Sir We Would See Jesus

I like what J. Sudlow Baxter said in regard to being a preacher. He said, how can a man, full of himself, preach to Christ who emptied himself? And I believe that's true, friends. I've heard men who preach themselves, and I've heard men who, like the Apostle Paul, preach Christ and Him crucified.

There is a passage in John chapter 12 and verses 20 through 21 which read, And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast. The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. In former generations, in churches, there was often a brass plate that was fastened to the pulpits of old, and it read, Sir, we would see Jesus.

When we get out of the way, friends, and die to our reputations, and magnify God's glory as the chief aim of our preaching, I believe we will be on the right track. A basic truth throughout Scripture is that all things are appointed and ordered of God for His own glory. Preachers who fail to make God's glory their chief aim go wrong in all their efforts because you'll then be looking for results and numbers as your goal.

When one loses sight of God's end, which is His glory, then we're just preaching ourselves. Sir, we would see Jesus. I remember Stephen Offred sharing a story with me about his father, Frederick, who was a missionary to Africa.

One time, Frederick Offred invited an American evangelist to come preach to the African men in the tribe who were warriors. There the fierce-looking tribesmen stood with their shields and lanterns by their side as they listened to the American evangelist preach under the tent on the Lord Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended to the right hand of God. The evangelist finished his message and disappeared out the tent door while Frederick Offred watched the tribesmen leave one by one to return to their village.

Frederick Offred was shocked to find the evangelist sitting at a table enjoying a piece of chicken. Frederick Offred said to the man, How can you sit there and enjoy your meal when no one came forward in the service tonight? The evangelist replied, My good man, the entire time I preached about Christ Jesus, I focused all my attention on heaven and on Christ sitting there at the right hand of the Father, and my goal was to bring Him glory as I preached. I lead the results to Him.

Now I'm going to enjoy my chicken. I believe, friends, that God's glory should be the aim of our preaching, and if we do that, we can feel confident in leaving the results with Him. Let us pray.