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Looking for a God-Called Preacher
By Dr. W. Max Alderman
Pastor Bible Baptist Church
Statesboro, GA
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and the kingdom; preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (II Timothy 4:1-5)
When Paul said, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (I Cor. 9:16), he was manifesting the reality of his own call. The God-called preacher must proclaim the God-given message. He must preach the Word of God as it is to men as they are.
Not all preachers are God-called; only those who have been selected and enlightened by the Holy Spirit are those who are genuinely called. Perhaps we have too many “mama-called, daddy-sent” preachers filling the pulpits across our land today. God grant we indeed have preachers that are genuinely called of God to deliver, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Dr. Adam Clarke, in a letter to a preacher, stated: “No man should engage in the work in which you are engaged, unless he verily feels that he is inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon him that office. He must not presume that he is thus moved because he has been educated for the ministry; in cases of this kind, man may purpose but God must dispose.”
Everything that emanates from God comes with design. This is especially true when God calls a man to preach the gospel. The design of the preacher’s call is for him to reveal the gospel of grace to fallen man (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:9-15). Though God could have easily employed another method for spreading the gospel, He chose that men be saved through the “foolishness of preaching” (I Cor. 1:21).
For each generation, God has raised up men to stand boldly, yet compassionately, to preach faithfully the gospel of grace. Whether it be a man such as R. G. Lee with his superb oratorical ability or one like D. L. Moody with his consistent misuse of the “King’s English,” God uses men as instruments for the very same purpose: to “preach the Word of God.” Just as God called these men in days past, He continues to call out men to extend the gospel through this ordained method.
Some men look at the future of preaching with a skeptical eye, and many have already signed the death certificate regarding the future of preaching. Despite these, God has decreed that as long as the church dispensation lasts, preaching will survive. This is true because it fits within God’s design. The design or the purpose of the preacher’s call is to perpetuate the gospel of grace. To compliment this, let us now focus our attention on the description of the preacher’s call.
The God-called preacher can enter the pulpit with the calm assurance that he has a heavenly call— a call from on high. Even as God calls men to salvation, He also calls men to service. Moses is a tremendous example of this as God raised him up to lead the nation of Israel. Moses was usable because he recognized his own heavenly call. As Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, on the backside of the desert, a strange phenomenon took place. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, yet the bush was not consumed (Exodus 3:1-3). God said unto him, “Moses, Moses.”
Certainly this personal, powerful, heavenly call penetrated the silence of Moses’ heart like a cold steel dagger. Moses was overwhelmed by God’s Holy presence. At first he felt himself too insignificant to go before the Pharaoh (Exodus 3:11). Yet later, after God had assured him of His presence, Moses submitted to the call. The humble spirit that Moses now possessed was acquired only after God had ministered to him in the desert. The lesson that Moses learned from this experience caused him to recognize that his call was heavenly.
Moses’ call was also a high calling. The preacher who is ashamed of his calling or does not recognize it as a high calling is not fit for the office. He should certainly deem his call to be of the paramount importance. With a call of such magnitude, he should forge ahead with no ambition greater than the proclaiming of the Word.
J. H. Jowett understood the essence and value of the call when he said: “Now I hold with profound conviction that before a man selects the Christian ministry as his vocation, he must have the assurance that the selection has been imperatively constrained by the eternal God. The call of the eternal must ring through the rooms of his soul as clearly as the sound of the morning bell rings through the valley of Switzerland, calling the peasants to early prayer and praise. The candidate for the ministry must move like a man in secret bonds. “Necessity is laid” upon him. His choice is not a preference among alternatives. Ultimately he has no alternative; all other possibilities become dumb; there is only one clear call sounding forth as the imperative summons of the eternal God.”
Another way of describing the call of the preacher is by addressing it as a holy call. The absolute holiness of God assures this aspect of the call to be true. Holy dignity should envelop the preacher in every aspect of his life. The preacher should radiate the joy of a holy life even in his quiet dignity. He should wisely balance his life to communicate to the world that he has a holy call, yet without communicating an attitude that has been coined as “holier than-thou!”
