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 POWER OF UNBELIEF

As I read these sobering words I thought how many times God might have used me in a greater way had I only trusted Him more. Pastors may be struggling to lead their flock forward because either they or their congregation just do not trust God. Our preaching on faith will have little impact if our practice of faith is absent. Lord, increase our faith!

THE PROCLAMATION OF THE PREACHER

 

When a preacher speaks—whether in the pulpit or outside it—his words convey not only the content of Scripture, but of his own heart. Jesus was addressing a group of “preachers,” called Pharisees. They were twisting truth to build their own kingdom rather than the kingdom of God, and Christ called them a “brood of vipers!”  They were the spawn of the old Serpent, the Devil.  Let us explore further the Lord’s message in Matthew 12:33-37.

Consider THE POTENTIALITY OF OUR SPEECH.  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit,” (v.33).  Our words have such potential for help or harm. The fruit that our words produce will be good or bad, but never neutral. Faithfulness to the Scriptures will yield fruitfulness in the saints. Likewise, if our message is perverse, the fruit will be poisonous!  It is poison for it contains the venom of the Serpent.

There is also THE TRANSPARENCY IN OUR SPEECH.  “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (v.34-35).  The fruit from our sermons will be evil or good depending on the root of our speech. What we say is a window into our soul. There is a transparency when we speak. When a preacher fills his heart with the study of and submission to the Scriptures, there will be treasure to give to those in the congregation. Likewise, if he is Biblically bankrupt in content and conduct, he will impoverish his audience.

Weigh THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR SPEECH. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (v.36-37). What a serious and searching reality!  Those who sit in the audience will evaluate our sermons. It is possible to gather a great throng by telling them what they want to hear in appealing to their carnal passions. Likewise, we can build up people in the faith by our fearless and faithful preaching of Scripture. This may or may not increase the numbers of hearers, but is assured to increase the faith of those who receive the Word, and for that we will give account at the Judgment Seat.  Whatever sentence the congregation passes on our preaching, what ultimately matters is the sentence that Christ proclaims about our preaching!

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!

GENTLE AND HUMBLE

 

“Like a bull in a china shop”—have you heard that expression?  It is used to describe someone who runs around, throwing their weight around, shattering all around. Sadly, that is how some pastors do ministry!  When a bull finishes his destructive work, the fragile, valuable people left behind are broken.  Some preachers not only fail to understand how to build people up, but they are good at tearing a church apart!

That is not the spirit of Jesus as we hear in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

We consider HIS MISSION.  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  He saw people who were worn down by the burdens of life and offered them a lift.  We are sent to a world where people are broken by sin and burdened down by life’s trouble. Being like Jesus means we see our task as attracting the hurting. As someone has said, “If you preach to the hurting, you will never lack an audience.”

Then, observe HIS MESSAGE. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…”.  His teaching summoned them to wear His yoke—one that fit them perfectly. Jesus taught them God’s Word and that truth pointed to Him.  May our message never be about us, but about Jesus. It must be rooted in Biblical exposition, “This is what God says.”  But, it then must go to practical application, “This is what we need to do about it.”  Above all, it must be Christocentric.  Wherever we take our text, it must direct people to Jesus.

Finally, we note HIS MANNER. “For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. No wonder the weak limped to Him, the fallen dared approach Him, the rejects of the culture sought hope in Him, and even little children ran to Him.  Don’t think that Jesus was weak because He was meek. He could flip tables and whip hypocrites if need be—and there is a time to be forceful in ministry and confront wrong intensely. But, that was not the typical manner of Jesus.  Indeed, it was the brutality of the religious mafia that angered Him so, for He wanted them to be like Him—drawing people and not repelling them; lifting the burdened and not crushing them; instructing and not just demanding; gentle and humble in manner.

I have recently been studying the book of Jeremiah. On the surface, it might seem that he did not minister like Jesus. People did not want to listen to him.  His denunciation of sin and declaration of judgment was direct. Yet, he is known as, “the weeping prophet”—not so much for how he suffered, and indeed he did, but with the grief for how God was rejected and the high price the people would pay for their disobedience.  Let us be sure that when our sermons are scorned that it is because people reject the message and not our manner, and may we mourn for sinners accordingly. Over the course of nearly a half century of Gospel ministry I have seen those who despite my love for them, loathed me. I have witnessed how God disciplined them. Yet I find no gladness in their suffering, but sorrow for it.

The saddest part of all is that in some occasions when people were repelled by me, it was that I failed to be like Jesus in being directed by His mission, delivering His message, and displaying His manner. May the Lord have mercy upon me!  Brothers, let us renew our commitment that by His Spirit we will be like Jesus!

FAITHFUL AND FEARLESS

God calls his preachers to be faithful and fearless. Whatever He says to us, we are to say faithfully and no matter the opposition we face to speak fearlessly. There are three significant factors to accomplish this.

It first demands COMMUNICATION WITH GOD.  Jesus said, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light,” (Matt.10:27a).  Our public proclamation is rooted in our private communion. We must get alone with God, and hear from God, before we can go and speak for God.  Then, we are to speak not a word more, nor a word less, but what God has spoken to us.

Second, this requires CLARITY FROM GOD. Jesus amplified, “and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops,” (Matt.10:27b). The Spirit may speak to us with a still, small voice—the whisper of the Word—but, we are to speak loudly and clearly. Let none misunderstand the message—at least, insofar as we can assure it.

Third, we exhibit COURAGE FOR GOD. Christ stresses, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  (Matt. 10‬:‭28‬‬). There will be those who hate the truth. They despise and deny God. Preaching God’s Word to such may be very costly. But, it costs far more to deny the Master and distort His message. If we fear God, we need not fear man.

My prayer for myself, and all those who preach God’s Word is that we be found faithful and fearless!

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!