Jeremiah 1:4-10 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,… 1. An objection overruled. 2. Work and duty prescribed. To bear God's message to men. (1) To whom? To all to whom the Lord should send him. He was not to choose for himself. Must obey the call of God, and do his duty, though neglected, hated, and persecuted for his faith. fulness. (2) The matter of the message. Not to speak at random whatever came uppermost, or what might be most easy to himself or agreeable to his hearers but only what the Lord commanded. 3. How, or in what manner, God's word was to be delivered. (1) Faithfully and fully. (2) Plainly and boldly. I. THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY. 1. It is an ordinance of Divine appointment to be continued in all ages to the end of time. Accordingly, they who slight and undervalue it, or despise those who are employed in it, reject their message, and disregard their salutary admonitions, reproofs, and instructions, greatly dishonour God, and pour contempt upon His authority. 2. It hath pleased God to employ weak and sinful men to dispense His word, and bear His message to sinners and saints. 3. None must intrude themselves into the office of the ministry, or presume to exercise it without a lawful call. Those who run unsent, who take upon them the office of the ministry when they are not called to that sacred function, in such a manner as God hath prescribed in His word, have no reason to expect assistance and success in their work. 4. Those whom God calls to the exercise of the ministerial office, He doth in some measure qualify for discharging the several parts of it. 5. The work of the ministry is very important and difficult work. The honour of God, and the salvation of souls, are nearly concerned in it. 6. Those whom God calls to exercise the office of the ministry have ordinarily a humbling sense of their own weakness, and insufficiency for the work they are called to. 7. Ministers of the Gospel, in performing the duties of their function, do not act in their own name, but in the name, and by the authority of their Divine master the Lord Jesus Christ. 8. Whatever opposition, or difficulties, the servants of Christ may meet with in the exercise of their ministry, they have sufficient encouragement to persevere in it. II. SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES AND DISCOURAGEMENTS WHICH THEY WHO ARE CALLED TO EXERCISE THAT SACRED FUNCTION MAY HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH. 1. Their fears and discouragements are sometimes occasioned by a serious consideration of the nature of the work they are called to engage in. 2. By a sense of their own weakness and insufficiency for discharging the duties of the sacred function. 3. When they consider the opposition they are likely to meet with in the exercise of their office. (1) From the world. (2) From lukewarm professors. 4. The cold reception that is usually given to the messages which the servants of the Lord deliver in His name, is sometimes a cause of discouragement. 5. The low and afflicted state of the Church is apt to discourage those who are about to enter upon public work in her. III. THEIR DUTY AND THE WORK THEY ARE CALLED TO. 1. They must not choose their own let. Have they a call in providence to deliver God's message to those who are more likely to persecute them, than to submit to their instructions or pay any due regard to what they declare in the name of the Lord, they must not dispute, but readily obey the orders given them. Nor have they reason to fear any dangers they may be exposed to, through the power and malice of their enemies; for He in whose service they are employed is able to defend them, and frustrate all the designs of their enemies against them. His promise is their protection. 2. They must deliver nothing in His name but what He commands, or what is agreeable to His revealed will. In order to this, the teaching and renewed illumination of the Holy Spirit is necessary; but they need no additional, objective revelation. 3. The instructions given to the prophet, and every other minister of the Word, in the text imply, that those who are called to preach the Gospel should, as there may be opportunity, teach all truths revealed in the Word of God, and urge the performance of all duties required in it. 4. They should urge the diligent observance of all Divine ordinances, as a necessary duty. They must not think it is enough, if persons have the low of God in their hearts, and some experience of a work of grace in their souls, though they neglect the administration of the word and sacraments, or other outward ordinances, and treat with contempt any endeavours to maintain their purity; because, as some are pleased to speak, they are only outward things, and the observance of them hath not a necessary connection with vital piety, and the exercise of grace in the heart. 5. They must urge obedience to all the precepts of the moral law. 6. They should endeavour to accommodate their doctrine to the various conditions of their hearers.Conclusion: 1. When those who are about to enter upon public work in the Church have a humbling sense of their own insufficiency, it is a presage of future usefulness. 2. The work of the ministry is not to be engaged in rashly. Count the cost. 3. Such as bear the character of office bearers in the Church, who take upon them to make laws for the members of the Church, contrary to those which the glorious Head of the Church hath enacted, or different from them; or who enjoin the observation of religious rites, devised by men without any warrant from the Word of God, not only transgress the limits of their commission, but are chargeable with great presumption. They teach what God never commanded, and exercise a power which no creature can claim, without invading the prerogative of the supreme Lawgiver. 4. Those who are called to bear God's message to the children of men ought to be well acquainted with His written word contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. 5. Ministers of the word must have no partial respect to the persons of men. 6. In order to a suitable discharge of ministerial duties, much fortitude and resolution is necessary. 7. Those ministers of the Gospel who, sensible of their own weakness, are enabled humbly to depend upon the power and grace of God for protection, and support in their work, are most likely to discharge the duties of their office with acceptance and success. 8. They must take care that they do not run unsent, or thrust themselves into the office of the ministry without a lawful call, the call of God and the call of the Church. 9. They are to deliver their message authoritatively, as not acting in their own name, but in the name of God. If ministers, in preaching the Word, act as the messengers of the Lord of hosts, the people to whom they preach ought to receive their message with reverence and submission. If they reject it, or slight it, they put an affront upon Him who sent them. They despise not man but God. (D. Wilson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, |
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