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Christ Equips His Minister (1)
Exodus 4:1-17
Good News From The Redeemer
Sermon by Pastor Daniel Parks
Radio Message #315 ~ April 15, 2000
Christ liberated His Old Covenant people from physical bondage in a manner typical of that in which He liberates His New Covenant people from spiritual bondage. Moses was His liberating minister in the former. Gospel preachers are His liberating ministers in the latter. The commissioning of Moses (Exodus 3-4) is typical of the commissioning of gospel preachers. Having already observed that in each instance Christ's minister is by Him sent (3:10; John 20:21 & Mark 16:15), accompanied (3:12a; Matthew 28:20), and assu red (3:12b; Isaiah 35:10), we now observe that Christ equips His minister.
Christ equipped Moses His minister with a rod (4:17): "And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs." The rod of Moses was the emblem of his God-given authority. He therefore carried it everywhere he went and used it in the various performances of his ministry. With it he manifested his authority to Pharaoh, turning it into a serpent which devoured the rods of Pharaoh's magicians (7:9-12). (Aaron also used this rod as Moses' agent.) With it he caused the plagues which afflicted the Egyptians (7:15-21; 8:5f; 8:16f; 9:23-26; 10:13-15). With it he parted the Red Sea for the crossing of Israel (14:16). With it he brought water forth from a rock (17:5-7). With it he caused Israel to defeat the Amalekites (17:9-13).
Christ equips His gospel ministers with the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16f): "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
1. A gospel minister is here called "the man of God." Although this term is used of every person who is in a right relationship with God, it especially refers to His ministers - as in "Moses the man of God" (Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6; 1 Chronicles 23:14; 2 Chronicles 30:16; Ezra 3:2; Psalm 90:1).
2. As Moses was equipped with a rod for the work he was to perform, gospel ministers are with the Holy Scriptures "equipped." While antichrist equips his ministers with man-made philosophies and traditions (Colossians 2:8) and even ecclesiastical confessions, Christ equips His ministers with that written account which is "given by inspiration of God." (This literally means Holy Scriptures are "God-breathed": owing their origin and content to the divine breath, the Holy Spirit. See 2 Peter 1:21.) Gospel ministers therefore preface their declarations with expressions such as "it is contained in the Scripture" (1 Peter 2:6; Romans 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; Galatians 3:8, 22; 4:30) - "Thus says the LORD!"
3. As Moses was equipped with only a rod, gospel ministers are equipped with only the Holy Scriptures. God's written Word is by itself so sufficient as to make His ministers "complete, thoroughly equipped." Therefore, as Moses was equipped with sola virga - "rod alone," gospel ministers are equipped with sola Scriptura - "Scriptures alone." Gospel ministers would therefore be, without Holy Scriptures in their hand, as unequipped as a shepherd without his rod or a king without his scepter.
4. As Moses found his rod to be profitable for the various aspects of his ministry, so do gospel ministers find the Holy Scriptures. "All Scripture … is profitable …"
i. "for doctrine." Holy Scriptures equip gospel ministers for teaching God's revelation in Christ and the way of salvation (as in 1 Timothy 5:17).
ii. "for reproof." Holy Scriptures equip gospel ministers for exposing and refuting errors in doctrine and conduct (as in 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:15).
iii. "for correction." (The negative aspect of pastoral work is stressed by "reproof"; the positive aspect is stressed by "correction.") Holy Scriptures equip gospel ministers to not only reprove those who stray from the way, but also to restore them to the way (as in Galatians 6:1; James 5:20).
iv. "for instruction in righteousness." Holy Scriptures equip gospel ministers for discipling converts (as in Titus 2:11-15). God's Word, not man's traditions or philosophies or confessions, is the only rule of faith and practice for the people of God. What is not Scriptural is not profitable for righteousness.
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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