Who Have Spoken Unto You The Word of God

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-13-2021

Hebrews 13:7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I know that I am spending a lot of time on this verse, but it is an important one concerning the person and work of the pastor coupled with the obligation of the church toward the pastor.

 

B.  To remember is to reflect on:

 

1.  The Person of the Pastor.  The gift of God to the local church.  He is God’s man, and he is your man.

 

2.  The Position of the Pastor.  He is to rightly, biblically, compassionately, and justly to rule over the local church flock of God.  His position is God ordained, not self-ordained one.

 

3.  The Preaching of the Pastor.  Tonight, I will look at his work and labor in the Word of God.

 

C.  “Have spoken” is to reflect back upon his work and labor of love in the Word of God.

 

1.  This is not based on a Future Expectation of his work.

 

2.  But is based on Past Example of his performance.

 

D.  There are different aspects of the pastor’s preaching that are essential to God’s command.

 

1.  The Aspect of Study.  Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.

 

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14  And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.  (10)  The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.  (11)  The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.  (12)  And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.  (13)  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  (14)  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

2.  The Aspect of Teaching.  Expounding the Word of Truth.

 

Ephesians 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

1 Timothy 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

 

Isaiah 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

 

Nehemiah 8:8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

 

Habakkuk 2:2  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

 

Luke 24:25-27  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  (26)  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  (27)  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

 

Luke 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

 

Acts 8:30-31  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  (31)  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

 

3.  The Aspect of Preaching. 

 

Isaiah 61:1-2  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  (2)  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

 

2 Timothy 4:1-2  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

a.  Preach the Word.  Not opinion but God’s Truth.

 

b.  Preach in Season.  When it applies to our circumstances.

 

c.  Preach out of Season.  Preventive maintenance before our circumstances.

 

1)  Preaching involves Reproof.

 

2)  Preaching involves Rebuke.

 

3)  Preaching involves Exhortation.

 

4)  Preaching involves Balance.  The whole counsel of God.

 

5.  Preaching must be done Compassionately and with Doctrinal Correctness.