The following is a skeletal outline (just the four main points) from an expository sermon titled "Things That Really Matter." The text is from Luke's introduction to his Gospel account.
Verse 1: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Point 1: IT MATTERS WHAT YOU BELIEVE (Verse 1)
Verse 2: Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
Point 2: IT MATTERS WHERE YOU BASE YOUR BELIEFS (Verse 2)
Verse 3: It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Point 3: IT MATTERS WHETHER YOU SPREAD THE TRUTH (Verse 3)
Verse 4: That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Point 4: IT MATTERS WHETHER YOU ARE CERTAIN OF THE TRUTH (Verse 4)
VM
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Call Unto Me: Points on Prayer
The following study is the kind of Bible teaching I like, where a text is picked apart phrase by phrase, its meaning explained, relevant Bible principles from other scriptures brought to bear on the subject, and it is all applied to the life of the believer. You could call this an "expository" study if you also examined the context, as I did when I delivered this lesson on a recent Sunday evening. The context (going back into prior chapters) is not on this outline, however. For more on expository preaching and other sermon types, read this post.
Call Unto Me: Points on Prayer
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Prayer is Commanded – “Call unto Me!”
Reasons people don’t pray about some things:
- “I don’t want to bother God with little things.”
- Answer: “Give us this day our daily bread…”
- “I don’t have time to pray.”
- Answer: “You don’t have time NOT to pray!”
- "I have so much business, I can not get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” — Martin Luther
- “God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.” — John Wesley
- “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” — Oswald Chambers
- “A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power.” — Edwin Harvey
Prayer is Personal - “Call unto ME”
The saved have a personal relationship with the God of the Universe.
- Deuteronomy 4:7, 29
- Psalm 91:15
- Psalm 145:18
- Judges 18:22-26
- I Samuel 5:2-5
- I Kings 18:25-29
Prayer is Pleading - “Call” means “Cry out”.
It includes the idea of seeking and getting the attention of another.
- Isaiah 55:6
- Jeremiah 29:12-14
Reminders of God’s promises of hearing and answering prayer:
- Micah 7:7
- Psalm 50:15
- Psalm 34:15-17
- Proverbs 15:29
- Isaiah 65:24
- I John 5:14-15
You will know the answer to prayer!
“…and I will answer thee, and SHEW thee…”
- God is not going to answer your prayer and then leave you in the dark about it.
- Seeing the answer requires walking in the Spirit.
“…Great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
- “Mighty” / “Hidden”
- Compare: Ephesians 3:20; Psalm 23:5
- Examples: I Chronicles 17; I Kings 3:10-15
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Speaking For the Lord (Part 6)
This is the sixth in a series of articles I am writing to apply Isaiah 6:1-8 to the preacher. If you have not yet done so, please go back first and read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5. If you are blessed by this article, please feel free to comment and definitely watch for more articles in this series.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
II. Secondly, WHO IS THE PREACHER THAT GOD SENT?
A. He is a man of unclean lips, Isaiah 6:5 - dealt with in Part 5.
B. He dwells in the midst of a people of unclean lips - see Part 5.
C. Thirdly, this God-called preacher is a man that realizes his limitations and disabilities. Notice this in verse 5: "Woe is me! for I am undone...for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
1. Upon seeing Who exactly God is, the preacher realizes who himself is.
Preacher, have you been to the altar and realized the holiness and absolute glory of God? No, of course you haven't. "No man hath seen God at any time." You would be undone, as Isaiah was after just a brief glimpse - literally in verse 5 it means "done for" as in "I am done for. I am over with. I will cease to exist."
That is the proper attitude for the preacher - No more of ME! I am DONE! Now, All of HIM! John the Baptist said, "He must increase and I must decrease." If we truly held in mind Who it is that we represent when we preach, we would realize what Paul means when he says, "I am crucified with Christ" and "I die daily." We would never let our ego get in the way of speaking for the Lord.
Preacher, please realize you have nothing to offer anybody personally. God did not call you because you are special or anything like that. Remember that He "hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" - II Timothy 1:9. He has His reasons, and it is not because of anything you bring into the picture.
