Lord’s Day, Vol. 12 No. 6

The Ministry of the Word

We begin with the public means and helps, which God has appointed to strengthen the believer and settle him in a godly life. The ministry of the word is the first and principal of these means.

The Attributes of the Scriptures

This comes as no surprise when we consider the royal and most excellent commendations that we hear and read concerning the canonical Scriptures, which are this word of God.

Excellency and Power

The Scriptures are proved by good evidence and testimony to be the very truth of the word of God (and not the fantansies of men). This is seen in both the excellency of the matter contained in the Scriptures (Ps. 119:129) and by the mighty operation of the Scriptures (Heb. 4:12). God commands us to search these Scriptures (John 5:39) and sends us if we desire to know His mind and will toward us.

Authority

The authority of the Scriptures is such that we do not need to be troubled by those who oppose them or call them into question. For even if it were an angel from heaven (Gal. 1:8) (if this were possible), much less the Man of Sin, who yet challenges authority to be heard before the Scriptures, we should not be troubled.

Sufficiency

We are also taught that Scriptures are all-sufficient so that we may not doubt that all God’s will is revealed in them (2 Tim. 3:16). The Scriptures thus contain those things necessary to make us true Christians and the inheritors of salvation, in which our true happiness consists.

Clarity

The plainness of the heavenly matter contained in the Scriptures by the means which God has used and the order that He has taken for laying out our sweetness and beauty (Matt. 11:25) is evident in that the most necessary points are easy to be understood even by the simple and ignorant (Prov. 14:6).

Benefits from the Ministry of the Word

Let us consider the many uses and daily helps that God’s people have through the ministry of the word. This is to say nothing of the benefit of this ordinance to the unregenerate, who yet still walk in darkness. For though the ministry of the word is a mighty and great means to convert the unregenerate from their old way (Acts 1:26; 1 Cor. 14:24), our main purpose here is to behold the benefit of this means to the regenerate.

Knowledge

First, by the ministry of the word God’s people are cleared from error and darkness concerning both piety and behaviour, and they grow more sound in the knowledge of the truth. Without this ministry, they are fraught and encumbered with error. But by use of this means they come to see more particularly into the way and whole course of Christianity. When God’s children lack this, they are unsettled and held in ignorance and blindness concerning many needful points. Thus they bear less fruit in the Christian life and become dim patterns of holiness to others. Furthermore, those who use these means diligently and reverently grow daily settled and established in their knowledge (1 Peter 1:12; 3:17). But those who are destitute of this gracious help will lack this (although they may have some benefit from private reading).

Renewal

Again, this means quickens them in their drowsiness, cheers them in their heaviness, and calls them back from their wanderings. It raises them up when they have fallen and counsels them in their doubtful cases. And through their experience of God’s dealing with them in all situations, this preaching of the word of God is ordinarily a means through which they are firmly settled in a godly course. It helps them to keep well when they are well, rather than grow fickle and inconstant in the carrying of themselves well, as many are. This renewal is a great benefit, sought by many with tears, yet obtained only by few.

Sanctification

Even those who have weak beginnings in the church can attain and grow through the ministry of the word. For when God’s will is laid forth in preaching in a sound, plain, and orderly manner, many people are helped so to “gird up the loins of their minds.” They thus learn to lay aside and cast off that which would hinder them, especially their inward corruptions. And they prepare themselves to follow the directions which lead and guide them to their duty. By this they discover their weaknesses and how they are held back when they have fallen. By this they learn the right way of moving forward. The more frequently people are thus put in mind of these things, the better. In other words, the ministry of the word is the sun which gives light to them in all places and the rule by which they frame all their actions. Even a weak Christian, therefore, when he desires to learn, will in this way grow in living a godly life.

Private Reading

In addition to all I have said, the true Christian by his ordinary hearing is taught to give some of his time to reading the Scriptures (and other good writers), and this with good fruit, understanding, and comfort.

Without the public ministry of the word, the Christian is likely to neglect and become weary of the labour of private reading and instead give himself to idleness or vain activities. Even if he should use the private means, without the public ministry of the word he will do so with less knowledge, comfort, or any other profit.

Example to Others

When a person is thus framed by the ministry of the word, he becomes a light and example to others, having found such great help by this means himself. Therefore,

• if he may ordinarily by the preaching of the word “be led into all truth” necessary for him to know and be delivered from error in religion and manners;
• if he may “be established and confirmed in the knowledge of the will of God”;
• if he may be daily reformed in his affections and life, more and more increasing therein and overcoming himself better thereby;
• if he may both be brought to give time (as his calling will permit) in reading and find profit thereby;
• and finally, if he may “in time become an example” of a godly life unto others,

then I may boldly affirm and conclude that the ordinary preaching of the word is a singular means whereby God has provided that His people should grow and increase in a godly life.

Lastly, to all you that have the oversight of the Lord’s ministry, see that those who are called to the ministry teach soundly, plainly, faithfully, and diligently. And go before them yourselves painstakingly, “as lights and good examples,” that made to God by the people for you,” when you will give them so good occasion to remember you. And in that day of accounts, may you have many to witness the godly care you had over them, and how you warned their hearts and comforted them with such good diet for their souls and liberal provision from the Word. [Extracted and edited from Holy Helps for Godly Life by Richard Rogers]

May the Lord bless His church for His glory.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee