The Necessity of Ministerial Progress — Growing Forward in Godliness

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Benjamin Kreps:

Hey everyone, and welcome to the Mark Prater Podcast, where our aim is to connect our global family of Sovereign Grace churches with our Executive Director. Mark, we talked about on the podcast a few weeks ago — we had the pure joy of attending Jeff Purswell's class on the Pastoral Epistles, along with a whole bunch of other guys. And we learned so much there. But one thing that I think stuck out to us very significantly — to both of us — is that in talking about the qualifications of an elder, especially the godliness that every pastor is called to, Jeff exhorted us that those qualifications of godliness are not a bar to clear in order to get ordained and then coast. But actually, they are a lifetime pursuit for the pastor.

Mark Prater:

That's exactly right. And I think that's very clear in Scripture. 1 Timothy 3 talks about the qualifications of elders. And as Jeff said so well: you just don't clear that bar and you're done — "Hey, you're in, no more growth needed." Because actually Paul follows up with Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 and talks about progress — continued growth in godliness. I'm going to read those verses, 1 Timothy 4, beginning in verse 12:

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

So obviously, what Paul is saying there is that the character qualifications are not just a bar to clear — as Jeff says so well — but pastors are to be an example of continued growth, or progress, in godliness, as the Spirit gives us power to do so and grace helps us as we labor and are purposeful to pursue godliness.

And this was so important to Charles Spurgeon that he actually delivered an entire lecture on this topic to his students. It's entitled "The Necessity of Ministerial Progress." He goes fairly broad in this lecture — he doesn't just talk about growth in godliness, he talks about growth in other areas. But still, the point of it is that members of our churches, Sovereign Grace pastors, need to see us progress. They need to see an example of how the Spirit of God works in our lives, sanctifying us and making us more like Christ. And this is how Spurgeon opens that lecture — an exhortation that I just had to read for this episode of our podcast. This is what he says:

"Dear fellow soldiers, we are few. We have a desperate fight before us. Therefore it is needful that every man should be made the most of and nerved to his highest point of strength. It is desirable that the Lord's ministers should be the picked men of the church. Yea, and the entire universe for such the age demands. Therefore, in reference to yourselves and your personal qualifications, I give you the motto: go forward. Go forward in personal attainments, forward in gifts and in grace, forward in fitness for the work, and forward in conformity to the image of Jesus."

And obviously, that conformity — going forward in the image of Jesus — is the progress that really demonstrates how the Lord is sanctifying us and making us more like Him. It’s something that I want to continue to be aware of in my own life, that I would keep a close watch on my life and doctrine, as Paul says there in 1 Timothy 4. And I want to exhort the pastors of Sovereign Grace to do the same.

Benjamin Kreps:

Amen. You know, one of the things that Jeff also talked about was that I think sometimes the qualifications for pastors can be confined to the lists in 1 Timothy and Titus — but actually there is a much more fulsome lifestyle that we are called to, in every part of our lives as pastors. So talk to us about some specific areas that you want to encourage us in, that are essential for us as we seek to — by God's grace — grow and progress in godliness and in the qualifications that God has called every pastor to.

Mark Prater:

I want to touch on a few things. And obviously, every man has to sort of tailor his list to areas where he knows he needs to grow — where the Spirit is convicting him, where he's getting accountability and fellowship and input and prayer for areas that he wants to grow. So the things I'm going to mention are not a comprehensive list at all, but just things that I think we have to keep before us. And they may be different for you. Some of the things I'm going to mention may not apply to you — you may be stronger in those areas and weaker in others.

And I think Spurgeon's list is a good one, so I'm going to pick up on what he says. The first one he actually mentions is that of self-indulgence, which is a temptation, I think, for all of us — I know it is for me. Spurgeon says:

"Self-indulgence has slain its thousands."

And there's a lot of truth in that. He goes on to say:

"Let us have every passion and habit under due restraint. If we are not masters of ourselves, we are not fit to be leaders in the church."

So I just think that's one that we always have to be mindful of — especially, you know, there can be those long days or difficult weeks. You're done preaching after a difficult week, you're spent, and you can just want to say, "Okay, I need a break, it's time to indulge." We have to be especially mindful of that and be aware of our need for the Spirit's help in those moments.