Just as the call of God has a design and can be described, it also has a duty. No true call is without duty. When Uncle Sam sends out the call, “I want you,” he has a duty in mind. There is a job to be performed. Likewise, when the Lord commissions the preacher, He has in mind a duty for him to perform. Paul reminded Timothy of his grave duty when he said, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Timothy 4:2).
The duty calls for evangelistic preaching, that men might be saved from the clutches of sin. A preacher who does not covet the salvation of precious souls is negligent in his ministry. The highest imperative of life for the man of God is to preach the unsearchable riches of the Lord Jesus Christ that men might be gloriously converted. While performing his duty of spreading the gospel, the minister should also preach practical truths designed to lead his congregation into the blessed path of service.
The preacher who inspires his congregation to serve is the preacher who recognizes the art of serving. Of all the attributes registered to Moses’ credit, the most outstanding is that he was called a “servant of the Lord.” Moses could have been known primarily as a great military genius, a great organizer, a great lawgiver. Yet, he was especially honored in being called a servant of God. It was his “leadership through servitude” that made him successful in training Joshua as his successor. Training workers plays a vital role in the preaching ministry. Only thus can the preacher multiply his efforts and exponentially increase the harvest. D.L. Moody said, “It is better to get ten men to work than to do the work of ten men.” Certainly that is true in any effort—especially the Lord’s work.
As the preacher exhorts men to enlist as servants (workers), he should also exhort men to sanctified living: being set apart. The degree to which a congregation is set apart to holy living is in proportion to the example set by the preacher before the people. For this reason the Pastoral Epistles give emphatic attention to the character and the faithfulness of the minister. The preacher must earnestly strive to actively practice the message that he preaches on Sunday. May we never take the call to preach lightly!
The preacher who has been called should realize that his call is a definite and personal one. Charles U. Wagner, in his book THE PASTOR: HIS LIFE AND WORK, quotes Theodore Cuyler: “When God calls a man to the ministry, He is apt to let the man know it. I believe in answers to honest prayer, and I believe in the leading of Holy Spirit; and if you believe in them also, and will keep your eyes open and heart humble and docile, you will be likely to get some clear indications as to your duty. During the first eighteen months after I graduated from college—months mostly spent in teaching—I was balancing between the law and the ministry. Many of my relatives urged me to become a lawyer, as my father and grandfather had been; but my godly mother had dedicated me to the ministry from infancy, and her counsels all leaned toward the pulpit. One winter afternoon I rode off five miles to a prayer meeting in a neighboring village. It was held in the parlor of a private house. I arose and spoke for ten minutes; and, when the meeting was over a person said to me, “Your talk did me good.” If ten minutes’ talk today helped one soul, why not preach all the time? That one thought decided me on the spot. Our lives turn on small pivots; and if you will let God lead you, the path will open before your footsteps.”
If God calls a man to the ministry, he will certainly know it! There will be a personal witness in his heart confirming the reality of the call. In my own ministry, the call was so real that even though I have sometimes doubted my salvation, I have never doubted my call. The Lord, by giving personal assurance of the call, has provided a powerful awareness of His presence.
When the Lord calls an individual to preach, He equips that person with those things needful for the task before him. As I look in retrospect at my own call, it is apparent that the Lord was preparing me even as a small child. My father, who was a carpenter, built me a “preaching stand.” As a six-year-old boy I would preach my sermon after my brother would lead the singing. For a number of years pastoring, my brother would lead the singing just before I preached.
I recently saw my first-grade teacher. Over thirty years ago she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My answer was, “I want to be a preacher.” As we began to renew acquaintances, she chanced to ask about my present occupation. With great joy I was able to answer, “I am a preacher.” Though I had forgotten my remarks as a little first-grader, she remembered and reminded me of them. The little “preaching stand” and the scores of times when I stood behind it playing church had helped to prepare me for the call. Even the courses that I took in school and the experiences of growing up played a vital role in preparing me for the call
The personal anointing that comes with God calling a preacher into the ministry is both to be cherished and to be coveted. It is the “badge of courage” that the God called preacher will wear as long as he breathes. It is as much a part of his living as is the calm assurance that he has been born again into the family of God. May the God called preacher preach with the dignity of being a royal ambassador who represents the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
God's Call to His Preacher
Who’s Preaching the Truth
According to the Bible the Lord "calls" or summons people to do certain things. In a general sense God calls all men to receive the salvation and redemption that can be found only in His Son Jesus Christ Rom. 8:30; 1Cor. 1:9; 1Thes. 2:12. this calling is more than just an invitation, though; it is a command Acts 17:30. Thus God calls and commands all men everywhere to repent and receive Christ. Though this calling is for all men, it is a call to the individual. God personally and individually invites and commands each individual to partake of the blessings of His redemption. This call is given outwardly by the gospel 2Thes. 2:14 and inwardly by the Holy Spirit Rev. 22:17. Those who refuse God's gracious call will be eternally held accountable for their refusal John 12:48.