Are you undone? Does your preaching show it? Does the rest of your ministry show it? How much of YOU is present in your preaching, ministry, philosophy, etc?
Get to the point of Isaiah, "Woe is me, for I am undone." Are you undone or is "ME" still holding on tightly when you stand up to speak for the Lord?
Here are some concrete applications of this principle:
a) Do your sermon illustrations tend to regularly cast you in the best light, make you the hero of the story, etc? Get rid of it. There's no room for it.
b) How much do your favorite doctrines, hobby horses, pet peeves, etc, drive your sermons or influence how you approach a topic? Be careful! Is that God's hobby horse, pet peeve or favorite doctrine? Probably not, but you claim to be speaking for Him.
c) In your prayer during study and preparation time and before preaching, ask God to give you this attitude, "Woe is me, for I am undone." Ask God to humble you before Him and before the people and remove you completely out of the way so that only Christ can be seen.
2. Upon being properly humbled, this preacher is then enabled to properly speak on the Lord's behalf, vv. 6-7. Watch for this in Part 7, coming soon.
VM
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:1-8.I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER? Answered in Parts 1 through 4 and applied to the preaching.
II. Secondly, WHO IS THE PREACHER THAT GOD SENT?
A. He is a man of unclean lips, Isaiah 6:5 - dealt with in Part 5.
B. He dwells in the midst of a people of unclean lips - see Part 5.
C. Thirdly, this God-called preacher is a man that realizes his limitations and disabilities. Notice this in verse 5: "Woe is me! for I am undone...for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
1. Upon seeing Who exactly God is, the preacher realizes who himself is.
Preacher, have you been to the altar and realized the holiness and absolute glory of God? No, of course you haven't. "No man hath seen God at any time." You would be undone, as Isaiah was after just a brief glimpse - literally in verse 5 it means "done for" as in "I am done for. I am over with. I will cease to exist."
That is the proper attitude for the preacher - No more of ME! I am DONE! Now, All of HIM! John the Baptist said, "He must increase and I must decrease." If we truly held in mind Who it is that we represent when we preach, we would realize what Paul means when he says, "I am crucified with Christ" and "I die daily." We would never let our ego get in the way of speaking for the Lord.
Preacher, please realize you have nothing to offer anybody personally. God did not call you because you are special or anything like that. Remember that He "hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" - II Timothy 1:9. He has His reasons, and it is not because of anything you bring into the picture.
Are you undone? Does your preaching show it? Does the rest of your ministry show it? How much of YOU is present in your preaching, ministry, philosophy, etc?
Get to the point of Isaiah, "Woe is me, for I am undone." Are you undone or is "ME" still holding on tightly when you stand up to speak for the Lord?
Here are some concrete applications of this principle:
a) Do your sermon illustrations tend to regularly cast you in the best light, make you the hero of the story, etc? Get rid of it. There's no room for it.
b) How much do your favorite doctrines, hobby horses, pet peeves, etc, drive your sermons or influence how you approach a topic? Be careful! Is that God's hobby horse, pet peeve or favorite doctrine? Probably not, but you claim to be speaking for Him.
c) In your prayer during study and preparation time and before preaching, ask God to give you this attitude, "Woe is me, for I am undone." Ask God to humble you before Him and before the people and remove you completely out of the way so that only Christ can be seen.
2. Upon being properly humbled, this preacher is then enabled to properly speak on the Lord's behalf, vv. 6-7. Watch for this in Part 7, coming soon.
VM
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Speaking For the Lord (Part 5)
This is the fifth in a series of articles I am writing to apply Isaiah 6:1-8 to the preacher. If you have not yet done so, please go back first and read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. If you are blessed by this article, please feel free to comment and definitely watch for more articles in this series.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER? Answered in Parts 1 through 4 and applied to the preaching.
II. Secondly, WHO IS THE PREACHER THAT GOD SENT?
A. He is a man of unclean lips, Isaiah 6:5.
1. Preacher, will you ever get it through your head that you are a man of unclean lips? I don't care how long it has been since you gave up cursing or taking God's name in vain - that is not the issue. You are still a man of unclean lips because your lips will end up speaking what is in your heart, and you know what the Bible says about your wicked, filthy heart, Jeremiah 17:9; and about what all comes out of your heart, Matthew 15:19.
