SERVING AND SPEAKING WITH SINCERITY

 

Preachers are not to be peddlers—snake oil salesmen—who are not being a prophet, but about making profit. They mix in enough truth to label it as the Word of God, but what is in the bottle has no saving power. It is a placebo that makes people feel better about themselves, but cannot cure the terminal disease of sin.  Paul’s example was one of serving and speaking with sincerity. There are three basic elements of such motivation and manner of ministry the Apostle presents in 2 Corinthians 2. 

Serving and speaking with sincerity calls for RESTRAINT, (v.1-4). Paul had chosen to communicate with tenderness in a letter, rather than with toughness in a visit. There were many issues in the Corinthian church that called for confrontation. So, he had addressed these needful matters in his first epistle to them. It was painful discipline, but essential correction.  The pastor must lead the church to exercise discipline properly.

Paul felt no joy in having to bring them to tears. His hope was that their repentance would be an ongoing work of the Spirit among them, so when he did visit there would be joy and not grief. While there were still issues (and always will be until  Christ returns and we are glorified), the Apostle writes with restraint. Having “spanked,” them, Paul will now hug them.  Corporal punishment of a child is not to become damaging abuse. It is to be administered with restraint and done in love rather than anger. This is true in dealing with sin in the church.  Then sorrow is supplanted with smiles!

Serving and speaking with sincerity seeks RECONCILIATION, (v.5-11). By this, we do not refer primarily to the reconciliation with God brought in salvation, but reconciliation among the members attained by church discipline for sanctification. 

Sin in the body affects the whole body. When a member must be disciplined, it is a painful process—a spiritual surgery. Apparently that rebellious member was now repentant. The correction had achieved its purpose, so the erring member was to be forgiven and reconciled to the congregation. Failing to practice church discipline is wrong, but so is a purpose of rejection instead of restoration of the sinning member. Satan will take advantage of being permissive or punitive concerning sin in the body. 

Unrepentant sin is a cancer of the soul. If the church is soft and overlooks the sin in the name of love (while shirking truth), then the malignancy spreads. This is what Paul had to forcefully address in his first epistle to them. Yet, if we are severe in confronting the sin in the name of truth (while neglecting love), the result is the amputation of the member, bringing loss to both them and the church. Admittedly, if the cancer of sin is not dealt with through the removal of the malignancy of wickedness, then to save the body, the member has to be “amputated,” but the hope is that the chemotherapy of confrontation and the radiation of repentance will deal with the disease, without the amputation of excommunication!  Satan would kill or at least cripple the church body by diverting us in being permissive or punitive. He is so crafty, promoting either “love,” or “truth,” when God’s way calls for both in balance. 

Carl Sandburg described Abraham Lincoln this way: "Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is hard as a rock and soft as a drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect."  In dealing with erring members, we must have a hand of steel in a glove of velvet!  This is the nature of pastoral ministry.

Serving and speaking with sincerity demands RELIANCE, (v.12-17). As we consider the challenges in church life in this pagan environment  and our own human frailties, we ask with Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?”  How can I be tough and tender?  The answer is, “I can’t,” but Jesus can—and He is in me!  Paul will answer this question, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬‬). It is in reliance on Jesus—His virtue and victory—that we can serve and speak with sincerity.  Preacher, Jesus indwells you—rely on Him!

At Troas, Paul would see a vision of a man from Macedonia begging him to come share the Gospel. Paul would be obedient and take the message of Christ to Europe for the first time, (v.12-13). That is how the Gospel came to Corinth on the Grecian peninsula and the church was established. It was in reliance on God’s guidance and grace that the Apostle accomplished this work.

Relying on Christ, we are “more than conquerors,” (cf. Rom.8:37). Paul illustrates the principle here, of being conquered by Christ in order to be conquerors with Christ, (v.14-17). The Apostle uses the imagery of a Roman general returning in triumph from battle. The cavalcade winds through the city of Rome, preceding through the cheering throngs, with the priests swinging burning braziers of incense. To the captives who had surrendered to the conqueror, it was the smell of life, but to those who had resisted it was the stench of death. The former group would become servants while the latter would be slain. The Gospel we share has the same effect. Those who receive it find eternal life, while those who reject it enter everlasting death. The Gospel witness has a fragrant aroma of heaven, as well as the smell of hell’s smoke and sulphur. 

None of us are sufficient for the magnitude of such a ministry. For this, we need the power of God and Christ’s Gospel. Only then can we avoid being religious racketeers who peddle God’s Word—offering scraps of truth concealing toxin—for personal glory and gain. Let us take our calling with utmost sincerity. God has appointed us and holds us accountable as to whether we are speaking an undiluted message with unselfish motive.

