"TO SPEAK ON GOD'S BEHALF"

"Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf."

Job 36:2

Introduction
Courage and audacity sometimes bear a strong mutual resemblance. So we find in the account of Job, as Elihu intrudes upon the dialogue conducted by Job and his three friends. Who is this insolent interloper who dares to impose his opinions upon the debate? Where does he come from? What credentials give him the right to speak when men far older than himself have failed to find resolution? Where does he get the gall to assume that he possesses the insight and wisdom so obviously absent from the scenario at hand? Most importantly, what makes him think that he has the right "to speak on God's behalf?"

However impudent Elihu may have appeared at this particular moment, we find that the pages of history overflow with examples of just such men. In all times, the world has endured the brazen audacity of individuals who rose up, claiming to speak as agents representative of Almighty God, claiming to dispense Divine wisdom and a heavenly perspective. From the prophet Enoch to the Pope of Rome, the world has witnessed many such men, with many such claims, both true and false.

I. The Representative Principle

Moreover, we recognize the validity of such attempts. Of course, that does mean that every drugdeluded hippie who sees visions a la Charles Manson has the right to speak for God. But the need exists now, and always has existed for men to communicate to the broad mass of humanity the great and deep truths of the mind of God. Humanity has always yearned, at least on the subconscious level, for a teacher, an instructor, a guide to lead them to realms of divine light and spiritual wisdom. Humanity longs for a representative who will speak on God's behalf and reveal the Eternal to the mortal. This very principle of representation has made possible the beguiling of countless millions over the long centuries

who have passionately embraced the doctrines of some self-proclaimed messiah or prophet, embarking upon pilgrim journeys to enlightenment or fulfillment of some kind or another, or even the courts of heaven itself, only to find themselves greatly deceived at the last. In such instances, we recognize that some faculty within human nature itself fueled the delusion that led to destruction. The victims wanted to believe in a divine representative. This representation principle exists as part of our natural human physiognomy, and supports what we would identify as the anthropological argument for God.

Moreover, Scripture itself validates the doctrine that God selects ambassadors to speak on his behalf to the rest of mankind. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, speaking through the influence of the Holy Ghost, stated that "holy prophets" had ministered in such capacity "since the world began" (Luke 1: 68-70). This ministry has continued into the current dispensation, the Church Age, in which the Lord Jesus Christ himself commissioned the church to serve as his witnesses (Luke 24: 48). The Apostle Peter, according to his own testimony in Scripture, considered it an act of obedience to God when he communicated the gospel message of Christ to the people of Jerusalem (Acts 5: 29) as God's representative. The Apostle Paul plainly identified himself as an ambassador for Christ (II Corinthians 5: 20). In fact, the very Word of God claims to have come to us through the agency of selected representatives who wrote and spoke "on God's behalf." This principle of representation lies at the foundation of virtually all church ministry, and even the church's very existence. It is the reason that we are here.

II. The Repression Principle

In contrast to the representative principle, we find the repression principle. By this we mean that a natural tendency exists within humanity to repress the truth that God desires to reveal to us. The Apostle Paul describes it like this,

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them."

The word "hold" used there has more than the idea of holding as we primarily use the word in the twenty-first century. It has more the idea of holding in a prison cell, the way that a condemned prisoner is held. In effect, the Apostle Paul says that mankind has imprisoned the truth of God, is restraining and repressing that truth. This inclination operates towards the subversion and retardation of the representative principle, stemming from that corrupted side of man that rejects God and his truth and changes his glory

"into an image made like unto corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts and creeping things" (Romans 1: 23) in cooperation with the agency of the unclean spirit world.

A. Repression of Truth in Relationship to Distortion

Generally speaking, most people do not tend to contradict the truth of Scripture openly or directly. People have a natural tendency to try to identify with God and speak in terms that would seem congruous with Scriptural truth. Even notoriously profane and anti-Christian individuals often represent themselves as aligning with biblical, or at least moral and ethical principles. This inclination results from the presence of the conscience or "the work of the law written in their hearts" (Romans 2: 15).