Therefore, how dare you EVER take your unclean lips into the pulpit and declare your opinion, your conjecture, or what you think. That's not speaking for the Lord. How many times does God have to remind us preachers that we are to "PREACH THE WORD," II Timothy 4:2.
2. Most of all, understand this. What you have to say MATTERS NOT AT ALL. What God has to say is the only thing that matters when you stand up to preach. Be sure you say that and only that, you man of unclean lips.
B. Secondly, this man that God has called to preach dwells "in the midst of a people of unclean lips." Do you understand how that matters or applies? It means that the people to whom you preach are accustomed to hearing unclean lips. They are accustomed to hearing from other men of unclean lips. What does that have to do with the preacher? Here is one way it applies: How are those people going to know when you are speaking for yourself or when you are speaking for God? How will they tell the difference, since they are so used to the mortal talk of mortal men? The fact is, such a people cannot discern the opinions of men from the word of God. The preacher speaking to such a people has an amazing and very weighty influence over them that even he does not understand. He must keep this power in check.
Preacher, always remember the following:
1. Everything you say from the pulpit is taken by most as "Thus saith the Lord." Whether you intend it that way or not, that is the way most listeners take it. Whether that is a right attitude or not, that is simply a fact of life that you have to learn to live with and preach within those parameters. Therefore, if it is not a "Thus saith the Lord" statement, then don't say it when you claim to be speaking for the Lord.
2. Your opinions or preferences you give from the pulpit will be confused with the word of God by some. They will come to believe that the Bible teaches something because they heard you preach it. You may become guilty of "making the word of God of none effect through your tradition," Mark 7:13.
3. Those who do not confuse your opinions or preferences with the word of God instead may come to the conclusion that you yourself have made that confusion. They expected to hear "Thus saith the Lord." They heard instead your opinion. They then make a logical conclusion that you believe the opinion you gave is in fact the word of God. This can be and has been the cause of horrible divisions among brethren, when some believe another has placed his opinion on the level of God's word. It is a reasonable conclusion on their part, even if it is wrong. But you are the one at fault in this misunderstanding, because you spoke through your unclean lips instead of preaching the word.
C. Thirdly, this God-called preacher is a man that realizes his limitations and disabilities. Notice this: "Woe is me! for I am undone...for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
1. Upon seeing Who exactly God is, the man realizes who himself is. Watch for this to continue in Part 6.
VM
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:1-8.
I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER? Answered in Parts 1 through 4 and applied to the preaching.
II. Secondly, WHO IS THE PREACHER THAT GOD SENT?
A. He is a man of unclean lips, Isaiah 6:5.
1. Preacher, will you ever get it through your head that you are a man of unclean lips? I don't care how long it has been since you gave up cursing or taking God's name in vain - that is not the issue. You are still a man of unclean lips because your lips will end up speaking what is in your heart, and you know what the Bible says about your wicked, filthy heart, Jeremiah 17:9; and about what all comes out of your heart, Matthew 15:19.
Therefore, how dare you EVER take your unclean lips into the pulpit and declare your opinion, your conjecture, or what you think. That's not speaking for the Lord. How many times does God have to remind us preachers that we are to "PREACH THE WORD," II Timothy 4:2.
Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. Jonah 3:2.Let these examples be enough. God commisions a preacher to preach exactly what God says, nothing more and nothing less. God's house must not become the place people go to hear the thoughts of a man of unclean lips.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15.
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Colossians 1:25.
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. I Kings 22:14.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. Numbers 22:38.
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? Numbers 24:13.
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. II Corinthians 2:17.
2. Most of all, understand this. What you have to say MATTERS NOT AT ALL. What God has to say is the only thing that matters when you stand up to preach. Be sure you say that and only that, you man of unclean lips.
