before we pray and come to the lecture of this hour Brethren I do want to say a few words that in a very real sense are an addendum or a PS to one of the previous lectures and then we'll pray and move into the material for this hour in dealing with the subject of the necessity for a gift of Sanctified utterance I made reference as the fourth aspect of such a gift of utterance this matter of the unction of the Holy Spirit as indispensable to a Sanctified gift of utterance and because of the constraints of the clock I was unable to read several quotes and as I was going over them lectures yesterday after I went home and putting the notes in their proper order and filing them away I felt it would be helpful to us in a very real sins as eliciting a fresh disposition of prayerfulness in asking God's blessing on the lectures today to read two of those quotes that I had to Omit and the first is from God's servant Charles Spurgeon who in his lectures to his students in the chapter on the holy spirit in connection with our ministry wrote as follows to us as ministers the holy spirit is absolutely essential without him our office is a mere name we claim no priesthood over and above that which belongs to every child of God but we are the successors of those who in olden times were moved of God to declare his word to testify against transgression and to lead his cause unless we have by the spirit of the prophets resting upon us the mantle which we wear is nothing but a rough garment to deceive we ought to be driven forth with abhorrence from the Society of honest men for daring to speak in the name of the Lord if the spirit of God rests not upon us We Believe ourselves to be spokesman for Jesus Christ appointed to continue his witness upon Earth but upon him and his testimony the spirit of God always rested and if it does not rest upon us we are evidently not sent forth into the world as he was at Pentecost the commencement of the great work of converting the world was with flaming tongues and a rushing Mighty wind symbols of the presence of the spirit if therefore we think to succeed without the spirit we are not after the Pentecostal order if we have not the spirit which Jesus promised we cannot perform the commission which Jesus gave and then from John Owen page 454 the duty of a pastor I believe it's volume 4 Authority is required and what is Authority in a preaching Ministry it is a consequence of unction and not of office the scribes had an outward call to teach in the church but they had no unction no anointing that could evidence that they had the Holy Ghost in his gifts and Graces Christ had no outward call but he had an unction he had a full unction of the Holy Ghost in his gifts and Graces for the preaching of the Gospel hereon there was a controversy about his authority the scribes say to him in Mark 11 28 by what Authority do you do these things and who gave you this Authority the Holy Ghost determines the matter Matthew 7 29 he preached as one having Authority and not as the scribes they had the authority of office but not of unction Christ only had that and preaching in the demonstration of the spirit which men quarrel so much about is nothing less than the evidence in preaching of unction in the communication of gifts and Grace unto them for the discharge of their office for it is a vain thing for men to assume and personate Authority so much evidence as they have of unction from God in gifts and Grace so much Authority they have and no more in preaching and let everyone then keep within his bounds non-charismatic saying respected Orthodox reformed theologians who understood and were emphatic concerning this necessity of the youngshin of The Spirit Well Brethren I trust believing that let's cry to God that that unction May rest upon me as I seek to lecture and convey this material and upon us all as the spirit of wisdom in Revelation in the knowledge of the things of god let's pray together Our Father we are convicted as we read the words of your sagacious Servants of a bygone day and we would confess with shame the times we have sallied forth and dared to enter our pulpits enter our studies in a counseling session go to the bedside of a suffering Saint and to the home for pastoral interaction and have not consciously and deliberately cried to you for fresh anointings of the Holy Spirit Our Father we acknowledge it has been right for you to curse our creature confidence with barrenness and fruitlessness and we pray that you would forgive us of this peculiar ministerial sin and teach us more and more what it is consciously to look to you for fresh supplies of the holy spirit in every situation in which we would seek to minister in your name we pray that we may not only be full of the spirit so that those Graces of love and joy and peace and long-suffering and gentleness goodness faithfulness meekness and self-control be manifested in us but O Lord we pray for the unction of the Holy Spirit to rest upon us that it may be said of us as was said of Peter Peter full of the spirit opened his mouth and said oh God we pray that even in this hour you would come with fresh unction upon your servant we pray that the spirit will be present with these my brethren as together we wrestle with vital matters relative to this crucial issue of what does indeed constitute a Biblical and an orderly call to the Pastoral office hear us and help us and answer the Cry of our hearts we plead through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen now perhaps no other subject is more foundational or more significant to a man's Ministry than that which we have been addressing in these days namely the call of a man of God to the Pastoral office beginning with some foundational principles which ought always to set the boundaries of our thinking with respect to this subject I then sought to identify some of the major errors which are often present when people are wrestling with this subject and then I then identified seven unbiblical and unrighteous reasons why some men aspire to the office or assume that they ought to be in and remain in the Pastoral office having laid this groundwork the majority of our time has been spent in stating demonstrating and applying the four things which are indeed the nuts and bolts the essential substance of a Biblical and orderly call to the Pastoral office I suggested that the most streamlined way to express these four things is by the use of the four words aspiration or ambition qualification confirmation