The other one he mentions — which I think is really, really good, and I like the language he uses — Spurgeon says:

"We must put away all notion of self-importance. God will not bless the man who thinks himself great.”

And I say that to Sovereign Grace pastors — and I know they're humble men, I really do believe Sovereign Grace men are humble guys. But what can creep in, in our pride — especially in churches where we get a lot of encouragement — is self-importance. And we just have to be on guard against it.

He goes on to talk about this tendency to not take godliness seriously — that's really what he's getting at. And in doing so, if you don't take it seriously, you could become hypocritical. It's that area of hypocrisy that Spurgeon is really getting at. And he says this:

"Beware of being actors."

Short sentence — a lot in there. He's saying: don't be hypocrites.

Benjamin Kreps:

It packs a punch.

Mark Prater:

It does! He goes on to say:

"Godliness is no jest, nor is it mere form. Beware of being actors. Never give earnest men the impression that you do not mean what you say, and are mere professionals in the ministry. If the lip be burning and the soul be freezing, it is a mark of reprobation. God deliver us from being superfine and superficial. May we never be butterflies in the garden of God."

So I just think we never want to be hypocrites in that regard. And then just one last quote from him that I think is really good for us. Brothers, this is what he says:

"You must have holiness. And, dear brethren, if you should fail in mental qualifications" — that means theological training and equipping — "as I hope you will not, and if you should have but a slender measure of the rhetorical or oratorical faculty, I trust you will not yet depend on it. A holy life is in itself a wonderful power and will make up for many deficiencies. It is, in fact, the best sermon the man can deliver."

And so he's obviously putting an emphasis on our example, even over and above our preaching ability and our theological acumen — even though those are very important.

Benjamin Kreps:

Wow. Well, that's some potent stuff there, of course, from Mr. Spurgeon. A question for you, Mark. Perhaps there is a pastor listening to this, and this is exactly what they need to hear — God is sending this into their earbuds at this moment because He wants to address something in their lives. So talk about, just briefly — how would you encourage anyone who is aware, in this moment, of an area where there needs to be growth? Where God is — it's whatever area they're thinking about right now, I would guess, because of the gift of conviction. How would you encourage a pastor who in this moment is experiencing conviction hearing these things?

Mark Prater:

Great question. I would say: continue to pray for the Spirit to convict you in this area that you're being convicted of. And that's a sweet thing — that's a sweet work of the Spirit. It is right for us to weep over our sin. But as we were talking about before the podcast, it's not just sadness over sin — it is repentance as well. There is a turning. So make sure that you're going to God and asking for His forgiveness as you confess that sin. And if you've sinned against others, to go to them and ask for forgiveness. And then repentance really does mean taking steps where your life is different — that there's growth in the area that you're being convicted of.

And I find that fellowship is necessary. I just need to bring it into the light — for other brothers, other brothers and sisters, to know. I take that, for example, into my fellowship group. And I just want them to ask any questions. I invite them to give me any input. I ask them: please, if you observe anything, or if I'm not growing in this area, I need you to tell me. And I ask them to pray for me. Those are sort of just ordinary things for the Christian. But they're not just ordinary — they're extraordinary in the sense that those things are the means of grace that He has given us to grow. So we need the Spirit, we need His Word, and we need the fellowship of the saints. Those are the thoughts I have.

Benjamin Kreps:

Amen. And on top of that — as we're on a team, this becomes easier. Some guys are not, but seeking out trusted brothers who we can be vulnerable with, open up about, ask for input, ask for observations. But also, you know, to help us see where we're growing. So often it's difficult to see progress — we're often more aware of our sin than we are of progress. And what a joy it is to be able to encourage one another in growth. "I see you growing in this area" — and praising God and celebrating that together.

So appreciate that, Mark — encouraging us to pursue fellowship. We're not to do this alone. So thank you for your encouragement and for pointing us once again to Mr. Spurgeon and his fine exhortations. And thank you all for checking out the podcast. We'll see you here next week, Lord willing. Bye for now.