B. Secondly, this man that God has called to preach dwells "in the midst of a people of unclean lips." Do you understand how that matters or applies? It means that the people to whom you preach are accustomed to hearing unclean lips. They are accustomed to hearing from other men of unclean lips. What does that have to do with the preacher? Here is one way it applies: How are those people going to know when you are speaking for yourself or when you are speaking for God? How will they tell the difference, since they are so used to the mortal talk of mortal men? The fact is, such a people cannot discern the opinions of men from the word of God. The preacher speaking to such a people has an amazing and very weighty influence over them that even he does not understand. He must keep this power in check.
Preacher, always remember the following:
1. Everything you say from the pulpit is taken by most as "Thus saith the Lord." Whether you intend it that way or not, that is the way most listeners take it. Whether that is a right attitude or not, that is simply a fact of life that you have to learn to live with and preach within those parameters. Therefore, if it is not a "Thus saith the Lord" statement, then don't say it when you claim to be speaking for the Lord.
2. Your opinions or preferences you give from the pulpit will be confused with the word of God by some. They will come to believe that the Bible teaches something because they heard you preach it. You may become guilty of "making the word of God of none effect through your tradition," Mark 7:13.
3. Those who do not confuse your opinions or preferences with the word of God instead may come to the conclusion that you yourself have made that confusion. They expected to hear "Thus saith the Lord." They heard instead your opinion. They then make a logical conclusion that you believe the opinion you gave is in fact the word of God. This can be and has been the cause of horrible divisions among brethren, when some believe another has placed his opinion on the level of God's word. It is a reasonable conclusion on their part, even if it is wrong. But you are the one at fault in this misunderstanding, because you spoke through your unclean lips instead of preaching the word.
C. Thirdly, this God-called preacher is a man that realizes his limitations and disabilities. Notice this: "Woe is me! for I am undone...for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
1. Upon seeing Who exactly God is, the man realizes who himself is. Watch for this to continue in Part 6.
VM
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Speaking For the Lord (Part 4)
This is the fourth in a series of articles I am writing to apply Isaiah 6:1-8 to the preacher. If you have not yet done so, please go back first and read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. If you are blessed by this article, please feel free to comment and definitely watch for more articles in this series.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
A. HIS TITLES: We looked at these in Part 1 and Part 2.
B. HIS ATTRIBUTES: In Part 3, we began to look at these, including: 1. HE IS MAJESTIC, 2. HE IS AWE-INSPIRING, 3. HE IS THRICE-HOLY. Now let us move on a bit further.
4. HE IS GLORIOUS: Verse 3 says "...the whole earth is full of his glory."
Much of this point would be covered under the previous point, HE IS MAJESTIC. However, now let's not consider simply the fact of God's glory and majesty, but rather the scope of it. The verse says, "the whole earth is full of his glory." His glory is worldwide. Applied to the preacher called by this same God, we may note the following:
a) There is no place on earth where God would not be glorified by the proper preaching of His word. His message is to go worldwide for His glory. Often times missionaries to particular locations are snubbed, or snubbed because they are not called to a certain region such as "the 10/40 window", or overlooked because they are planting churches in the home country, such as America. This is wrong-headed on many levels, but most importantly because it denies where God can work and be glorified. God is glorified just as much in the faithful preaching of His word in New York City or rural Alabama as He is in Papua New Guinea or the English countryside or the mountains of Tibet. The whole earth is full of His glory.
b) There is no place on earth, no culture, no people, no tribe, no generation, no social class, no age group who could not see the glory of God if His word were preached and believed among them. God's message and methods do not have to be modified for a different culture or different audience. The glory of God is already in every place and "the word of God is not bound" - II Timothy 2:9. It is not bound by time, distance or relevance. The word of God stands eternal and applies to every creature.
c) There is no special place to which preaching must be restricted and no special glory to any particular location. There is no more glory coming from a wooden pulpit inside the four walls of a church building than there is from the street corner where a faithful man is spreading the Gospel one-on-one. There is no more of the glory of God in a large, beautiful, packed auditorium than there is in an apartment living room where a man preaches to a handful of believers hoping to plant a church some day. The whole earth is full of God's glory.
d) To see God get all the glory must be the total desire of the preacher. This was covered under "HE IS MAJESTIC" in Part 3.