After one has answered the call to salvation and received Christ, God calls him to other callings which are moral in mature and affect a believer’s attitude and conduct. He has called believers to "fellowship with Christ" 1Cor. 1:9, to "holiness"1Thes. 4:7, to "liberty" Gal. 5:13, to "peace" 1Cor. 7:15, and to "virtue" 2Pet. 1:3. Believers are to "walk worthy" of the calling they have received Eph. 4:1.
But there is still another calling that is even more personal than the moral callings. It is God's call to the individual believer for a specific ministry. The Lord has been calling individuals for specific ministries for millennia. He called Abram out of Ur; Moses out of Egypt; and Aaron from among the Levites Heb. 5:4. God had certain duties He wanted them to perform. The Lord also called many others in the Bible for certain ministries. From Isaiah Isa. 6:9 to the twelve disciples to Paul 1Tim. 1:11, the Lord has been calling men into His ministry.
A call from God into a ministry is a high and heavenly calling Phil. 3:14 which, unfortunately, is taken lightly by some ministers today, if they are truly called. Paul was called to be an "apostle," "preacher," and "teacher" of the Gentiles Rom. 1:1; 1Tim. 1:1; etc., and he never lost sight of his calling. He actively engaged in his ministry until the day his head was taken. Of course, the Lord doesn't call men to be apostles today because no minister today has the "signs of an apostle" 2Cor. 12:12. I know there are some frauds out there who claim to be apostles, Yes, even among Fundamental Baptists but they are deceived. Just ask one of them for some signs and they usually shut up. But the Lord still calls men to other callings or vocations such as pastoring, evangelism, and teaching. He calls and provides these men to the Church for the "perfecting of the saints" Eph. 4:11-12.
The Awareness of the Calling
For many believers one of the most difficult and elusive things they ever encounter is determining the will of God for their life. Others seem to know the path God would have them travel, but hesitate to follow it. And small minorities of others quickly determines the will of God for them and immediately follow it. I have heard several preachers tell of their being "called to preach." Most of them admitted that not long after their salvation they became aware of a burden in them to "preach the Bible," but the thought was almost repulsive to them. You must realize some of these fellows were moonshiners, drunks, dope heads, and just general "good-ole-boys." Preaching was about as far from their past lifestyle as east is from west, and their old man flesh resisted even the thought of it. They just couldn't picture themselves standing in front of a bunch of people wearing a suit, most of them never owned one and preaching from an open Bible. The flesh told them they would make a fool of themselves. But as most of you know, the Lord doesn't give up.
I remember one brother who swears God would have killed him if he had not surrendered to preach after months of resistance. He had had several "close calls" already, was miserable, and near his "wits end." He finally gave in to the Lord and said a great burden was lifted from his heart. He is still faithful in the ministry and has a valuable work. It is not unusual for the burden of the Holy Spirit to be much more pronounced in calling men into the ministry than it was in convicting them of sin. I've heard more than one testify to this.
Even while in their misery, though, I believe these brothers have a desire to be a preacher; they just didn't know it yet. That is, the new man in them wants to obey God and preach, but the flesh is either afraid to try or otherwise rejects the thought. Preaching was on their mind nearly every thinking moment. Every time they went to church, heard a sermon, read the Bible or even thought on spiritual things, they knew they should be a preacher. This seems to be what Paul means when He says, "If a man desires the office of a Bishop..." pastor, 1Tim. 3:1. The man desires it in the sense that he wants nothing else. He is compelled to seek it. In relation to this the advice some seasoned preachers give to those who question their calling is, "If you CAN quit, then quit." A God called preacher preaches not because he likes to, but because he MUST! Preaching is not something he does; being a preacher is what he IS!
