teaching/preaching/ministry...

I am reading a great book by Charles Bridges called, The Christian Ministry. By the way, it was first published in 1830. I encourage you to get it. I was a bit skeptical at first but it is a treasure for those in ministry. I was reading a chapter on preaching and came across this staggering quote:

"Let not ministers be unduly exalted among their people. We are only instruments 'by whom they believe,' and a dependence on our labour may provoke the grand Agent-who 'giveth not his glory to another'-to wither the most effective Ministry, that these idolaters may 'know that we are but men.' We may be reduced to ask-'Where is the Lord God of Elijah?'-who can accomplish more by one feeble sentence from the feeblest instrument, than we can do without him by the most powerful preaching." (p. 81)

How useless our ministry is without the hand of God. How useless are our sermons unless they are breathed by Him. How often do we rely on our own skill and performance to accomplish Kingdom work? How often do we craft a sermon without much prayer, study, meditation, and practice? How many times do we plan an event and never pray about it? On many occasions I will leave the office and then think, "Did I pray at all today?" Did I call on God desperate for His help? When did I humbly admit that I cannot do this without Him and allow His Spirit to guide me? Sometimes I forget. Sometimes it is pride. Both are wrong.

How humbling is it to know that God can accomplish far greater things through one feeble sentence than any sermon from the greatest of preachers without Him? Why do I convince myself that my skills and experience are enough to accomplish great things for God or even survive in ministry? Why do I tell myself that I have what it takes? How prideful and stupid of me.

I am nothing without Christ. It is not me, it is CHRIST through me. I pray that I will always be humble enough to admit this and make sure that I don't get in the way of His work. I hope we will cry out to God desperately for His help each day and allow Him to work through us. I pray that I will faithfully study His Word, and faithfully prepare in whatever I do in my ministry.