The God-called preacher can rest assured that regardless of when and where he preaches, the faithful preaching of God's word will by honored by the presence of God's glory and will redound to the glory of God. We don't have to look for moments like they have in the southern camp meetings, when they say "the glory fell" and then things really get interesting in the tent. That is not happening because the glory of God suddenly showed up. The glory is already here, wherever here is, and the God-called preacher can fully expect God to manifest His glory however He sees fit.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:1-8.I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER?
A. HIS TITLES: We looked at these in Part 1 and Part 2.
B. HIS ATTRIBUTES: In Part 3, we began to look at these, including: 1. HE IS MAJESTIC, 2. HE IS AWE-INSPIRING, 3. HE IS THRICE-HOLY. Now let us move on a bit further.
4. HE IS GLORIOUS: Verse 3 says "...the whole earth is full of his glory."
Much of this point would be covered under the previous point, HE IS MAJESTIC. However, now let's not consider simply the fact of God's glory and majesty, but rather the scope of it. The verse says, "the whole earth is full of his glory." His glory is worldwide. Applied to the preacher called by this same God, we may note the following:
a) There is no place on earth where God would not be glorified by the proper preaching of His word. His message is to go worldwide for His glory. Often times missionaries to particular locations are snubbed, or snubbed because they are not called to a certain region such as "the 10/40 window", or overlooked because they are planting churches in the home country, such as America. This is wrong-headed on many levels, but most importantly because it denies where God can work and be glorified. God is glorified just as much in the faithful preaching of His word in New York City or rural Alabama as He is in Papua New Guinea or the English countryside or the mountains of Tibet. The whole earth is full of His glory.
b) There is no place on earth, no culture, no people, no tribe, no generation, no social class, no age group who could not see the glory of God if His word were preached and believed among them. God's message and methods do not have to be modified for a different culture or different audience. The glory of God is already in every place and "the word of God is not bound" - II Timothy 2:9. It is not bound by time, distance or relevance. The word of God stands eternal and applies to every creature.
c) There is no special place to which preaching must be restricted and no special glory to any particular location. There is no more glory coming from a wooden pulpit inside the four walls of a church building than there is from the street corner where a faithful man is spreading the Gospel one-on-one. There is no more of the glory of God in a large, beautiful, packed auditorium than there is in an apartment living room where a man preaches to a handful of believers hoping to plant a church some day. The whole earth is full of God's glory.
d) To see God get all the glory must be the total desire of the preacher. This was covered under "HE IS MAJESTIC" in Part 3.
The God-called preacher can rest assured that regardless of when and where he preaches, the faithful preaching of God's word will by honored by the presence of God's glory and will redound to the glory of God. We don't have to look for moments like they have in the southern camp meetings, when they say "the glory fell" and then things really get interesting in the tent. That is not happening because the glory of God suddenly showed up. The glory is already here, wherever here is, and the God-called preacher can fully expect God to manifest His glory however He sees fit.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Speaking For the Lord (Part 3)
This is the third in a series of articles I am writing to apply Isaiah 6:1-8 to the preacher. If you have not yet done so, please go back first and read Part 1 and Part 2. If you are blessed by this article, please feel free to comment and definitely watch for more articles in this series.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
A. HIS TITLES
B. HIS ATTRIBUTES: We move now from the titles of the God Who called the preacher in Isaiah 6 to the attributes of that God as revealed in the passage.
1. HE IS MAJESTIC: Verse 1: "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."
a) WE MUST PRESENT GOD IN HIS MAJESTY: In our preaching, we must present God in all His majesty.
i) WE EXERCISE CARE IN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT GOD. To present God in His majesty, we always hold Him, His name and His word in reverence. He is not, "the Man upstairs" or "the Big Guy."
ii) WE EXERCISE CARE IN PRESENTING ANY MAN. To present God in His majesty, no man, including our own self, can receive any glory. Do not become an idol to the people. Do not allow the people to believe anything because "Preacher said so." Do not do anything that points the people to yourself rather than to Jesus Christ. Look at this statue memorial of a church's deceased pastor and tell me if this is giving God the glory:
b) WE MUST REFLECT THE MAJESTY OF GOD: Our worship services are to be majestic. Few fundamental preachers would argue with that when it comes to our music. It also applies to our preaching. Preacher, the pulpit is not the place for a lot of what takes place in fundamental pulpits. Theatrics belong at the circus. Jumping up and down, turning red-faced, spitting and snorting, handstands, you name it. What makes you think God needs any of that to get His message across? The power is in His word, not in your presentation of it.