With other people the Lord seems to work somewhat differently. Instead of bringing a very definite, intense burden to publically "answer the call", He sends a general desire to serve. Though I differ with John R. Rice over the issue of the purity of the King James Bible, he was still an effective minister used by God. However, I read where he said he was not "called to preach" as others describe it. He said he was "allowed" to preach and took every opportunity God presented him. I can identify with this. Not long after I was saved I realized that my inclination was to be a Bible teacher. I knew much less about the Bible then than I do now [still very little], but I sensed that was the direction the Lord was leading me. God has allowed me to be a Bible teacher for over 20 years and has opened up doors for me in that regard. He has also allowed me to write books and develop this website. He has been very good to this worthless dog. 2Sam. 9:8
Along the way, though, there have been well meaning brethren who have assured me I have been "called to preach," they mean be eligible to be a pastor and I should obey and surrender to the call. They would say things like, "When are you going to start preaching?" When I was younger I would wonder about this and think I was missing something somewhere, but later I just told these people "You have the Lord tell me when and I'll start." This is not to say I have not preached; I have on many occasions. Every believer is to be a preacher of the gospel, including women Acts 8:4. Now, don't some of you go into conniptions here? A woman can proclaim the gospel to an individual or a group as well as a man; however, they are not to be a pastor or have authority over the man. But I have not been directly called to be "a pastor. Unless the Lord did a great work in me I would be a quite poor pastor;" I am a Bible teacher.
Preaching or Teaching?
There is an old "preacher saying" that claims, "The only difference between preaching' and teaching' is how loud you talk." This reveals the attitude some hold toward teaching. They see little difference between it and preaching. Many other brethren look at teaching as a secondary calling and is thus inferior to preaching. In fact, to hear the average Fundamentalist preacher talk one would think "preaching" is the most important activity a minister could ever be engaged in. To a lost person it is, but it is not to a believer. A born-again, hear in Appalachia it is often "born again" believer needs to be taught more often than preached at. In the Bible preaching means to proclaim something and today it refers to the proclaiming of the gospel. 1Cor. 1:18, 1Cor. 15:1; 1Thess. 2:9, etc John the Baptist and Christ came preaching the "Kingdom of heaven" Matt. 3:1, Matt. 4:17 but as we will see Christ's ministry more emphasized teaching than preaching.
In some ways teaching is a more involved practice than preaching. Technically, all one must know to preach is basically the gospel, yet the Bible teacher must have a good Scriptural grasp of the doctrinal subject he is about to teach. For example, when Christ preached it was with a very concise and simple message, "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." But when he taught it was with a much more detailed and doctrinal manner. How many of you have heard preachers speak about the great "sermon" Christ "preached" on the "sermon on the mount"? We all have, but Christ never preached from the mount in Matthew 5-7 and it wasn't a sermon. It was a detailed doctrinal lesson He taught about the characteristics of the coming Kingdom. Look at Matt. 5:2 when Christ began to speak, "And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying." Now look at Matt. 7:29 when He ended speaking, "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." With this you should see the primary difference between preaching and teaching and the place teaching has in God's scheme of things.
Another thing many preachers assume is Christ was a preacher before He was a teacher, but they are wrong again. There is nothing like a quick look at the Bible to clear up such matters. Christ referred to Himself as a "teacher" more than a "preacher," and much to the chagrin of many preachers, when the Holy Spirit recorded the Lord's ministry in the Scriptures; He usually placed "teaching" ahead of "preaching"! Look at Matt. 4:23 for example, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom." Also see Matt. 9:35, Matt. 11:1;Acts 5:42, Acts 15:35. In short, preaching is primarily for the lost and teaching is for the saved. I would say some of you learned something right here, especially some of you preachers.
No pastor can expect his church to amount to much unless he has an effective teaching ministry. Of course, he is to be the primary teacher. That is why the Bible stipulates a pastor be "apt to teach."Unfortunately, some pastors are not apt to teach at all. I think some would have a problem teaching a starving dog to eat a biscuit. Part of the reason is they have little to teach because they know relatively little. Another reason is they don't think teaching is as glamorous as preaching and spend little time perfecting their lessons and approach. Paul didn't have such hang-ups. In Acts 28:31 Luke spelled out the approach of Paul's ministry. He was engaged in, "Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." See also, 1Tim. 2:7; 2Tim. 1:11. Preaching makes sinners believers; teaching makes believers effective and knowledgeable Bible believers.