A HUMBLE SERVANT

 

John the Baptist was one of the greatest preachers ever. Jesus said that concerning those of the Old Covenant dispensation, John topped the list. There had not been a greater mere mortal than John, (cf. Matt.11:11a).  That includes a lot of remarkable preachers: Noah, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and such. John was number one, as declared by the ultimate Judge!  

Yet, that is not what John saw as he looked at his reflection in the Jordan River. He was not dressed in finery, nether dined of delicacy, as he wore a robe of camel’s hair and leather belt, eating locusts and wild honey!  Though multitudes thronged to hear him and his message of repentance, delivered in the sacred anointing, resulting in masses of baptisms, he was content to be a voice crying in the wilderness. His motivation was to gather a crowd—not for himself, but to point to Jesus.  “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease,” John said as recorded in John 3:30. John’s baptism in water was significant, but Christ’s baptism with the Spirit was superlative!  John was a herald, but Jesus was the King!

In our day of celebrity preachers, who have a name that is recognizable and a fame that is considerable, it is good for us to assume John’s position of the lowliest servant whose task was to untie his Master’s sandals. Even so, John felt unworthy of that work!  That was a lowly task, but these were the lovely feet of Jesus!  May we bow at those feet today, in anticipation of the position of worship we will assume as we fall at His nail-scarred feet in eternity!

Brothers, let us make much of Jesus!  May our voice cry out in this spiritual wilderness an announcement that, “The King is coming!  Prepare to meet Him!”

PREACHER IN THE PIT

 

There will be preachers in hell. Judas Iscariot is the prototype. He stands as a warning that the externals of religion—the appearance of being a follower of Christ with much religious activity—does not make us regenerate. Here is the solemn warning:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”  (Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭23‬‬)

Sadly, there are wolves wearing sheep’s clothing—and even masquerading as shepherds!  

I must search my own heart—inviting the Spirit of God to shine the spotlight of Scripture into my soul. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;” (II Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬‬).

It is a sobering fact—there will be people who sat in a pew on Sunday who will be in hell someday. It is also a grave reality that there will be those who stood in a pulpit on Sunday who will be there as well!  Judas Iscariot is one. What about you?

Lord, I care not for riches,
Neither silver nor gold;
I would make sure of Heaven,
I would enter the fold.
In the book of Thy kingdom,
With its pag­es so fair,
Tell me, Jesus, my Savior,
Is my name written there?

Is my name written there,
On the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom,
Is my name written there?

Lord, my sins they are many,
Like the sands of the sea,
But Thy blood, O my Savior,
Is sufficient for me;
For Thy promise is written,
In bright letters that glow,
Though your sins be as scarlet,
I will make them like snow.

Is my name written there,
On the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom,
Is my name written there?

Oh! that beautiful city,
With its mansions of light,
With its glorified beings,
In pure garments of white;
Where no evil thing cometh
To despoil what is fair;
Where the angels are watching,
Yes, my name’s written there.

Is my name written there,
On the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom,

Is my name written there?  (Frank M. Davis)

THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR SERVICE

 

The spirit of competition is a plague upon the ministry. We tend to measure ourselves by that which we perceive about others—the number of baptisms, members in attendance, size of budgets,and so forth. This leads us to gauge ourselves as better than other pastors or inferior to them. There are all kinds of issues then attendant on our judgment—feelings of pride, inferiority, envy, self-justification, complacency, and more. None of this is helpful.  This should lead us to consider the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25:14-30. 

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far  country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to  them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to  another one, to each according to his own ability; and  immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the  five talents went and traded with them, and made another five  talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more  also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground,  and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time the Lord of those  servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had  received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying,  ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five  more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done,  good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I  will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your  Lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said,  ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two  more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done,  good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few  things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy  of your Lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and  said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have  not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his Lord answered and  said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap  where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered  seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the  bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own  with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to  him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be  given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not  have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the  unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be  weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

The reality is that all God’s servants have a sacred stewardship and will be judged by Christ at the end of the age. According to this parable of our Lord, we will not be judged in comparison to other servants, but “each according to his own ability.”  God has created us and gifted us in His sovereignty with our unique capacity. He will judge us—not in relation to what others do—but according to what He has assigned us to do. Both the five talent man and the two talent man heard the identical commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.”  What blessed words to hear some day!

One receives condemnation and not commendation—the servant who squanders any opportunity by being fearful, faithless, and fruitless. This one is not rewarded in heaven, but cast into hell!  Can it be that some preachers are unsaved?  Tragically, there was one listening that day. His name was Judas Iscariot.

God has given you life. We are a steward to give it back to God as we bow to Him as Lord. Let us then get busy serving Christ according to the capacity He places in us—stewards of the spiritual gifts He has bestowed on us. We have no time to compare ourselves with others. Christ will judge our faithfulness and fruitfulness at the Judgment.

