When was the last time you thanked God for your preacher? If you have a preacher that loves Jesus, that walks with God, that boldly stands up before men and proclaims the unflinching, unbending truth of God’s word, thank God for it! In a world full of yellow-belly “preachers”, we ought to thank God that we have a preacher who cares enough about us to “tell us like it is!”
David knew all about the care behind the bold preacher who pointed out his sin. David had committed sin, and was out of fellowship with God. 2 Samuel 11 gives us that account. But the account where Nathan the prophet comes to David, and boldly declares, “Thus saith the LORD God” didn’t do so because he hated David. In today’s society, Nathan would’ve been considered a hate-monger. How dare he call out David’s sin! Even in “fundamental” churches, the preacher must stick to generalities, otherwise he’s considered a legalist or a mean preacher! Nathan pointedly told David, “Thou art the man.” This wasn’t a high-five. This wasn’t a pat on the back. This was a bold declaration that David had committed a great evil and had sinned against God.
David wrote in the psalm, “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness.” If our preacher is telling us that our lives aren’t in line with Scripture, its not because he is being mean, it’s because he cares about our relationship with God. The God we serve is holy, and He demands holiness from us. David continued, “...let him reprove me,” or, let him expose my sin to my own eyes. David said, ...it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head.” Reproving doesn’t break our heads, but it does break our hearts. It should.
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Our preacher knows this. His desire is that the Lord would be near us. God cannot draw near to the proud, hard-hearted person. But He does draw near to the broken-hearted.
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
David continued, “For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Calamity means a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss. Just because your preacher smiles on Sunday does not mean his heart isn’t broken under some great trial that he cannot share with you. Preachers carry not only your burdens, but their own. Their burdens are heavier than we think. They are under constant attack of Satan. If Satan can cause them grief and deter them from proclaiming the word of God, he has won a great victory. They are also under great attack from their own shortcomings. Every time a family leaves a church because they were offended by the truth, the pastor ALWAYS takes it personally. Our preachers need our prayers. They need to know that we are grateful for their stand on God’s Word, and for caring enough about us to tell us the truth.
Our attitude to our preacher is indicative of our attitude to God. If we are criticizing our preacher and if we are taking him for granted, that reveals that we are doing the same to our God. We are forgetting what the Bible says about a Bible-believing, Bible-preacher preacher. They are God’s gifts to the church.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Thank God for the preacher who told me of Jesus
For I’d be a beggar, if not for His grace
Lord help me show others Your love and Your mercy
Help me be a witness to others I pray
Do you remember the preacher who told you about Jesus? Do you remember the preacher who told you of His grace? Do you remember the preacher that came and prayed with you when you were going through some great trial? Do you remember the preacher who baptized your children after they got saved? Or do you remember your preacher’s slight shortcomings or where he didn’t shake your hand on Sunday? Come on. Grow up. Stop your belly-aching. A church member that complains about their preacher has forgotten just how good God is. He gave you a preacher. He gave you someone to care and watch for your soul. He put someone over you in spiritual matters that will stand before God and answer for you. Think about that next time you have roast preacher for Sunday lunch.
Thank God for the Preacher!
When was the last time you thanked God for your preacher? If you have a preacher that loves Jesus, that walks with God, that boldly stands up before men and proclaims the unflinching, unbending truth of God’s word, thank God for it! In a world full of yellow-belly “preachers”, we ought to thank God that we have a preacher who cares enough about us to “tell us like it is!”
David knew all about the care behind the bold preacher who pointed out his sin. David had committed sin, and was out of fellowship with God. 2 Samuel 11 gives us that account. But the account where Nathan the prophet comes to David, and boldly declares, “Thus saith the LORD God” didn’t do so because he hated David. In today’s society, Nathan would’ve been considered a hate-monger. How dare he call out David’s sin! Even in “fundamental” churches, the preacher must stick to generalities, otherwise he’s considered a legalist or a mean preacher! Nathan pointedly told David, “Thou art the man.” This wasn’t a high-five. This wasn’t a pat on the back. This was a bold declaration that David had committed a great evil and had sinned against God.
David wrote in the psalm, “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness.” If our preacher is telling us that our lives aren’t in line with Scripture, its not because he is being mean, it’s because he cares about our relationship with God. The God we serve is holy, and He demands holiness from us. David continued, “...let him reprove me,” or, let him expose my sin to my own eyes. David said, ...it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head.” Reproving doesn’t break our heads, but it does break our hearts. It should.
Psalm 34:18
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Our preacher knows this. His desire is that the Lord would be near us. God cannot draw near to the proud, hard-hearted person. But He does draw near to the broken-hearted.
James 4:6
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
David continued, “For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Calamity means a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss. Just because your preacher smiles on Sunday does not mean his heart isn’t broken under some great trial that he cannot share with you. Preachers carry not only your burdens, but their own. Their burdens are heavier than we think. They are under constant attack of Satan. If Satan can cause them grief and deter them from proclaiming the word of God, he has won a great victory. They are also under great attack from their own shortcomings. Every time a family leaves a church because they were offended by the truth, the pastor ALWAYS takes it personally. Our preachers need our prayers. They need to know that we are grateful for their stand on God’s Word, and for caring enough about us to tell us the truth.
Our attitude to our preacher is indicative of our attitude to God. If we are criticizing our preacher and if we are taking him for granted, that reveals that we are doing the same to our God. We are forgetting what the Bible says about a Bible-believing, Bible-preacher preacher. They are God’s gifts to the church.
Ephesians 4:11
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Thank God for the preacher who told me of Jesus
For I’d be a beggar, if not for His grace
Lord help me show others Your love and Your mercy
Help me be a witness to others I pray
Do you remember the preacher who told you about Jesus? Do you remember the preacher who told you of His grace? Do you remember the preacher that came and prayed with you when you were going through some great trial? Do you remember the preacher who baptized your children after they got saved? Or do you remember your preacher’s slight shortcomings or where he didn’t shake your hand on Sunday? Come on. Grow up. Stop your belly-aching. A church member that complains about their preacher has forgotten just how good God is. He gave you a preacher. He gave you someone to care and watch for your soul. He put someone over you in spiritual matters that will stand before God and answer for you. Think about that next time you have roast preacher for Sunday lunch.