and recognition the majority of our time thus far has been spent in addressing the first two of these heads under a more fulsome verbal form number one the aspiration I've identified with these words and enlightened and Sanctified desire for the work of the Pastoral office the entirety of that work number two qualification a proven Fitness for the work of the Pastoral office and that in terms of three major categories spiritual character spiritual experience and spiritual gifts and now we come in this hour to take up the third of those four vital elements that constitute a Biblical and an orderly call to the Pastoral office and I'm expressing it this way an adequate external confirmation of Fitness for the work of the Pastoral office an adequate external confirmation of Fitness for the work of the Pastoral office and at the very outset I want to State an axiom and then seek to open up and demonstrate the scriptural roots of that Axiom and the Axiom is this while sober self-assessment of our desires Graces and Gifts is a personal responsibility which no man can righteously evade an external confirmation of that assessment by a cross-section of spiritually minded people is essential to a valid call to the Pastoral office and since you have that in your notes I feel no need to repeat it now what proof do I offer for that Axiom what scriptural precepts precedence and principles do I set forth demonstrating that that Axiom grows out of our Bibles well we have emphasized again and again from passages such as Romans 12 3 and though we've not emphasized the second passage as much it certainly warrants the same perspective first Peter 4 10 and 11 that underscore the responsibility of sober self-assessment Paul says I say to every man among you Every Man Has a moral righteous obligation to self-assessment and then first Peter 4 10 and 11 Peter assumes that none are brought into the body of Christ whom Christ does not gift in some way for Mutual Body service and the assumption is that if we're to exercise whatever gift has been given we must identify that gift in part by sober self-assessment and God has not left us at the mercy of our own resources according to First John 2 27 he has given his Spirit to everyone in the body every member of the New Covenant Community in that sense is a charismatic member and God has given us a standard with respect to this whole matter of whether or not the head of the church has given us the gifts plural that into Kate he is framing us to be a gift singular to his church however self-assessment alone is neither safe nor biblical we could begin just with those two passages that call us to sober self-assessment what is the context of the sober self-assessment mandated in Romans 12 and verse 3. it is the individual planted within the body there is one body but diversity of gifts and it is in the assumed context of the Life Ministry discernment assessment of the body that the individual engages in his self-assessment and likewise with the letter to the suffering Saints in Asia Minor pontus Cappadocia Etc it is not assumed that there are individuals who get up one morning with no vital attachment to the church and they get a copy of Peter's in order to have their devotions now for someone like myself who came out of a background with no ecclesiology I shall never forget today it dawned on me that these documents that I was reading continually in my devotions were not written to me as an individual believer for the most part they were written to churches several of them written to individuals but even the individuals who receive a letter Timothy Titus Philemon the context in which they received the letter and carry out its directives is the church and I mean it was like and it was a spiritual copernican Revolution suddenly I found there was something that was the center of the universe of God's communication in the New Covenant documents other than the individual that at the center was the church and the individual as he is embedded in and deeply involved in the life and Ministry of the church and Breckenridge in A masterful Treatise on this whole matter of the Christian Ministry and the Christian Pastor writes as follows it cannot be denied that we are liable to be deceived in this matter that is of the call to the ministry as well is in that of our personal interest in Christ and indeed in every other which concerns our inward State and exercises and that we are so is precisely one chief reason why the testimony of our conscience cannot be sufficient evidence to others and why it needs to be enforced even to ourselves by other and concurring proofs the human heart is not only desperately wicked but it is deceitful above all things and the most difficult part of knowledge is to know ourselves and sin itself is not only infinitely deceitful but it is also most deceivable and therefore to the extent that it Reigns in US it subjects us to the risk of being deceived and of deceiving ourselves what I have before said plainly shows that the danger of being deceived by others into a conviction that we ought to preach the gospel is by no means imaginary and all who have endeavored to Fathom The Wiles of Satan and who have wrestled earnestly with the plague of their own Hearts well know that the danger of self-delusion is real and it is constant and then he goes on to underscore why it is that we need that external confirmation of any internal personal self-assessment that has led us to the persuasion that we ought to pursue or to remain in the Pastoral office it is clear from the scriptures that earned credibility by a cross-section of spiritually minded people is crucial Now by a cross section I mean presently recognized leaders in the church whatever are ecclesiastical framework may be and also non-office bearers of proven discernment and wisdom there is not necessarily the richest deposit of wisdom and discernment in the eldership alone or in the Presbytery alone or in a called Council of Baptist or independent pastors alone whatever the ecclesiastical framework may be sometimes a little old half-blind half deaf wise and shriveled up old lady may have more spiritual discernment about a man's Fitness for the ministry than five or six preachers together who have some personal interest in encouraging Johnny to become a reverend it's true brethren and we must recognize that fact now what scriptures point in the direction of the necessity of this external objective validation of our personal subjective individual self-assessment well let's look at several texts II Timothy 2 2. when Timothy picks up Paul's letter in reads my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus second Timothy 2.
