Who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands,

You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.  (Psalm 128:1-2)

It has been my relentless desire to be a man of God.  I have sought to be marked out as belonging to Him.  This has been the object of my prayers and the orientation of my pursuit.  I cannot get away from it, nor do I want to.

What does this mean?  What are the marks of a man of God?  There are three that are set forth in this text which I believe are comprehensive in scope.

The man of God is MARKED BY HIS DISPOSITION.  “Blessed is every one who fears the LORD” (v.1a).  This is our fear of God.  If our disposition of heart isn’t directed toward God then nothing else will matter.  Holiness begins here—with reverence, love and devotion to God.  The inner life must be nurtured.  We are worshippers of God before we are workers for God.  David was foremost, “a man after God’s own heart.”  That is what God is looking for—not the outward appearance, but He judges the heart.

The man of God is MARKED BY HIS DIRECTION.  He is one, “Who walks in His ways.”  (v.1b)  This is our faithfulness to God.  If our disposition is to fear the Lord, then it follows that our direction is to be faithful to the Lord.  We can profess the former—that we are a man after God’s own heart—but, it will be proven by the latter.  Those who are after God’s own heart, follow after His ways.  Those who worship God passionately, walk with God persistently.  As a shepherd of God’s flock, I lead my sheep in the right path because I am following the Lord my Shepherd.

The man of God is MARKED BY HIS DESTINATION.  “When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.”  (v.2)  This is our fruitfulness from God.  If our disposition is toward God, then our direction will be with God, and that will bring us to our destination in God—and that is a ministry of fruitfulness.  Abiding in Him—in the inner life of faith and in the outward walk of obedience—is the way of abundant fruitfulness to His glory.  Our heart is fixed, are feet are firm and our hands are filled with the fruit of our labor—sheaves to bring in and wave before the Lord in eternity.  This is the crowning joy that Paul spoke of concerning the disciples he had made in Thessalonica, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”  (1 Thess.2:19-20)

Let our cry to God today be, “Lord, make me a holy man of God!”