Enabled For Service
Once God calls a person for a ministry he must enable him for service. When a brother surrenders to the call he is not instantly prepared for the ministry. In fact when the brother is called he essentially has no ministry. God must enable him as he enabled Paul,
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 1Tim. 1:12
Before Paul was actually placed into a full ministry he spent three years in training and instruction. Gal. 1:18 Once God found him faithful in this, He put him into the ministry.
Every minister must learn the Bible and God's ways before he can be fully effective in God's service. Contrary to popular belief attending a Bible school does not guarantee one is ready for a ministry. For some a Bible school may be the best avenue to take. For others it may be being under the tutelage of a more experienced minister. And some others may learn a considerable amount by reading and studying on their own. In fact, going to a Bible college can often be a hindrance. There have been countless believers who head off to Bible school believing in the purity of the Bible (KJB), and then two to four years later come back there is no pure Bible. All they can offer one is a "reliable translation" that is not pure and inerrant. This is detrimental to the cause of Christ. Every believer must determine the Lord's will for himself as one that must give account.
Sometimes the enabling can be hard. Paul was shipwrecked and whipped. Others have suffered through terrible ordeals in being conformed more like Christ. We are to endure hardness as a good soldier 2Tim. 2:3 and place our burdens on the Lord. I know this is easier said than done, but that is the lot of a minister of Jesus Christ.
The Misuse of the Calling
Like many of you reading this, your author has heard many pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and ministers in general over the years "preach." From a visiting missionary's "one night stand" to an evangelist's two week "revival" [plus camp meetings, Bible conferences, and "preacher retreats"], he has heard preachers from a broad cross section of society deliver countless messages. When I was younger in the Lord and ignorant of many Bible truths I was enamored by any man who claimed to be a preacher and devoured everything he said. Unfortunately, now that I am older and hopefully a little wiser,43 years old and 23 years saved, my enthusiasm has diminished to a degree. Why, you may ask? Because after a few years of listening, watching, and studying preachers and analyzing their mode, method, and motivation for preaching, I realized many preachers too often preach to impress people more than to minister to people. Especially if there is a notable "preacher peer" in the room they wish to impress. They appear more in love with the act of preaching than with the purpose of preaching. The self-centered ego of man is not eradicated when he is called to preach. It is a powerful influence of the flesh that strives to get a preacher off track by satisfying a selfish desire or ambition, to be thought of as a gifted, clever, smart, powerful, brilliant, etc., preacher by his peers.
The ego of man is the epitome of pride. It loves positive attention and notoriety. The only thing it may desire more is to be loved, admired, and "appreciated." This is in stark contrast to the attitude a believer in Christ should hold. Christ said more than once before one could follow Him he had to "deny himself", deny the desires of his flesh. Paul said believers should make themselves of NO reputation and be a humble servant; traits man's proud ego shuns. I'm convinced the biggest enemy a Christian has is not the Devil or the world, it is his own vain, proud, self-gratifying "flesh". This self fixation or ego IS the LUST and PRIDE of man, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"! Personally, I have much more difficulty trying to hold my "flesh" in check than I do dealing with the world or the Devil. Every morning when I look into the mirror, I see my greatest enemy starring back at me. He literally gives me "fits."
Unfortunately, this uncrucified flesh has dwelled among preachers, as well as all other believers, since the beginning. Instead of preaching from pure, godly motives solely to help others and please God, flesh has ulterior motives and secretly seeks to impress people and "show off." Any honest preacher with any time under his belt will admit this. The tendency to "knock their socks off" with one's wit, oratory, "knowledge," and "presence" is a desire that is hard for many to ministers to overcome. They treat preaching as if it is a competition. Some Bible schools even have "preaching competitions" for their young preachers and award prizes to the "winner." How do they determine the winner? Do they count souls saved, lives changed for the good, Bible doctrines expounded, etc.? No, they measure their oratory, organization, knowledge, and performance against their fellow competitors. No wonder many preachers harbor this competitive, adversarial spirit throughout their ministry. Usually a minister has to be quite seasoned and mature in the ministry before he realizes the futility and vanity of such an attitude. Preaching is not a "competitive sport," it is the means God has established to save those which are lost and edify those who are saved.