and the things that you have heard of me and learned of me among many witnesses the same commit to Faithful Men Who Shall be able to teach others also now who makes the final assessment that a man is a faithful man does Timothy stand up in the church at Ephesus or church as however we may view the ecclesiastical structure in which Timothy ministered and say now I have a letter from the Apostle who tells me I am warranted and I have a mandate of apostolic authority to commit to Faithful Men the apostolic body of Truth with a view that you may teach others also therefore all of you who assess yourselves to be faithful and able to teach show up next Saturday morning and I'm going to commit to you the Apostolic tradition nonsense Timothy was responsible to make an assessment is this a trustworthy man who will be able that is are there some seedling gifts that are essential to a competent teacher both in Graces of character and the gifts essential to be an able teacher the assessment of the men in Ephesus that they were Faithful Men Who would be able to teach was not enough there was the external validation of Timothy himself and this was true even in Timothy's case so he was equipped to do this how did Timothy come into the orbit of his tremendous sphere of influences Paul's spiritual son as Paul's the one whom Paul tutored and concerning whom he says in Philippians I have no man like-minded they all seek their own things not the things of Christ how many red necks and faces were they when that letter began to be distributed and the young reverence of whom Paul is speaking I have no man like-minded he didn't say they were apostates and wicked and lectures and and swindlers but they had not died to self-interest to the same extent that Timothy did he is the man he says who will naturally care for your state but how did Timothy come into that sphere of association with the Apostle well we turn to acts 16 and we get the answer and he Paul verse 1 came also to Derby and to lystra and behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy the son of a Jewish that believed but his father was a Greek the same was well reported of by the Brethren that were at lystra and Iconium hymn would Paul have to go forth with him now what do you have here you have Paul's assessment but it's obvious when Luke records these words that Paul did not trust even his own assessment he took time to go around to the Believers in these two places where in some way Timothy had had more extensive interaction and he found that he was well reported of by the brethren and the Holy Ghost is recorded this and so Paul has him to become His companion however however Paul can write to Timothy and say stir up the gift of God which is in you with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery a group of recognized Discerning leaders then he can say the gift that is in you with the laying on of my hands now whether that was one event where Paul joined with the presbyters it's irrelevant to the point the point is that there was this external validation by many of the rank and file of God's people and by the official leaders of God's people all the way up to an apostle then and only then is Timothy set apart not for his pastoral office but for that unique function whether he is classic evangelist whether he is Apostolic representative again that's a moot point but the principles are very clear with respect to Timothy's entrance upon an official function in Christ Church he was not sitting home praying having his devotions assessing his Fitness the people of God alone but the people of God had their input all their way up to the evaluation of the Apostle himself and then of course in Acts chapter 15 you have this situation with respect to Barnabas and Paul in whether or not they ought to take John Mark with them on this second missionary journey verse 37 Barnabas was minded to take with them John also so who was called Mark but Paul thought not good to take with him the one who withdrew from them from paphilia and went not with them to the work and not with them to the work and there arose a sharp contention they had a verbal fuss over this it doesn't mean they were cussing at one another had a juggler veins standing out in the neck and shaking their fists but a sharp contention is more than a minor disagreement in which they sat there sipping Coke and saying well we don't quite see eye to eye on this but let's just kind of talk it through no there was sharp contention so that they parted asunder one from the other these two companions in labor who loved and respected one another and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed unto Cyprus and I think it's significant and Paul chose Silas and went forth being commended by the Brethren the church again affirms its identity with Paul and with Silas and it is silent as to whether or not the church had its heart and its approbation go with Barnabas and John Mark now you've got a kind to exegete the white spaces to build any strong argument but again the Holy Spirit has recorded that it was Paul in Silas was it that the church shared in Paul's reservation it apparently did John Mark had gained a probation was with them in that first journey he thinked out he caved in he showed a weakness of character and apparently the apostles disposition is until he proves over time he will not have my approbation and bless God over time he did and he can say bring John Mark with you he is profitable for the ministry and John Mark regained the approbation of the Apostle and we can assume indirectly of the rank and file of God's people these passages Brethren surely point in this direction of the necessity of the external validation of our internal personal self-assessment and then one of the key texts and I have used it with men who were a bit restive and even resentful about thinking look I know God's called me and I have this gift and this and this and they are unwilling to wait for the approbation and the encouragement of the external call Proverbs 18 and verse 1. he that separates himself seeks his own desire and rages or quarrels against all sound wisdom the ESV renders it whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire and he breaks out against all sound judgment and I've put in your notes the exegesis