Undervaluing the Ministry of the Word

The point: Unconverted hearer, when the preacher warns you of wrath and offers the Savior in Christ's name, know you are being addressed by Christ Himself — not by a mere mortal.

The preacher does not go home after an altar call and cut a notch in his gospel rifle saying 'we got another one' — he pleads in Christ's name, and every refusal is a refusal of Christ Himself, not of the preacher.

when they are regarded either with indifference or with open hostility. My friend, listen, Jesus said, He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words. That's what you're doing, rejecting Him, not me. I don't get an increase of salary if you repent and believe the gospel. I don't go home and find my gospel rifle and cut a niche in it and say, We've got another one.

30:56 - 31:23 Read in full sermon

An extended illustration of a loving king who cannot be present in every hamlet, so he trains a citizen of each town and sends him back with a manual. When that citizen opens the manual, the loyal subjects see beyond their neighbor to the presence of the king's heart in the town.

So burning in his passion for justice that he desires that all his subjects throughout his kingdom know his loving designs, his purposes, and his will for them. But he can't be present in every little hamlet in every little town. So you know what he does? He calls some men out of every hamlet in every town, brings them in for a time of special preparation.

36:37 - 37:02 Read in full sermon

Pastor Martin amplifies the king-manual illustration — unlike the mortal king, our prophet Christ is omnipresent, filling heaven and earth, so He truly is with His messengers in every gathering.

He can say to His people, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth. Granted, His body is at a specific place. It has boundaries of space somewhere in the universe of God. But the Spirit of our great Redeemer, not the Spirit in the sense as the effusion of what He is in the rest, but His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is present.

39:56 - 40:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The note of authority has always marked the periods of the church's greatest blessedness. Why? Because Christ, its prophet, is being heard.

'A little thing you want to share with me? I got a little thing I want to share with you.' — Pastor Martin contrasts casual 'sharing' with the heralding of the truth by one who comes with Christ's authority.

You're coming to deal with Christ. With your great prophet. You wonder why we don't talk about preaching under the word sharing? I'll tell you, this is why. Christ doesn't come to share with people. You got a little thing you want to share with me? No, I got a little thing I want to share with you. You share with me, I share with you. What a frightening thing when the church has sharers.

41:22 - 41:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Keep music, drama, and singing groups in their place as fellowship activities — do not let them replace the heralding of the word in public worship where Christ exercises His prophetic ministry.

Ephesians 4 does not say Christ ascended and gave guitar twangers, dancers, actors, clowns, or funny guys — He gave speakers of truth as His instruments for building up the body.

He ascended on high. He gave apostles, speakers of truth, prophets, speakers of truth, evangelists, speakers of truth, pastors and teachers, speakers and administrators of truth. Not dancers, actors, singers, clowns, funny guys. I said, Pastor Martin, there you go, getting vehement again. Yes, dear friends, I'm vehement. I'm vehement.

50:13 - 50:41 Read in full sermon