Ministry of the Word of God, Part 2

Driving home: And only a man who is spiritually demented would resist. And only a man who is spiritually demented would resent the intrusions into his life of the loving instructions and exhortations of someone whose only motive is to…

Martin quotes from Pilgrim's Progress, describing Christian's first encounter in the House of Interpreter: a picture of a grave person (a gospel shepherd) with eyes lifted to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth on his lips, and a crown over his head. This illustrates Bunyan's biblical understanding that a God-appointed shepherd is pivotal to a Christian's perseverance.

I don't know how many times now. Not a hundred, as Spurgeon said he did. But in going through Pilgrim's Progress again, I was struck with how Bunyan saw this principle. You remember when Christian comes into the House of Interpreter?

8:34 - 8:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He introduces the third exhortation: to deal ruthlessly with anything that neutralizes maximum profit from the ministry of the Word. The first major factor is a 'pattern of…

The word 'putting away' in James 1:21 is compared to taking off one's clothes at night before bed. This analogy clarifies that dealing with moral uncleanness is a conscious, deliberate activity, like a physical act of disrobing.

He takes off his clothes and puts them aside before putting on his pajamas. Well, the word, the verb here means to take off and lay aside as you would a garment. So it's speaking of a conscious activity in the realm of the moral, the spiritual, and the ethical that has a parallel in the physical activity of taking off one's clothes and laying them aside. Wherefore, putting away all what?

19:41 - 20:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Be as concerned about the preparation of your heart for this means of your perseverance as pastors are for the preparation of their minds and the substance of what they bring.

Martin gives the example of someone falling to impatience or envy an hour before church, but coming humbled and seeking forgiveness. This illustrates the difference between a tolerated pattern of impenitence and a struggle with besetting sin that is met with immediate repentance.

When you come to the ministry of the word, there must be no toleration of a pattern of impenitence. You may come to the ministry of the word humbled and crushed and broken because an hour before you fell before your besetting sin of impatience, or fifteen minutes before you fell before your besetting sin of envy, someone drove in with a new car and you're still nursing along that old pile of nuts and bolts and rusted fenders. You had to come in and sit and in the moments of meditation say, Oh God, forgive me. I felt that pull of envy and jealousy.

28:14 - 28:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the second major factor neutralizing the Word's effect: an 'unteachable, reproof-rejecting attitude.' He expounds 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2, highlighting that Scripture…

The concept of 'correction' from 2 Timothy 3:16 is compared to an 'in-flight adjustment' where winds have carried an airplane off course, and things need to be trimmed to get back on course. This analogy explains that correction points out wrong and directs one back to the right path.

And then pointing out our wrongs, it is to correct us. It's to make an in-flight adjustment. The winds have carried us off course. And we need to trim all of the things on the airplane that put us back onto course.

36:55 - 37:10 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He that loves correction loves knowledge, but he that hates reproof is brutish.

The person who hates reproof is called 'brutish' and compared to an animal enticed into a pen for slaughter, thinking it's getting a special meal. This vivid analogy emphasizes the self-destructive folly of rejecting correction, leading one happily towards spiritual ruin.

The Holy Ghost did. God says you're a brute. Why? Because the poor brute is enticed into the pen where he's to be slain, thinking he's getting a special meal.

45:54 - 46:10 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin continues with Proverbs (15:31, 17:10, 25:12), showing that hearkening to the reproof of life leads to wisdom and that a wise reprover on an obedient ear is a beautiful and…

Proverbs 25:12, 'As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear,' is used as a metaphor. It illustrates the beautiful and fitting harmony between a wise reprover and a receptive, obedient listener, signifying spiritual wisdom and growth.

And then 25 in verse 12. 25 in verse 12. As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As an earring of gold, here's someone that has a classic ear, and on that classic ear is a beautiful earring.

50:39 - 51:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Cry out to God for a teachable, reproof-receptive attitude rather than coming to the ministry of the word with an unteachable, reproof-rejecting attitude.

The story of David's response to Nathan's reproof is used as an example of a receptive spirit. David did not argue or question Nathan's authority but confessed his sin, demonstrating how receiving reproof keeps one on the way of perseverance.

These, I trust, will suffice to show why I use this terminology. This ministry, this means of grace, this instrument of perseverance can greatly be neutralized if there is the presence of an unteachable reproof-rejecting attitude in the heart. O dear people, may I urge you to pray the David who when Nathan came and reproved him did not argue and say who are you to talk to the king and who are you to be so direct and who are you and where did you get your information David didn't try to hang up Nathan on technicalities when Nathan said you're the man David said I have sinned and he was kept on ...

52:09 - 53:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Cry out to God for a teachable, reproof-receptive attitude rather than coming to the ministry of the word with an unteachable, reproof-rejecting attitude.

The account of old Eli receiving judgment from the young lad Samuel is used as an example of humility before God's word, even when delivered by someone seemingly less authoritative. Eli's peaceable reception of the word illustrates a teachable spirit.

These, I trust, will suffice to show why I use this terminology. This ministry, this means of grace, this instrument of perseverance can greatly be neutralized if there is the presence of an unteachable reproof-rejecting attitude in the heart. O dear people, may I urge you to pray the David who when Nathan came and reproved him did not argue and say who are you to talk to the king and who are you to be so direct and who are you and where did you get your information David didn't try to hang up Nathan on technicalities when Nathan said you're the man David said I have sinned and he was kept on ...

52:09 - 53:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Cry out to God for a teachable, reproof-receptive attitude rather than coming to the ministry of the word with an unteachable, reproof-rejecting attitude.

The public rebuke of Peter by Paul in Antioch is cited as an example of a great apostle receiving correction without resentment, demonstrating that Peter had learned the lesson that reproofs are God's means to keep believers in the way of life.

come and to whom the Word of God had been revealed we need the spirit of Peter Paul rebuked him and publicly think of it great apostle Peter chief among the Apostles to the Jews he said when he was come to Antioch I was stood him to the face and then Peter writes a letter some years later and says our beloved brother Paul he didn't resent it and stand on his dignity why he had learned the lesson that reproofs of instruction are the things that God uses to keep us in the way of life so when your God appointed Shepherd stand before you publicly and prayerfully to expound and apply the word cry o...

53:34 - 54:57 Read in full sermon