Which all the Scriptures show.
3 Now let all men be plainly taught
The counsel of our God,
Now feed the flock Christ Jesus bought
With His own precious Blood.
Thy power and demonstration give
That I should now proclaim
Christ crucified, in all I live
And preach in His great Name!
4 Thy people, wilt Thou not revive,
That they may yet rejoice
In our Good Shepherd, as they live
And follow at His voice?
A form of godliness alone
Forbid that we should have:
Come, Wind of Heaven, on these dead bones,
And show Thy power to save!
5 Father of mercies, show the face
Of Jesus Christ our Lord
In fullness of His truth and grace
By Thine own Spirit and Word!
O Triune God of holiness,
Wisdom and might display
The foolishness of preaching bless
To save the lost today!
D.C.M.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Genesis 34; New Testament: Matthew 23 Psalm: 23
1 Timothy 2:5–7
5The man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Paul’s ministry is to “testify the Gospel” of the ransom for all which Christ Jesus has paid. He commits “the testimony of our Lord” to Timothy (2 Tim.1:8; 2:2), and Timothy who holds the witness of the apostles and prophets in the Holy Scriptures passes the truth in Christ . . . in faith and verity on to us; to this I am called (2 Tim.3:15–4:2).
Not as an eyewitness of the sufferings of Christ (1 Pet. 5:1), not an apostle, as was Paul; no, Paul all his life contended for “his apostleship” from his earliest, even to the last of his Epistles (Gal:1:1; 2 Tim. 2:8–10). Even here he must say I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not. I have not seen the Lord Jesus physically, as Paul did, to qualify as an apostle (1 Cor 9:1; 15:8–11).We are rather blessed as those who have not seen, yet believe; we love Christ, and joy in Him seeing Him not (John 20:29; 1 Pet. 1:8–9).
But I am like Paul, with Paul and Timothy ordained a preacher . . . a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. Now, can I have any part in the name apostle? Not directly, but derivatively, for I bear witness and declare what they have seen in fellowship with those who saw (Luke 1:1–4; 1 John 1:1–4). My ministry is “apostolic” as I continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and bear the Biblical truth confessed by all the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church (Acts 2:41–42). Bearing their Word, and believing their Word, the Savior may say, “He that heareth you, heareth me” (Luke 10:16; 1 John 4:6). Even I can stand alongside Paul and Timothy, and say in concert with them, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” “We are not as many which corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” “As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (2 Cor 5:20;, 2:17; 1 Thess. 2:4). This is the faith and verity which makes the preacher and teacher apostolic. Total personal and public confidence in the Scripture; diligence and fidelity to confess and contend for “the faith once delivered to the saints” and “the common salvation” (Jude 3)—this is the truth in Christ . . . in faith and verity.
After this manner, Christ Jesus, my Lord and King, God and Savior, make me a minister; count me faithful to put me into the ministry (Eph 3:7; 1 Tim. 1:12–15).
24. Boats and Nets
1 Boats and nets they knew, in making
Trade as fishers by the sea:
All the night they toiled, yet taking
Nothing from Lake Galilee—
When they heard the Master calling
“All forsake, and follow Me!”
2 Boats and nets they ventured, taking
Jesus simply at His Word,
Then the catch their nets was breaking,
And they knew it was the Lord
Maker of all earth and heaven,
Who such bounty could afford.
3 Boats and nets and fish, forsaking
All they left to follow Him,
Who would teach and train them, making
Fishers of the souls of men:
To His service hence devoted,
All their days and hours to spend.
4 Fishers of the souls of sinners
Make us—in the path they trod,
Master, we in turn surrender
Lives redeemed by Thine own Blood:
Still to us Thy Word remember,
Jesus, Saviour, Lord and God!
8.7.8.4.7.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Genesis 35; New Testament: Matthew 24 Psalm: 24
1 Timothy 2:5–7
5The man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Lord, speak; for Thy servant hears. Speak, O Lord, through me.
Enable me so to live, pray, deny myself, visit, and study that men may hear Thy voice, not mine; see Thee, not me; know what Thou wouldst impart, and not what little I know.
Make me a preacher: graciously grant me the unction, utterance, demonstration and power of the Spirit to “preach Christ and Him crucified,” to “preach the unsearchable riches of Christ,” to “preach upon the housetops” what I have heard with the ear from Thee (1 Cor 1:23; 2:2; Eph 3:7; Matt 10:26–27). Send me, like the prophets of old, to stand in Thy presence, to hear Thy words at Thy mouth, to find and feed upon Thy words, and then to warn the people from Thee, and turn them from their wicked ways, whether they hear or forbear (Jer 15:16, 23:22; Ezek 3:1–4,10,17). Make me a fisher of men, as I follow Thee; a servant to all, that I may gain the more; not pleasing myself, but seeking the profit of many, that they might be saved; doing the work of an evangelist to make full proof of my ministry (Mark 1:17, 1 Cor 9:19,10:33; 2 Tim.4:5). Make me, like Noah, a “preacher of righteousness;” let me never cease “teaching and preaching Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42; 2 Pet.2:6).
Make me a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity: grant me the wisdom to give milk to babes and meat to men; to bring out of the treasures of the Bible “things old and new;” to provide each member of Thy house their portion in due season (1 Cor 3:1–2; Heb.5:13–14; Matt 13:52, 24:45–46). Train me to study that I may be a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth; empower me to do and teach all that Thou hast commanded (2 Tim.2:15, Matt 5:19,28:20). Let me do all I do with charity, for without it I can do nothing; let me do all I do in Thee, for without Thee I can do nothing (1 Cor 13:1–4; John 15:5). Let me