2. HE IS AWE-INSPIRING: Not only is God majestic, but the God Who called the preacher is awe-inspiring. Verse 2: "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face..." I have a note in my Bible margin at this verse - "Even a holy angel must cover his face in the presence of a thrice holy God."
Remember that God meets with us when the church meets. Many preachers act as if they have forgotten this by the way they behave, the things they say, the way they abuse the word of God. We ought to "cover our face" in the presence of God. We come into His special presence each time we preach.
If you have lost your absolute AWE for God, please get out of the pulpit.
3. HE IS THRICE-HOLY: Verse 3: "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts...." What connection do those off-color jokes some preachers tell in the pulpit have with the thrice-holy God they claim to represent? What preaching illustrations do not properly illustrate the word of a thrice-holy God? What was the preacher doing all week long and on Saturday night before he stood up to speak for the One Who is "Holy, holy, holy?" You better watch yourself, Preacher.
4. HE IS GLORIOUS: Verse 3: "...the whole earth is full of his glory." Watch for this point in Part 4.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:1-8.I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER?
A. HIS TITLES
B. HIS ATTRIBUTES: We move now from the titles of the God Who called the preacher in Isaiah 6 to the attributes of that God as revealed in the passage.
1. HE IS MAJESTIC: Verse 1: "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."
a) WE MUST PRESENT GOD IN HIS MAJESTY: In our preaching, we must present God in all His majesty.
i) WE EXERCISE CARE IN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT GOD. To present God in His majesty, we always hold Him, His name and His word in reverence. He is not, "the Man upstairs" or "the Big Guy."
ii) WE EXERCISE CARE IN PRESENTING ANY MAN. To present God in His majesty, no man, including our own self, can receive any glory. Do not become an idol to the people. Do not allow the people to believe anything because "Preacher said so." Do not do anything that points the people to yourself rather than to Jesus Christ. Look at this statue memorial of a church's deceased pastor and tell me if this is giving God the glory:
b) WE MUST REFLECT THE MAJESTY OF GOD: Our worship services are to be majestic. Few fundamental preachers would argue with that when it comes to our music. It also applies to our preaching. Preacher, the pulpit is not the place for a lot of what takes place in fundamental pulpits. Theatrics belong at the circus. Jumping up and down, turning red-faced, spitting and snorting, handstands, you name it. What makes you think God needs any of that to get His message across? The power is in His word, not in your presentation of it.
2. HE IS AWE-INSPIRING: Not only is God majestic, but the God Who called the preacher is awe-inspiring. Verse 2: "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face..." I have a note in my Bible margin at this verse - "Even a holy angel must cover his face in the presence of a thrice holy God."
Remember that God meets with us when the church meets. Many preachers act as if they have forgotten this by the way they behave, the things they say, the way they abuse the word of God. We ought to "cover our face" in the presence of God. We come into His special presence each time we preach.
If you have lost your absolute AWE for God, please get out of the pulpit.
3. HE IS THRICE-HOLY: Verse 3: "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts...." What connection do those off-color jokes some preachers tell in the pulpit have with the thrice-holy God they claim to represent? What preaching illustrations do not properly illustrate the word of a thrice-holy God? What was the preacher doing all week long and on Saturday night before he stood up to speak for the One Who is "Holy, holy, holy?" You better watch yourself, Preacher.