However, beneath the surface of popular professions, the overwhelming majority of people operate in a way that distorts Scriptural truth to accommodate their own desired terms.

We can find no greater example of human guilt in this respect than those that we find in our pulpits every Sunday (excepting, of course, those found in Bible colleges and seminaries). No one twists, perverts and corrupts Scriptural truth like a clergyman (we use the term here to describe the collective body of apostate pastors, bishops, elders, priests, archbishops, cardinals, popes, teleevangelists, etc, etc without concern for denominational distinctions, while recognizing that a very small and marginalized minority of godly gospel ministers does exist). Those who most claim "to speak on God's behalf" are most known to act in repression of truth, rather than in representation of God.

This occurs through pride, greed and self-interest. For example, many clergymen demonstrate, to a great degree, a desire for popular approval, both in the public arena and in the upper echelons of the theological world. Many seem to nourish secret fantasies about becoming "the next Martin Luther," so to speak. By that we refer to an impulse driving them to seek some new doctrinal truth that no one else has noticed before, thereby bring about some great new "reformation." Of course, nothing of the sort exists, but try they will. Consequently, rather than simply taking the Word of God at face value, and accepting and embracing it for what it plainly states, every doctrine is turned in every possible direction, truths are made to stand on their heads, fundamental doctrines are ignored completely, and pulpits are filled with all manner of metaphysical fantasies, theological novelties, nonsensical platitudes, eastern mysticism, modernism, liberalism, neo-orthodoxies, Dispensationalisms, Ruckmanisms, Riplingerisms, etc, etc. As each new generation of spiritual leadership emerges and re-thinks and re-defines what the previous generation re-thought and re-defined before them, the church grows farther and farther from the essential spiritual nourishment of Scriptural truth than ever before. Doctrine dilutes into shallow shadows, and practice degenerates towards the lowest common denominator. This weakness in the pulpits of course, deprives the flock of God of light and truth, and results in spiritual anemia, powerlessness, prayerlessness, immorality and, generally speaking, the overall apostasy of the church, both on the congregational level and on an individual level. Of course, a diseased church loses its

influence for evangelization, morals and even basic ethics within society, and ceases to deter the tide of degeneracy in the world and effectively advance the cause of Christ.

B. Repression of Truth in Relationship to Denial

Add to this the natural tendency of mankind to deny the guilt of their actions, and we see the problem magnified many times over. Ever since the Garden of Eden, human nature instinctively justifies itself. The capacity of the human mind to invent the most elaborate and ridiculous excuses to justify sin, in spite of the plainest declarations and commandments of God's Word and even basic common sense, seemingly knows no limit. Men and women will lie to themselves until they have lost all recognition of truth whatsoever, rather than simply admit wrongdoing and the need to change. Consequently, massive and elaborate constructions of pure fiction are conjured up and built upon foundations of previously developed falsehood, then sold to the rest of humanity as the soundest "gospel truth." Describing this tendency, Charles Spurgeon said,

"The natural self-righteousness of man prompts him to frame apologies. We are all the best men in the world according to our own gauge and measure. If we could sit as judges upon ourselves, the verdict would always be, 'Not guilty.' Sin, which would be very shocking in another, is very venial in us; nay, what would be very abominable in other men, becomes almost commendable in ourselves, so partially do we judge our own cases."

C. Repression of Truth in Relationship to Demons

We also recognize the impact of spiritual beings. Since the dawn of the human race, the unclean spirit world has influenced humanity through deception. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, and continuing ever since, the powers of darkness have blinded the eyes of men and women alike and led them into error. In the Old Testament, we read of lying spirits, beguiling mankind (I Kings 22: 21-23). The New Testament says,

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils" (I Timothy 4: 1).

D. Repression of Truth in Relationship to Deity

Ultimately, we recognize within mankind an attempt to repress the truth of God himself. Romans 1: 1825 states,

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."