It appears oratory, delivery, and even sophistry has in many cases become a substitute for Holy Spirit endued power. When one reads of the ministries of those in centuries past, he realizes the results they obtained were NOT a because of flashy oratory or clever "alliteration." They were effective because they had upon them the prayer induced power of God! Charles Finney said in his autobiography he would purposely preach in a soft, quiet manner so as not to create any excitement in his meetings merely from his "presentation."
Describing one meeting in the "sitting room" of a home, not in an air-conditioned, padded-pew, spacious "church building" Finney said,
"Nothing had been said or done to create any excitement in the meeting. The feeling was all spontaneous. The work was with such power that even a few words of conversation would make the stoutest men writhe in their seats, as if a sword had been thrust into their hearts. It would probably not be possible for one who had never witnessed such a scene to realize what force the truth sometimes has under the power of the Holy Spirit. It is indeed a sword, a two-edged sword. The pain that it produced when searchingly presented in a few words of conversation would create a distress that seemed unendurable."
Don't think Finney was speaking to children or those of a "weak" heart, because "the meeting was composed of many of the most intelligent and influential...young men in the town." Finney as many other saints of the past had power. Not necessarily "powerful preaching" or "vibrant messages;" he had the power of God! To what did Finney ascribe this power; what did he claim was the key to its avail? Let him answer,
"In regard to my own experience, I will say that unless I had the spirit of prayer I could do nothing. If I lost the spirit of grace and supplication even for a day or an hour I found myself unable to preach with power and efficiency, or to win souls by personal conversation."
I believe it is clear that the primary reason there is rarely power in preaching today is there is rarely effective prayer before the preaching. A prayer less ministry is a powerless ministry; a ministry weak in prayer is weak in power; and a ministry filled with prayer is filled with power. It's that simple. Ah, but the flesh doesn't like to pray, does it?
A Minister's First Duty
When a man is called into the ministry, what is the end of his calling? For what purpose was he called? Although many seem to have overlooked this passage, Eph. 4:11-13 is clear,
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"
In short, a God called minister is called to make Christians better Christians; to make them more like Christ. In light of this, what does the Bible claim is the first and primary duty and obligation of a minister in striving for this goal? For powerful preaching, vibrant teaching, effective counseling, etc.? You would be surprised how many preachers cannot answer this simple, basic question from Scripture. I have asked this question to groups of preachers only to see them fumbling through their Bibles appearing to search for the answer when in reality some of them didn't know where to begin. What is a preacher's a pastors first duty to his people? What does God require of him first? It is NOT preaching; it is NOT teaching; it is NOT Bible study. Let's let twelve God called pastors tell us,
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4
Prayer comes first, it always should come first. Without it the ministry of the word will be of little effect. Notice preachers, a God called minister is not called first to preach, he is called first to pray! Preaching is necessary, but it is secondary. I will be the first to admit that my prayer life lacking. The reason I have little power is I have little prayer. Ministers try to make up for this lack of power in their lives by composing clever sermons, loud sermons, short sermons, long sermons, entertaining sermons, etc., but they all are inadequate. There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit.
The Minister, a Steward of What?
Having addressed the first aspect of the calling equation, prayer; we will now briefly look at the second—the ministry of the word. Most all ministers realize they are called to "preach the word," but it has never ceased to amaze me how ministers who have been preaching for even 30 or 40 years don't understand the specifics of their accountability. Many ministers preach messages on the "stewardship" of the believer and how they will be held accountable for what God has given them, but few can produce from the Scriptures what they as ministers are actually stewards of.
Once at a "Bible Conference" the Lord allowed me to teach to some preachers, and I brought up the issue of a minister's stewardship and accountability to God. I quoted 1Cor. 4:2, "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful", which they were all familiar with and had used many times. But then I asked the question "What is it that ministers are stewards of? What specifically are we accountable for?" I got a bunch of blank looks from most of them. Others fumbled through their Bibles. None would answer. I know it is hard to answer questions from a speaker like this but this was not a hard or trick question. It dealt with the very basis of their and my ministry. Finally I took them to 1Cor. 4:2 and told them to look at the verse right before it, 1Cor. 4:1,
"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."
