Deep Dive into Lectures to My Students - The Minister's Self Watch by Charles SpurgeonThe sources define the Christian minister by the supreme necessity of his personal spiritual condition, emphasizing that his very being is the essential instrument for sacred service. The minister’s "nearest machinery for sacred service" is his "own spirit, soul, and body," making him his "own tool" that must be constantly kept in order. Just as a workman must whet a blunt edge to prevent poorly done work or increased effort, the minister must maintain the sharpness of his "spiritual faculties and inner life," which are his "battle axe and weapons of war." Success in the Lord's work depends less on great talents than on the "purity and perfection of the instrument."The first indispensable requisite for this holy calling is true and genuine piety; conversion is a sine qua non. Ministers must make it their "first care" to ensure they are "saved men," as without this spiritual life, a man is "totally, wholly, and altogether unqualified for spiritual work." If a man has not been called to holiness, he has not been called to the ministry.Because the ministry is a place of unusual peril, demanding "superior strength" and exposing the minister to the targeted assault of Satan, self-watch is imperative. Ministers must maintain "vigorous piety" to act as a "preserving balance" and guard against the secret snare of "ministerialism," which tempts them to perform religious duties officially, losing the personal heart of faith.An inconsistent or unconverted minister is inherently unfit, likened to a blind man teaching optics. Such a preacher becomes "terribly mischievous," promoting formalism and being "far more a servant of the devil than a minister of God." His ill life can "effectually drown the voice of the most eloquent ministry," and he is accountable for leading hearers astray, like an inaccurate "parish-clock," risking the ultimate condemnation of perishing from the pulpit itself. Therefore, a minister must strive for "likeness to Jesus," ensuring that his personal character agrees in all respects with his ministry.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730

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