Preacher...Get Out of The Way

My friend, Ken Jenkins, tells the story of a church where on the wall just behind the pulpit is a picture of Jesus.  One Sunday the preacher was late getting to the pulpit.  Why?  I don't know?  A deacon might have delayed him.  One of his children might have delayed him.  He might have fallen asleep in his office.  That's another blog entry.  He was late, okay!

A little boy was sitting with his mother in church.  The little boy leaned to his mom and asked, "Where is the man that stands in front of Jesus?"  Ouch!  Preacher, do you stand in front of Jesus?  One day we will stand facing Him, but today if we are not careful we can just get in His way.  Preacher...get out of the way.

Over the years that I have pastored I have to wonder how many times did I get in His way.  How many times did I ascend the steps of the pulpit, stand behind the sacred desk and just "flesh it up real good?"  I know I did, because I know me.

"Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.  But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?"  But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."  Then he permitted Him.  After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17)

Did you hear that?  Did you listen well enough to see that?  Simply put had John not baptized Jesus he would not have seen God's acknowledgement of the Son nor heard God's announcement of the Son much less allowed those present to see Jesus, "the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world."  And that beloved is our job every time we stand to preach the blessed Word of God.  It is all about Him!

Vance Havner writes, "So, no matter what the theme or text, we are really considering him, for by him all Scripture consists. Satan will go to any lengths to keep you from considering the Lord. If he can put you to riding the hobby of a favorite doctrine; if he can get you to look back at yesterday's failures, or ahead to tomorrow's dreads, or around at the array of circumstances or within at your own weakness and poverty—anywhere but looking unto Jesus—then he is satisfied. And remember that he has many masks and will come so like an angel of light that you are scarcely aware at first that you are not considering Christ."

John the Baptist said, "I must decrease that He might increase."  I must get out of the way so that people can see that He is the Way.  There is nothing about me worth seeing.  There is nothing about me worth hearing.  The only thing that I have worth saying has to do with Him.  It's all about Him. 

Sometimes it might just be good to just get on our knees behind the pulpit where we can't be seen.  On our knees when we preach so we can't strut.  Hidden from sight so that the clothes that hang on us won't be as noticeable as His Hand that should be on us.  (I know that we won't do that, but it is a thought.)

We must be clothed in Him, hidden in Him, and filled with Him.  Oh preacher get full of Jesus.  Just surrender and give it all over to Him.  I heard my friend Bill Stafford say recently, "God will use stupid people full of Jesus."  Thank God there's hope for me and you.