We are ministers of the "mysteries of God." These mysteries are the specifics we are accountable for. Seeing this the preachers then began to nod their heads and say "Amen," but then I asked the next logical question, you guessed it, "What are the mysteries of God? Can you briefly state them? More than that, can your congregations state them?" More blank looks came from many. Some mentioned a couple mysteries. This is tragic—ministers of God who do not know what they are stewards of or what they are accountable for, and cannot even briefly describe the fundamental basis for the "ministry of the word." We ministers should be able to rattle off the seven basic mysteries found in the Scriptures without hesitation. We should be able to find them in an instant and expound on each one for a time without notes. How are we going to fare at the Judgment Seat of Christ with such basic ignorance? These words of stewardship were not hidden, they are not obscure. They are there plain for all eyes to see and understand. Many of us ministers are too busy trying to impress and "show off" to see "the forest for the trees." We should be the ones who see most clearly. Woe be unto us if we don't get back to the basics. Woe if we neglect our stewardship and calling.
The Mysteries At A Glance
For those of you not familiar with the major mysteries of the Bible, here is a brief overview.
Mystery of Godliness 1Tim. 3:16 —Deals with the person of Christ, His unique birth, nature, and death.
Mystery of Iniquity 2Thes. 2:7 —Deals with the nature and character of Satan and the Beast.
Mystery of Christ in You Eph. 3:4 —Deals with the mutual indwelling of Christ and the believer.
Mystery of Christ and the Church Eph. 5:32 —Deals with the "body of Christ;" the Church.
Mystery of The Faith 1Tim. 3:9 —Deals with the elements of Bible believing faith in God.
Mystery of Israel Rom. 11:25 —Deals with the restoration of Israel and future events.
Mystery of the Second Coming 1Cor. 11:26 —Deals with the rapture and second coming of Christ.
Mystery of Babylon Rev. 17:5 —Deals with the Roman, Babylonian empire which will be revived.
If one has a firm grasp of these mysteries, he has equipped himself with the basic truths needed to be an effective minister of God's word.
Doctrinal or Devotional Which?
Probably the biggest reason the Bible's revealed mysteries are so little emphasized today is they deal primarily with sound doctrine. Unfortunately, Bible doctrine is rarely the subject of preaching these days. Devotional or "inspirational" messages seem to dominate many preachers sermon library. One reason for this is devotional messages are much less "offensive" or "controversial" than doctrinal messages. Nearly anyone, saint or sinner, can listen to a typical “uplifting” devotional message without becoming very much disturbed. Millions of lost people have “enjoyed” countless inspirational “sermons” without realizing they are lost and have a need. Granted, a devotional message has its place in a ministry, but trying to get people to “feel better about themselves,” should not be the main thrust of one’s ministry.
However, the main reason, I believe, devotional messages dominate over doctrinal messages is devotional messages are easier to prepare, they require less study. One can “throw together” a simple inspirational message with one verse and some “illustrations” [stories from one’s youth, etc., but an effective doctrinal presentation requires considerable study and organized delivery. Even some of the most well known evangelists spend little time on doctrine. They most often preach relatively simple but often heavily illustrated salvation messages which have their place. However, the first purpose for the inspiration of the Scriptures was that they be "profitable for doctrine" 2Tim. 3:16-17. It is doctrine that separates a true Bible believer from a liberal or a cultist. Without a sound doctrinal foundation, no believer can have the knowledge, strength, and wisdom he needs to be very effective for Christ.
