As ministers we are to present every man perfect in Christ. (Col. 1:28.) We have not yet reached our objective, for do we not see in practically every church the need for a revival of true godliness? This must come before the work will be finished. And do we not have cause to hope that this is the next event in God's program? We read in volume 6 of the Testimonies: "The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church-members who have never been converted, and those who were once converted but who have backslidden."—Page 371.
Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32. A minister was preaching in a crowded bazaar in India. In order to make Jesus more real to the people, he held up a picture of Christ in his left hand. While he was talking, his hand unconsciously sagged until the picture could hardly be seen. A woman in the back of his audience cried out, "Mister, lift up your Jesus so we can see Him." The messenger of the Lord admonishes us in Acts of the Apostles:
"If those who to-day are teaching the word of God, would uplift the cross of Christ higher and still higher, their ministry would be far more successful. If sinners can be led to give one earnest look at the cross, if they can obtain a full view of the crucified Saviour, they will realize the depth of God's compassion and the sinfulness of sin."—Page 209.
Have we failed in uplifting Christ? Again these words of inspiration: "Our churches are dying for want of teaching on the subject of righteousness by faith in Christ, and on kindred truths."—Gospel Workers, p. 301. Again, "There is not one in one hundred who under stands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary for our present and eternal welfare."—Review and Herald, Sept. 3, 1889.
We conclude from these statements that not only in our evangelistic preaching but also in pastoral preaching we should give attention to making our preaching more Christ-centered. But how can this be accomplished? Here is the answer:
"First have your own soul consecrated to God. As you look upon your intercessor in heaven, let your heart be broken. Then softened and subdued, you can address repenting sinners as one who realizes the power of redeeming love."—Letter 77, 1895.
"Let us gather together that which our own experience has revealed to us of the preciousness of Christ, and present it to others as a precious gem that sparkles and shines. Thus will the sinner be attracted to Him who is represented as the chief among ten thousand and the One altogether lovely."—Review and Herald, March 19, 1895.
The revival that we long to see among our churches must begin with the ministry, by giving Christ a larger place in our own hearts and then in our preaching. This thought is emphasized in Gospel Workers:
"Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ ascended into the heavens, Christ coming again, should so soften, gladden, and fill the mind of the minister that he will present these truths to the people in love and deep earnestness."—Page 159.
To make our sermons Christ-centered will not mean that they will become more profound. They will, in fact, need to be simpler.
"Ministers need to have a more clear simple manner in presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. Their own minds need to comprehend the great plan of salvation more fully, . . . and there should not a sermon be given unless a portion of that discourse is to especially make plain the way that sinners may come to Christ and be saved."—Review and Herald, Feb. 22, 1887.
It is not to be overlooked by us as ministers that Christ-centered preaching will make our sermons even more attractive.
"The theme_ that attracts the heart of the sinner is Christ, and him crucified. . . . Beholding_ Jesus upon the cross of Calvary arouses the conscience to the heinous character of sin as nothing else can do."— Ibid, Nov. 22, 1892.
We are promised that this type of preaching will arouse our people properly to evaluate heavenly and earthly things.
"In order to teach men and women the worthlessness of earthly things, you must lead them to the living Fountain, and get them to drink of Christ, until their hearts are rilled with the love of God, and Christ is in them, a well of water springing up into everlasting life."—Signs of the Times, July i, 1889.
If we are to expect different results from our preaching, we may have to use different methods.
"They [ministers] cannot rely upon old sermons to present to their congregations. . . . There are sub jects that are sadly neglected, that should be largely dwelt upon. The burden of our message should be the mission and life of Jesus Christ. Let there be a dwell ing upon the humiliation, self-denial, meekness, and lowliness of Christ, that proud and selfish hearts may see the difference between themselves and the Pattern, and may be humbled. Show to your hearers Jesus in his condescension to save fallen man."—Review and Herald, Sept. n, 1888.
Additional emphasis as to the necessity of preaching Christ is given in the following statements:
"I present before you the great, grand monument of mercy and regeneration, salvation and redemption, —the Son of God uplifted on the cross. This is to be the foundation of every discourse given by our ministers."—Gospel Workers, p. 315.
"Lift up Jesus before the people. Strike the -door posts with the blood of Calvary's Lamb, and you are safe."—Review and Herald, Sept. 3, 1889.
"The sinner must ever look toward Calvary; and with the simple faith of a little child, he must rest in the merits of Christ, accepting His righteousness and believing in His mercy. Laborers in the cause of truth should present the righteousness of Christ."—Ibid., March 20, 1894.
"Christ and His righteousness,—let this be our plat form, the very life of our faith."—Ibid., Aug. 31, 1905.
"Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world."—Gospel Workers, p. 156.
"When the free gift of Christ's righteousness is not presented, the discourses are dry and spiritless; the sheep and the lambs are not fed. . . . Put Christ into every sermon. Let the preciousness, mercy, and glory of Jesus Christ be dwelt upon until Christ is formed within, the hope of glory."—Review and Herald, March 19, 1895.
Today God's last message to His last church (Rev. 3:14-22) calls for preaching Christ and His righteousness. We are counseled to buy white raiment. If we will emphasize Christ, His righteousness, and His sacrifice in our pastoral preaching, we will see those results that pastors long to see. There will be a new power attend ing our words, if we in sincerity lift up Jesus. He will draw men to Him, and changes will be effected in their lives,
"Talk of Christ, and when the heart is converted, everything that is out of harmony with the word of God will drop off. It is only labor in vain to pick leaves off a living tree. The leaves will reappear. The ax must be laid at the root of the tree, and then the leaves will fall off."—Signs of the Times, July i, 1889.
"Strive to arouse men and women from their spiritual insensibility. . . . Yout warm, fervent words will convince them that you have found the pearl of great price. Let your cheerful, encouraging words show that yon have certainly found the higher way. . . . Many will awake as from a dream."—Testimonies, vol. 9, P. 38.
God's messenger tells us that a revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of our needs. We have long realized this, but what have we done as ministers to bring this revival about? Why haven't we emphasized Christ more in our preaching?
"It is a sad fact that the reason why many dwell so much on theory, and so little on practical godliness, is because Christ is not abiding in their hearts. They do not have a living connection with God."—Ibid., vol. 4, PP- 393, 396.
"I call upon every minister to seek the Lord, to put away pride, to put away strife after supremacy, and humble the heart before God. It is the coldness of heart, the unbelief of those who ought to have faith, that keeps the churches in feebleness."—Review and Herald, July 26, 1892.
These solemn statements should lead each worker to examine carefully his own heart. As the spiritual leaders of God's remnant church, we need to be men who realize the power of re deeming love in our own lives first. Then when we have given Christ a larger place in our lives we shall be prepared to give Him a more prominent place in our pastoral preaching. With these conditions prevailing we may earnestly look for the fulfillment of God's promise to send the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. This experience will prepare a people to meet Jesus at His soon coming.