4. HE IS GLORIOUS: Verse 3: "...the whole earth is full of his glory." Watch for this point in Part 4.
Speaking For the Lord (Part 2)
This is the second in a series of articles I am writing to apply Isaiah 6:1-8 to the preacher. If you have not yet done so, please go back first and read Part 1. If you are blessed by this article, please feel free to comment and definitely watch for more articles in this series.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
A. HIS TITLES:
1. ADONAI
2. THE LORD OF HOSTS: This title is used twice for God in this passage. Of course when we see LORD in all capital letters in the Old Testament, we know that is a translation of the Hebrew unpronounced name for God. It is often pronounced in English as Jehovah or Yahweh. Let's examine this title for the God Who called the preacher.
a) THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE: The most basic translation for Jehovah would be "I AM." He has always existed and will always exist. No other thing or other person brought Him into existence or can take Him out of existence. And He is the ONLY one that is self-existent this way. In Creation, He is the "First Cause" to which all other things owe their existence. In the Universe today, He is the Great Sustainer holding all things together, for "He is before all things and by Him all things consist" - Colossians 1:17. He needs nobody else and nothing else. He can do whatever He wishes whenever He wishes. He is the "blessed and only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords" - I Timothy 6:15.
Let us apply this to the preacher. Preacher, I say unto you as I must say to myself, God does NOT need you! God can do whatever He wants to do without you. If God so chooses, God can strike you eternally silent today and still save whomever He wishes to save and strengthen whomever He wishes to strengthen and build up whatever church He wishes to build up. He can even choose to do more good without you than with you. Therefore, notice:
i) YOU PREACH SOLELY BY THE GRACE OF GOD: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ - Ephesians 3:8. GRACE. Unmerited favor. You have not earned the right to preach. You do not deserve the privilege to preach. You are not entitled to preach because of your ability, your study, your intellect. You are allowed by God to preach simply because Self-Existent God said so.
This should be an amazing thing to you and me. This should put us in mind to never take this grace for granted. We should have the attitude of David: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" - I Chronicles 17:16.
A preacher with this attitude will never abuse his pulpit for his own purposes. He will be extremely careful what he says and does not say. He will be on his guard as to how he conducts himself. He will realize that God can take him out of preaching more easily and quickly than He put him in.
Jim Bakker, a former false teacher of the "prosperity doctrines" finally read the Bible all the way through for the first time while in prison. He sat down in his cell and for the first time carefully studied the verses that he'd previously abused to teach prosperity. He came to the conclusion that he was disastrously wrong and even titled his book, "I Was Wrong." In his book, he says that he is amazed that God did not strike him dead as a false prophet. If he had been concerned about that previously, he would have avoided a lot of problems. If we preachers will concern ourselves with that possibility, it will make serious Bible students of us before we stand up and preach.
ii) THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE HAS GIFTED YOU: Our first real introduction in the Bible to what the name Jehovah, "I AM" truly entails is when Moses talked to God in the burning bush.
iii) THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE CAN GET THE JOB DONE: We don't need to come up with novelties. We don't need to stick to formulas for preaching. We don't need to stick to time limits. We don't need our ideas of "cute" or "funny" or "ironic" or "interesting." Outline alliteration is not necessary. In short, preachers need to abandon their man-centered or self-centered approach to sermons and simply communicate what God has said.
b) ...OF HOSTS? A common title for God in the Old Testament is "The LORD of Hosts." Hosts of course refers to armies, such as armies of angels. Preacher, do you realize that you are not only preaching to people, you are also preaching to angels? Angels are apparently gathered with us when the local church meets, I Corinthians 11:10. They are students of the word of God and anxious to understand it, I Peter 1:12. God forbid that you should preach your opinion in front of an angel that has come to hear the word of God.
3. THE KING: The third title for God in this passage is "the King." You, preacher, are an ambassador for the King of kings. You are an emissary.
There is no room for your opinion, for conjecture, for speculation, for anything more than what God is beseeching the people, what Christ is urging the people.
You speak for the King.
B. HIS ATTRIBUTES. We move now from the titles of the God Who called the preacher in Isaiah 6 to the attributes of that God as revealed in the passage. Watch for this on Part 3.
BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:1-8.I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER?
A. HIS TITLES:
1. ADONAI
2. THE LORD OF HOSTS: This title is used twice for God in this passage. Of course when we see LORD in all capital letters in the Old Testament, we know that is a translation of the Hebrew unpronounced name for God. It is often pronounced in English as Jehovah or Yahweh. Let's examine this title for the God Who called the preacher.
a) THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE: The most basic translation for Jehovah would be "I AM." He has always existed and will always exist. No other thing or other person brought Him into existence or can take Him out of existence. And He is the ONLY one that is self-existent this way. In Creation, He is the "First Cause" to which all other things owe their existence. In the Universe today, He is the Great Sustainer holding all things together, for "He is before all things and by Him all things consist" - Colossians 1:17. He needs nobody else and nothing else. He can do whatever He wishes whenever He wishes. He is the "blessed and only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords" - I Timothy 6:15.
