PCEA

"In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God." 2 Cor. 6: 4.

Two things are presented to our consideration in this text.

I. The persons referred to, and

II. Their mode of acting.

I. The persons referred to are "the ministers of God." This designation points to their peculiar office or work. They are God's attendants or servants. They wait on him for instructions, and act for him in the weighty and important work of the Gospel ministry. "These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation." "As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters," so the eyes of God's true ministers wait on him that they may catch the intimations of his will.

There are various views presented of the work of God's ministers. Sometimes it is spoken of as that of an ambassador sent from the Court of Heaven to treat with guilty rebels, and to negotiate peace between them and their rightful Sovereign on Gospel terms. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." At other times, Gospel ministers are called stewards, - "stewards of the mysteries of God." Gospel truths are intrusted to them, that they may take care of them and dispense them faithfully and seasonably to God's household. Again, they are described as shepherds, having the souls of men committed to their charge, that they may gather them into the fold of Christ, feed them by leading them to the green pastures and beside the still waters, go before them pointing out the way, and acting like the Great Shepherd of whom it was prophesied, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead them that are with young." Once more, ministers are spoken of as sentinels. "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth and warn them from me." This the Apostle Paul applies to ministers when he says, "If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself unto the battle? They are to be on the outlook for dangers, and to give distinct and faithful warning to their hearers. They are to warn them generally, and in regard to the particular dangers to which they are exposed from within their own souls, as well as the dangers that arise from the times in which they live and the circumstances in which they are placed.

So far for the work in which those described in the text are engaged. But the expression "ministers of God" may be viewed also as pointing to their appointment to and qualification for the work, implying that they are ministers of God's sending and preparing. By him they are specially called, and specially fitted for the work. Their being so is frequently referred to by Paul in this epistle as indispensable. "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." "For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

II. We come now, in the second place, to consider the mode of acting followed by the persons described in the text: "In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God." To whom do they thus approve themselves? Firstly and chiefly, to God. It is to the sovereign that the ambassador is to approve himself; the steward is to approve himself to the householder, the shepherd to the owner of the sheep, and the soldier to his general. So ministers, as God's ambassadors, stewards, shepherds, and soldiers, are chiefly concerned to be approved unto him. The interests of his cause in the world are, to no small extent, committed to them and he is to reckon with them how they have acted towards the weighty and important trust. Hence, like Paul and his fellow-labourers, they should "labour that whether present or absent, they may be accepted of him." Knowing that they "must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ," they should "study to show themselves approved unto God." Further, those described in the text, act so as to approve themselves to their own consciences. "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." "Herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man." If in all parts of the divine service it be necessary "to draw near with an heart sprinkled from an evil conscience," how much more so in this? There needs to be a renouncing of the hidden things of dishonesty, and not walking in craftiness, a consciousness that they are actuated by pure motives, that they have some reason to believe that they are prosecuting the work with simplicity, diligence, and earnestness; that their "exhortation is not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile," but that as they "are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so they speak, not as pleasing men but God, who trieth their hearts, not using flattering words, nor a cloak of covetousness, nor of men seeking glory.

Thirdly, the ministers of God approve themselves to the consciences of their fellow-men. "By manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." To the judgment of those who know and appreciate the truth, every faithful minister commends himself. And, whilst he cannot expect the admiration of those who have little or no spiritual discernment and little or no relish for faithful dealings, still he may succeed in securing a testimony in the consciences of all. If many will not understand or sympathise, they must feel that the faithful minister is acting in accordance with his position as a minister of God.

Thus John the Baptist, by manifestation of the truth in his life and preaching, commended himself to the conscience of Herod. "Herod feared John knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him, and when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly."

Let us now consider in what the ministers of God approve themselves to God, to their own consciences, and to the consciences of their fellow-men. Here a wide field opens, as furnished by the Apostle in the many and varied particulars he adduces in the context, of which the following are some - "in much patience, in afflictions," ... "by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering," ... "by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth."

Let us look at the leading parts of a minister's work, in connection with which the particulars mentioned in the context are less or more exemplified, and first as to preparation for preaching. As, in ordinary cases, the public preaching of the word forms by far the most important part of the ministerial service, due preparation for this is highly necessary. "Till I come give attendance to reading." "Meditate on these things, give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all." "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Hence those, who are concerned to approve themselves in this matter, will devote themselves to the prayerful and careful study of God's word, that they may ascertain the mind of the Spirit as thereby conveyed, and bring the truth to bear seasonably and faithfully on the various cases of their hearers, - that they may act as skilful and faithful ambassadors, that they may dispose wisely and faithfully of their Master's goods, and that they may feed the flock with knowledge and understanding. They are also concerned to have on their own souls a deep impression of the message prepared, that they may speak as those that believe.

I need not to remind my brethren, that preparation for preaching consists, to a very great extent, in having the mind in suitable exercise and a suitable frame for the delivery of our message.