Study to Show Thyself Approved
More times than I can recall I have heard a preacher begin preaching a series of meetings and became impressed with his initial messages. However, after I heard him a few more times I noticed a peculiar trend; the brother would begin repeating things he had said in earlier messages. He would repeat certain pet phrases, key illustrations, and sometimes entire major points. After another message or two I realized the poor man actually didn't have anything else of substance to say. He had exhausted his knowledge of the Bible in less than 7 messages [sometimes even less]. What is the problem? The man simply doesn't study as he must to have access to the Bible's wealth of material. Sure he has a handful of powerful, barn-burner messages that can "singe the hair on your head," but once he has used these, he has little else. Unfortunately, I have sensed these brethren don't know much else. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so. I feel certain if one asked some Evangelists to explain the difference between the Bible doctrines of "propitiation" and "imputation" he wouldn't get much of an answer. I know for a fact that some of them barely know the difference between a dispensation and a transmission and they probably know more about the transmission. The only biblical division they can point to is the division between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Another type of minister is what I call the "ayah" preacher or the "amen" preacher. These brethren are known by the characteristic "ugh" or "Amen" that they belch out after every few words. Here in West Virginia there are some of these preachers on the local radio station. They start off talking in a normal manner then after a couple minutes "the spirit hits them" and they take off "preaching" and the "ayahs" start. It's like they can't get air in their lungs fast enough, "Moses went up the mountain—ayah—and he saw a burning bush—ayah—and as he was going up the mountain—ayah—he saw this bush a burning—ayah—and as Moses saw this bush a burning—ayah...." You get the picture. About every two or three seconds there is an "ayah," "amen," or even "glory." To paraphrase another, "If brother Jones took all the "Amen’s" out of his message his 45 minute sermon would last only 15 minutes!" Why do these fellows use these words as” filler? Many times I think it is because they don't have anything else to say. Every message from week to week sounds much the same, hardly anything new. Study, preacher, study!
It seems some evangelists as well neglect to study. Since they rarely speak at a place more than five or six times at a stretch they may see no need to develop fresh, doctrinal messages. Pastors usually speak to the same people week in and week out, but some still neglect the study of doctrine. However, the Bible places an emphasis on doctrine and even says an elder who labors in the word and doctrine is worthy of "double honor" 1Tim. 5:17. Any minister who has studied the Bible much at all knows there definitely is "labour" involved in determining Bible doctrine. Each doctrine must be searched out and proven comparing Scripture with Scripture 1Thes. 5:21, 1Pet. 3:15. To neglect this is detrimental to any ministry.
I have heard preachers joke about getting their messages from Christian publications. One preacher would say jokingly from the pulpit something like, "I went to the post office early this morning so I could get my copy of the Sword of the Lord before brother Jones gets his. Now, I will preach his message before he can." The fact is though, some preachers regularly "borrow" their messages from other. There is nothing wrong with getting ideas from other ministers, books, and publications. In fact, listening to tapes and reading Christian publications is to be encouraged, but preaching another person's sermon almost verbatim is not the ideal. Get your own messages, preacher! Personally, I have learned more about the Lord and His word by studying and preparing material to teach from than by hearing other ministers. Furthermore, one will usually deliver a message he has labored over with more zeal and care than one he has "borrowed."
In relation to this, though, there are many ministers who have a very limited amount of time to prepare messages. Here in the Appalachian Mountains, many if not most Fundamentalist ministers must work at an outside job as well as maintain a pastorate. I know Independent Baptists pastors who drive over an hour to work, work a 10-12 hour night-shift in a dark, dreary coal mine, drive back home, sleep a little, squeeze in a little study, spend a few minutes with the family, and do the same thing again for six days a week. Then preach on Wednesday night, have visitation on Thursday night, and on Sunday deliver two sermons and maybe even teach Sunday school! These brethren have my complete admiration. True, they don't know the Bible as well as others, but they are faithful and doing the best they can. God will not forget their dedication and labor. If it were not for men like this many of the Baptist churches around the country would be empty. Do you think some "Bible College trained preacher boy" is going to come to a small hick town and take a pastorate that runs only 30-40 people and pays him around $200-$300 a month? Very, unlikely, some of you reading this can identify with what I am saying; some of you can't. But before you criticize one of these brothers for not knowing the Bible as well as you, or not always having fresh, polished messages, you should just try to live by his schedule for a couple weeks. Many of you wouldn't make it.
The above is just a few tidbits and observations I have picked up over the years concerning ministers and ministries. There are others who are much better equipped and prepared to do this than me, but hopefully someone reading this will learn a thing or two about God's work and His calling into service. That old book has everything we need in it to determine how to live a successful life that is pleasing to God.
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