and the nuances of the Hebrew words in this particular text as you find it in Kyle in delish and let me just underscore several comments he gnashes his teeth literally he shows how much the proverb is opposed to this interpretation the Hebrew word denotes one who willingly and indeed obstinately withdraws himself the effort of the separatists the one who withdraws himself goes out after pleasure the enjoyment in realization of such seeks his own desire instead of seeking to conform himself to the law and ordinance of the community he seeks to carry out a separate View and to accomplish some darling plan thus putting subjectivity page two subjectivity in the room of the common wheel he shows his teeth places himself in fanatical opposition against all that is useful and profitable in the principles and Ames the Praxis of the community from which he separates himself the figure is true to Nature the polemic of the sismatic and the secretary against the existing state of things is for the most part measureless and hostile and then in the commentary there's an assumption that verse 2 of Proverbs 18 follows on from that thought and you can read the comments at your leisure but here is the picture of the man who says well I am so certain I am called I don't care anything about whether or not others validate that self-assessment and the scripture says it's a man who having separated himself evidence is that he's seeking his own desire and is Raging against all sound wisdom and he's flying in the face of those generic instructions and comments of Proverbs 11 14 about safety in the multitude of counselors Proverbs 15 22 and 24 6. and here again Owen speaks so perceptively when he writes in volume 16 page 73 and this may at present suffice as unto the call of meat or suitable persons to the Pastoral office and consequently any other office in the church the things following are essentially necessary unto it notice not desirable in an ideal setting but essentially necessary unto it so as that Authority and right to feed and rule in the church in the Name of Christ as an officer of his house may be given unto anyone thereby by virtue of his law and the charter granted by him unto the church itself the first is that antecedently unto any actings of the church towards such a person with respect expect unto office he be furnished by the Lord Christ himself with Graces and gifts and abilities for the discharge of the office where unto he is to be called you see Owen just comes down on this again and again and again and again where Christ is forming a gift to the church it will be evident by the gifts he has given to the one who will eventually be his gift to the church where this is wholly lacking it is not in the power of any church under Heaven by virtue of any outward order or act to communicate pastoral or ministerial power unto any person whatever but alas churches do it and Owen would say they simply go through a formal exercise but there will be no Authority there will be no unction there will be no validation that this man is indeed a gift of Christ secondly there is to be an exploration or trial of those gifts and abilities as unto their accommodation unto the edification of that church where unto any person is to be ordained as a pastor or Minister but although the right of judging herein doth belong unto and reside in the church itself for who else is able to judge for them or is entrusted to do so good two questions yet it is their wisdom and duty to desire the assistance and guidance of those who are approved in the discharge of their office in other churches you see Owen was an independent lowercase i this is an independent church but lowercase i we have deep meaningful active relationship to other churches and to their office bearers I've had many a Presbyterians say to me oh Al you've got real presbyterianism that really works we've got the name in the framework but not the substance of it I've had many of my Presbyterian Brethren say that pastors who are my mentors and are my counselors and pastors to whom I am mentor and counselor and what a delight it is in this matter for example of assessing whether or not a man is a Timothy well reported of among the churches to have an aspirant go to some of our sister churches and then ask the Frank input of the pastors and Elders of that church and if I'm there subsequently ministering to put my ear to the ground and listen to the shriveled up half-blind half deaf old ladies who've had a lot of reverence come and go in their lifetime and they know when the oil is on a man's forehead and they may say in their squeaky voice well he doesn't have to but I'll tell you one thing Pastor Martin the holy spirit is on that young man he breathes something of Christ's likeness and there is an authority and a penetration in his preaching I think God may be making him into a pastor and so we have the witness of these other men now by application Brethren let me say this in the day of Christ individualism and existential subjectivism to insist on the quality control of this external validation is to go against the whole prevailing mood of the hour add to this the wrong use of the principles operative in the recorded examples of men called to an extraordinary office in an extraordinary way such as Prophet or Apostle and the problem is compounded Christ's individualism is part of the Zeitgeist of present Society in and out of the church added to that is skewed thinking about how God calls men taking the Paradigm of profit and of apostle of King rather than of Elder presbuteros overseer First Timothy 3 Titus 1 and the atmosphere is even more compounded away from the Norms of the scripture and we do well to listen to DrEdmund County who in his excellent little book called to the Ministry writes as follows and here I'm just going to give specimen reading of the two pages that you have in your possession your Church's calling notice that's letter B as he opens up this subject he seeks to address how a man May biblically and in a balanced way make self-assessment of his calling from the Lord the internal call but then he comes to the external call your Church's calling nothing can concern you more personally and intimately than your own calling of Christ he has called you by name not by number or classification for no Selective Service draft is so selective is Christ your own new name is written on that white stone in his hand he knows it in one day he will show it to you alone Revelation 2 17.