Men and women do indeed possess an internal impulse to worship and learn of spiritual concepts, just so long as they do not align with the God of the Bible. They want a god. But not the God of the Bible. They want anything but that. David Martin Lloyd-Jones described it like this:

"The fact that men talk a lot about God does not mean that they really believe in the living God. They are talking about God; they are making statements about God; they are experts on the attributes of God; but they seem to shut out the living God, God Himself, the acting God. By their theories, He is not allowed to act. This is Deism; it is a kind of theological scholasticism. And this is this terrifying thing, that you can be talking about God and his attributes and so on, and yet have no contact with and no personal knowledge of the living God."

III. The Redemptive Pattern

To just such an audience, the authentic representative of God has his mission. God has sent his ambassadors to those who seeing, see not, and hearing, hear not, to those whose ears are waxed dull that they cannot hear, and whose eyes have shut that they cannot see, whose hearts have hardened, lest, at any time, they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and be converted and healed (Matthew 13: 15). As the Father sent Christ, so Christ has sent his disciples (John 20: 21). And in Matthew 10: 25, our Saviour confronted his church with this striking question:

"if they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?"

With this in view, the mission itself may appear futile and useless. Yet Scripture has already made it abundantly clear, that although Israel herself "should be as the sand of the sea," a remnant only would receive the gospel message (Romans 9: 27).

"Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7: 14)

Therefore, we must adopt the attitude of the Apostle Paul, who stated, "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (II Timothy 2: 10).

Our mission lies not so much with the "ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance" (Luke 15: 7)," but with sinners whom God has foreknown and foreordained "to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8: 29).

In so saying, we do not deny, neglect or omit the universal extent of the Great Commission. We simply look at the practical outcome of fulfilling the Great Commission in accordance with God's foreknowledge, and the prophetic declarations of Scripture concerning humanity's response to the gospel message. But by recognizing and accepting this biblical perspective we can adhere to the pattern set forth by the Redeemer in his redemptive ministry and avoid the "open-door" approach and compromising tactics of ecumenicism which seeks to promote a "popular religion" and, ultimately, universalism at the expense of holiness and separation.

A. Confrontational
Therefore, ministry as God's representative must involve the same confrontational approach exhibited by the Redeemer himself during his earthly ministry. Over and over again, throughout the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find that he adopted a surprisingly confrontational approach, which denounced sin in plain language and sharp tones. As God's perfect representative, the Lord Jesus Christ had to accurately reflect God's attitude towards sin and his righteous demand for humility, contrition and true repentance. Describing the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, Charles Spurgeon said,

"We find our blessed Master, whose heart was full of compassion, and whose very nature was love, often dwelling upon the wrath to come; indeed, His utterances are more telling and terrible than the most burning threatening from the lips of thundering seers of old."

We must follow this example if we wish "to speak on God's behalf".

B. Convicting
The purpose of sharp, confrontational preaching lies in the need for conviction within the heart of the sinner. The seeker-sensitive approach rejects this idea for the simple reason that it has been built on an entirely false premise, that is, the idea that men and women live their lives under a deep awareness of the burden of their sins and need the most delicate tenderness, lest preaching should offend and wound their already suffering consciences and drive them from God completely. Of course, this idea represents the apex of theological stupidity. Nothing stands further from the truth. In reality, men and women naturally follow the example of Adam and Eve in excusing and justifying sin, hardening their hearts and searing their consciences against conviction. The very nature of human depravity demands that preaching follow the biblical recipe, and that recipe includes the ingredient of rebuke for the purpose of conviction from beginning to end. In his day, Spurgeon had already begun to witness a decline in convicting, confrontational preaching, and spoke of this problem and its proper remedy often, as in the quotations selected below:

"In many ministries, there is not enough of probing the heart and arousing the conscience by the revelation of man's alienation from God, and by the declaration of the selfishness and the wickedness of such a state."

"No man will ever put on the robe of Christ's righteousness till he is stripped of his fig leaves, nor will he wash in the fount of mercy till he perceives his filthiness."

