Nathan said to David, "You are the man!"(2 Samuel 12:7 – ESV)
Trying to teach the Bible is often an exercise in frustration. One of the ways this really "gets to you" is when you are an expositor, and you are going through a particular book week after week. You come to a passage, and in your preparation you realize that the applications you make are going to cause a stir, it will seem like you are singling out and preaching directly to someone's personal situation, in the harshest, call-you-out sort of terms.
You pray and pray that God would let the light of Christ shine and that you would not grow bitter or cynical, and use this as an occasion to add your two cents in to help "straighten them out". You pray and prepare with an extra diligence and caution, knowing that this could be a life-changing event, for both of you, for all of you whom hear. You point the finger at yourself first, and ask God to help.
The day comes, and you even preface your sermon with the prayer that God would give them as Jesus said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear. You stick completely to your notes as you have basically transcripted most of it already, so as to not set sail into the soil of your own imagination. Some of the crowd seem to be repenting right there in their seats. The person in question seems to be looked at by others (right or wrong). People know what is going on and what God is saying.
When the message is over and the service done, the "person whom you just knew was going to be affected, or should have been affected" comes to you and says that the sermon was great, was needed, and really should serve as a wake up call to some people.
You want to shout, "You're the man!"
In a sense, I have done that, more than once. I just ask the simple question, "Great, now how about you, how did the sermon affect you?" This is why I also try every once in a while to preach sermons about this very point, from Jeremiah 36:21-23, or Ezekiel 33:30-33, and especially 2 Samuel 12, aptly titled "Thou Art The Man".
Some think they have gone beyond where the preacher is and so he has nothing to say to them. But they have the wrong idea altogether. Even if they are greater in theological acumen, and even in personal piety, the man in the pulpit is bringing God's Word to bear, and they are not beyond that. Indeed, even if they are beyond the man in the pulpit, they are not beyond the pulpit itself. They have not heard it all before, and even if they had, it would be apparent that they haven't listened.
Balaam was a far superior creature to the donkey, but that donkey taught him something that day, well it tried anyway. Perhaps that is what some modern day Balaam's see their preacher as, a stubborn donkey that just won't clear the way for them...
8 comments:
As primarily a person in the pew, I admit this is difficult sometimes. The temptation is always to think, "So-and-so really needs to hear this." The struggle is to pull-back and say, "What is God saying to me in this message?"
Thanks for a needful reminder.
As a preacher, I also must look at what is being preached and consider the same...before I preach it, during the preaching, and in reviewing it afterward...
"You come to a passage, and in your preparation you realize that the applications you make are going to cause a stir, it will seem like you are singling out and preaching directly to someone's personal situation, in the harshest, call-you-out sort of terms."
"even if they are beyond the man in the pulpit, they are not beyond the pulpit itself"
I have heard you say this statement from the pulpit in the not so distant past, JD and I have heard you say things that most obviously were directed at me or at one or more of the clan. I hope more often then not that I hear what God is saying. But I must include as well that nearly every Sunday I look to my own inner self to see if what you are preaching would or should affect me. And I must include with all humility and reverance it always does! In some manor or another Holy Spirit is always instucting me.
My prayer would be, first that you would never hold back when God is telling you something for me and second that God will help me to always hear.
I realize I am being very upfront and personal here but I think sometimes that is what is needed.
Blessings...
I appreciate that, Paul...
Could you use one of those giant foam pointing hands?
Okay, maybe that's going overboard. But yes, how sad it is to hear a sermon and miss out on God's lesson because we're trying to think of who (but not us) needs to hear the words of the message. I'll confess that there have been times that I have thought: "I hope so-and-so is hearing this." But usually I try to shake that off, and force myself to see what God would be saying to ME at that time.
Craver-
His (JD's)hands are quite adequate, thank-you....he even comes down from the pulpit and walks down the aisle..... :)
There were times (when I first started visiting the congregation where he preaches) when I just wanted to "deck" him. (Can you tell I have a rebellious nature?) Obviously, he was preaching what my soul needed to hear! So after a time, I came to know that he loves the congregation enough to "get in our faces" when we need it.
I will also admit that I've had the thought:"I hope so-and-so hears this" But it's a little harder to have those thoughts when the preacher is staring directly my way or has walked down the aisle and is standing right next to me! How's that for addressing my "felt" needs?? :)
Thanks for "bringing them into the action" Chris...
I remember one sermon I did that was almost specifically for one person, although many others needed it as well, and after it was done this person came up to me and said, "I too am interested in Og the Giant."
To this day I have no idea what sermon was heard but that has been my wife's compliment to me many times on the ride home from church since!
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