SUBLIME TRUTHS SIMPLY TOLD

 

We have likely heard the definition of a parable, “An earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”  Jesus utilized parables in His teaching. The wisdom with which He spoke stopped the mouths of the Bible scholars of His day, and yet it was conveyed in a manner so as to be received gladly by the common folk who swarmed Him to hear Him. Jesus had a way of reaching into heaven for the most sublime truths and express them in such simple terms that His point was clear. 

Seminary students have studied the Lord’s teaching and volumes of commentaries have been written on the parables, along with countless sermons preached from them, yet by no means has their profound message been exhausted.  But, one may share the story with a child and they get it, or tell it to an uneducated adult and they grasp it.

It is the standard set for the preacher—to teach like Jesus. The late Stephen Olford, a master expositor, said that Jesus used three books that are available to us: “God's Book, the Book of Creation, and the Book of Human Life,” (According to Your Word, Kindle edition, p.21).

We begin with the Book of Inspiration. The message is drawn from exposition. It is based on the Bible. We start with the truth of Scripture and let it shape the subject of the sermon.  This is transcendent truth from the spiritual realm.

We illustrate with the Book of Creation. The message is illumined by illustration. Truth can be explained through creation. Insight is given from the natural realm. Jesus did that in the parables.

We conclude with the Book of Life. The message is directed to application. Truth is applied to daily living. This is the practical truth that shapes us in the human realm.

I want to put the cookies on the shelf where the people can reach them. The best compliment I ever receive is when someone says, “God spoke to me from your sermon,” and as they affirm, “When you preach I understand the Bible.”  May that ever be our goal as preachers—as we employ those three books and preach like Jesus!

BUILDING A SERMON

 In building a sermon, the foundation is the most crucial component—and the foundation is exposition. What does it mean?  What was God saying to the people of that time. Without a solid grasp of the original interpretation, then we have no Biblical basis in the sermon.

Yet, on that foundation, there is the frame. That is the outline.  The framework is organization.  It is a systematic way of framing the truth so that it would have made sense to those who first heard it, to ourselves as a preacher presenting it, and to those who will hear our sermon.  Apart from this it is difficult for the congregation to have retention of the truth.

The building of a sermon next demands the finish work—and that is application. Having understood what the text originally meant, then organizing that in a manner that will enhance presentation, we must move to show what the text means to our listeners in our day. Without this, we my have accomplished teaching, but not preaching. Consider this reality conveyed here by Spurgeon and Stott:

Then, it is completed with furnishing the sermon construction. That is illustration. This adorns the message and gives the listener a place to sit down and ruminate, chewing over the bread of heaven, a place to lie down and meditate, to rest in the reality of eternity.

Exposition, organization, application, illustration: these are essential components in building a sermon.  To this we might add that an introduction that captures the attention of the listener and a conclusion that calls for decision enables the congregation to “nail it down.”

PREACHERS OF FORGIVENESS PRACTICING FORGIVENESS

Gospel preachers proclaim God’s message of forgiveness. If we are not pointing people to the cross and extending an invitation to salvation, then we have forsaken our calling. Yet, we dare not only proclaim this as our message, but must present it as a model. Preaching forgiveness is easier than practicing it!

As I have pastored for over four decades, I have been wounded many times—most severally by church members. Sometimes, they have been akin to Judas—kissing up to your face, while betraying you behind your back. Lost sleep, many tears, depleted energy, and such have come from the wounds of critical words. I could tell you some horror stories, but if you have been a pastor for very long, you have plenty of your own.

The real issue is—what do we do about it?  Will we flee at the first sign of criticism?  Will we fight fire with fire and seek to incinerate our enemies from the pulpit as we rage against them?  Will we fester with bitterness that infects our ministry and poisons productivity?

Christ’s answer is to forgive. We are to consider how much He has forgiven us and then forgive those who have done much less to us. We may say, “I don’t deserve this!”  True enough. What we deserve is hell!  Anything less than that is grace—amazing grace.  We preach it.  Let’s practice it. Leave the critics to God. He can handle them much better than we can. Do not let your enemies live rent free in your head.

There is a reconciliation process provided in Matthew 18:15-20. Maybe you have preached on it. Have we practiced it?  Have you made every effort to reach out in love to your enemy?  If that has been tried and rebuffed, have you sought someone else to mediate the conflict as Scripture commands?  When all efforts have been exhausted, have you then placed the matter before the church?  What if you have attempted it, and the church has refused to take the final step and call the unforgiving party to repentance and being willing to discipline them by removing them from the assembly?  If that be the case, shake the dust off your feet and move on to another ministry opportunity!

A pastor who will not forgive forfeits his right to preach forgiveness. Bitterness will be toxic to our ministry. Anger and a vengeful spirit will light a fire that will burn everything down. Yet, a church that allows such without confronting the unrepentant—whether it be the preacher, the member(s), or both—is not a church, but merely a social club.