In certain cases, when ministers are by providential circumstances prevented from studying beforehand, they may warrantably expect needed assistance. And, after due preparation has been made, most appropriate and telling views of divine truth may be presented to the mind at the time of delivering the message. But, if they neglect the careful and prayerful study of God's word, they are not approving themselves to God, to their own conscience, or to intelligent and judicious hearers. It is an attempt at serving the Lord with that which cost them nothing, and a neglecting of the divine exhortation "Study to show thyself approved unto God." Farther, ministers of God aim at approving themselves in the proclamation of divine truth, making it manifest that they are much engaged in this work, that they are fervently, energetically, faithfully following in this respect the example of Paul. "Ye know that from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility.... And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.... I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." See Acts 20: 18, &c. Like Paul, they aim at preaching "Christ, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that they may present every man perfect in Christ," that in their preaching they may be "unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish," and be able to take their hearers "to record that they are pure from the blood of all men."

Again, God's ministers are concerned to approve themselves in their conduct. To this the Apostle makes special reference in the context and in other epistles. If Christians generally are under obligation to have their "conversation such as becometh the Gospel of Christ," how much more those who are preachers of that Gospel. Such are specially bound to abstain from all appearance of evil, to follow after those things which are pure, lovely, and of good report. It is not only in the pulpit they are to act in character, as ministers of God, but in their intercourse with men, and in their general deportment, aiming at this, that they may be examples in all things, patterns of good works. To what a great extent the Apostles succeeded in thus approving themselves to those among whom they laboured is evident from the appeal made to the Thessalonians. "Ye are witnesses and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe." Where this is not habitually the character presented, no favourable testimony can be elicited from the minister's own conscience, or from those among whom he labours.

Again, God's ministers are concerned to be approved in exercising the government and discipline of Christ's house. They know that, in dispensing sealing ordinances, it behoves them to acquit themselves as faithful stewards, acting wisely, faithfully, and tenderly within the province assigned to them by the Head of the Church.

This is more especially needed in times when the line of demarcation between the Church and the world is so much practically ignored, and the garden of Christ, to a grievous extent, in many instances turned into a common. In such circumstances the temptation to laxity is very great, inasmuch as those who dislike faithful dealings can easily find places of refuge. But let it be our great concern in this matter to approve ourselves to God, to our own consciences, and to all that make the word their rule, and leave consequences with God.

Finally, God's ministers approve themselves by bearing testimony against assaults upon and compromises of the truth. Like Paul they are "set for the defence of the Gospel" and "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." They bear in mind that Christ's faithful witnesses are described as overcoming "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." They are no favorers of that liberality with their Lord's goods, which has become so popular in connection with the formation of ecclesiastical unions as well as otherwise. In opposition to the talk about mutual concessions, - that we must give and take, - they adopt as their motto, "Buy the truth and sell it not." "Hold that fast which thou hast."

In conclusion, we see, fathers and brethren, the great aim and object of the true ministers of Christ: "to approve themselves in all things as the ministers of God." Such no doubt have cause to exclaim, "In many things we offend all, that they come sadly short in this great attainment, - but not allowedly. They realise, and that more and more deeply, the vast responsibility involved in the performance of their work, and the solemn account they have to render for its discharge. Hence, like Paul, they labour that they may be accepted of Christ; they watch for souls as they that must give an account. Hence, how much they are concerned to have the testimony of a good conscience that they are approved unto God! And, whilst such regard the divine approbation as the first and main object, they are not regardless of the legitimate approbation of men. So far from being regardless of what men think or say of them, they study those things 'that are of good report, that they may thus exert a beneficial influence, knowing that Christ commands his disciples to "let their light shine before men, that they may see their good works and glorify their Father who is in heaven." At the same time we are not to forget that, in times of defection and latitudinarianism, an uncompromising and steadfast adherence to truth will meet with but a very limited amount of human approbation. In that respect it may be expected that the faithful adherents to truth will be misunderstood, if not misrepresented. We observe, secondly, that it is by aiming at, and in some measure attaining to, the course described in the text, that we can have comfort and expect success in our work. "Our rejoicing is this the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." "Our Gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."

All true ministers of Christ are concerned for success, and that in all the ways in which they may warrantably expect it. Their prayer is, "Let thy work appear unto thy servants," more especially in the conversion of souls and the upbuilding of the converted. And, surely, we are warranted in saying that, in proportion as a minister makes it his great object in all things to approve himself as a minister of God, the desire of his heart as to success will be granted. "Them that honour me I will honour. Christ will also honour those who are faithful in testifying for his truth. See the epistle to the Church in Philadelphia. Let us, my brethren, realise that Christ's blessing is our only hope as a Church. Without this no Church can advance in doing Christ's work; mere human devices and worldly expedients are of no avail for this. How emphatically the Lord is teaching us as a Church, "It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." May we learn the lesson, and let it be our great object in our respective spheres of labour and in our present meeting of Synod, so to approve ourselves in all things, that we may feel encouraged to pray, "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us."

May the elders of our Church be enabled also in all things to approve themselves as office-bearers in the house of God. May they see the obligations under which they lie to act with becoming fidelity, zeal, and wisdom in the congregations with which they are respectively connected, and in the courts of our Church. And let all the members of the Church present feel their obligations in all things to approve themselves as members of God's house, that "you may adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things," - that you may bear much fruit, as herein the Father is glorified, and you prove that you are his disciples. See to it that ye be like the Roman converts whose "faith was spoken of through the whole world," like the believing Thessalonians who "were ensamples to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia." Study much the epistles addressed by Christ to the seven Churches of Asia, imitating those Churches in those things in which they were commended by the Saviour, and shunning those in which they were censured by him.