Let us apply this to the preacher. Preacher, I say unto you as I must say to myself, God does NOT need you! God can do whatever He wants to do without you. If God so chooses, God can strike you eternally silent today and still save whomever He wishes to save and strengthen whomever He wishes to strengthen and build up whatever church He wishes to build up. He can even choose to do more good without you than with you. Therefore, notice:
i) YOU PREACH SOLELY BY THE GRACE OF GOD: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ - Ephesians 3:8. GRACE. Unmerited favor. You have not earned the right to preach. You do not deserve the privilege to preach. You are not entitled to preach because of your ability, your study, your intellect. You are allowed by God to preach simply because Self-Existent God said so.
This should be an amazing thing to you and me. This should put us in mind to never take this grace for granted. We should have the attitude of David: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" - I Chronicles 17:16.
A preacher with this attitude will never abuse his pulpit for his own purposes. He will be extremely careful what he says and does not say. He will be on his guard as to how he conducts himself. He will realize that God can take him out of preaching more easily and quickly than He put him in.
Jim Bakker, a former false teacher of the "prosperity doctrines" finally read the Bible all the way through for the first time while in prison. He sat down in his cell and for the first time carefully studied the verses that he'd previously abused to teach prosperity. He came to the conclusion that he was disastrously wrong and even titled his book, "I Was Wrong." In his book, he says that he is amazed that God did not strike him dead as a false prophet. If he had been concerned about that previously, he would have avoided a lot of problems. If we preachers will concern ourselves with that possibility, it will make serious Bible students of us before we stand up and preach.
ii) THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE HAS GIFTED YOU: Our first real introduction in the Bible to what the name Jehovah, "I AM" truly entails is when Moses talked to God in the burning bush.
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:13-14.Notice next what this I AM did for Moses when he balked at preaching. After giving Moses the signs to prove that "I AM" had appeared unto him, we see the following:
And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. Exodus 4:10-12.Not only does the Self-Existent One NOT need us, but He can use whomever He chooses. The key is that whomever He chooses, He will gift for His mission and they must speak the words that He gives. We should not reject this grace of preaching, as Moses tried to, nor should we take upon ourselves more than God has given us.
iii) THE SELF-EXISTENT ONE CAN GET THE JOB DONE: We don't need to come up with novelties. We don't need to stick to formulas for preaching. We don't need to stick to time limits. We don't need our ideas of "cute" or "funny" or "ironic" or "interesting." Outline alliteration is not necessary. In short, preachers need to abandon their man-centered or self-centered approach to sermons and simply communicate what God has said.
b) ...OF HOSTS? A common title for God in the Old Testament is "The LORD of Hosts." Hosts of course refers to armies, such as armies of angels. Preacher, do you realize that you are not only preaching to people, you are also preaching to angels? Angels are apparently gathered with us when the local church meets, I Corinthians 11:10. They are students of the word of God and anxious to understand it, I Peter 1:12. God forbid that you should preach your opinion in front of an angel that has come to hear the word of God.
3. THE KING: The third title for God in this passage is "the King." You, preacher, are an ambassador for the King of kings. You are an emissary.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. II Corinthians 5:20.Did you catch that, Preacher? "As though God did beseech you by us." Everything you say in your preaching is to come through as though God were speaking directly through you. And, "We pray you in Christ's stead." Everything you urge anyone to believe or to do is to be as though Jesus Christ Himself were urging them to believe or to do the same.
There is no room for your opinion, for conjecture, for speculation, for anything more than what God is beseeching the people, what Christ is urging the people.
You speak for the King.
B. HIS ATTRIBUTES. We move now from the titles of the God Who called the preacher in Isaiah 6 to the attributes of that God as revealed in the passage. Watch for this on Part 3.
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