"No sinner looks to the Savior with a dry eye or a hard heart. Aim, therefore, at heartbreaking, at bringing home condemnation to the conscience and weaning the mind from sin. Be not content till the whole mind is deeply and vitally changed in reference to sin."

"When you meet with persons in whom there is no trace of conviction of sin, you may be quite sure that they have not been wrought upon by the Holy Spirit; for when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."

"To make the leper confess that his incurable is going a long way toward compelling him to go to that divine Savior, who alone is able to heal him."

C. Challenging
Nor does conviction alone fulfill the whole duty of God's representative. Conviction should present the sinner with the challenge of a life better lived. Without this challenge, conviction has neither purpose nor value.

D. Corrective
We come then to repentance. In speaking of repentance, we refer not so much to an emotional condition, as to a volitional direction. B. B. Warfield accurately defined this repentance when he said that

"The repentance of the New Testament is a total change of mind and heart, not only from some sins, but from sin itself."

This change of mind and heart brings forth fruit in a changed life (Matthew 3: 8).

E. Compassionate
The self-righteous man has no need of Divine compassion. Blinded by his own excuses, he rests content and satisfied in his own self-righteousness. Such a man sees Divine compassion as patronizing. But when a sinner has been brought under the convicting influence of the Holy Ghost through clear, plain Scriptural rebukes, and has come to recognize his lost condition and his wretched position before a thrice-holy God, and has come to tremble at the awful pronunciation of the terrible sentence decreed by the high court of Heaven that assigns to him a place in hell fire "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9: 48).

he has become a ripe candidate for the reception of Divine compassion. To such broken-hearted sinners, must the infinite riches of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus our Lord be magnified to the utmost of our abilities. To such penitents must the cross of Christ, the shed blood and substitutionary death of the atonement and the glorious power of the bodily resurrection of Christ be exalted to the greatest extent in our power. These, above all others, must be made to understand the scope of God's grace and love that "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all (Romans 8: 32)." We must, by God's grace, and with the help of the Holy Ghost, make them to understand the Divine compassion that God has extended to them in Christ Jesus our Lord.

F. Comforting
This involves a ministry of comforting. It should move towards the fulfillment of the promise of Christ in Matthew 5:4, which promises the blessedness of comfort to those who mourn. This, of course, like conviction, demands the leadership, control, filling and power of the Comforter, God's Holy Spirit, and, therefore, pursuit of those elements through earnest, fervent, passionate seasons of intense prayer. If we would comfort the mourner, we must follow the example set forth by the Lord Jesus Christ, who never engaged in ministry without first pursuing the blessings of the Father through prayer.

G. Correct
Any endeavor to speak as God's representative must adhere strictly to an accurate interpretation of Scripture. The Bible tells us that "no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the

prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1: 20-21).

We do not have liberty to make God's Word conform to our ideas or wishes. We must conform our message to it, just as God's perfect representative, Jesus Christ did throughout the redemptive pattern of his earthly ministry.

H. Contextual
This means that we must use Scripture contextually. We must regard ourselves as bound to the context of a verse or passage. We have no right whatsoever to divorce Scripture from context.

I. Contemplative
Furthermore, we must meditate upon Scripture prayerfully, asking the Lord to grant us godly understanding of his Holy Word through the guiding ministry of the Holy Ghost. Too often, wellmeaning Christian workers assume that a verse or passage means one thing, when, in fact, it says something quite different. The illuminating ministry of God's Holy Spirit serves to prevent this from happening. But if we will meditate upon the Scriptures in accordance with Psalm 1: 1 - 2, we may trust assuredly that the Holy Ghost will "guide us into all truth" (John 16: 13).

J. Courageous
Finally, serving as God's representative requires courage. It demands courage to oppose the ways of a degenerate society and tell them that they do not please the thrice-holy God of Heaven. It demands courage to declare the truth of an eternal lake of fire, "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25: 41).

It demands courage to oppose pluralism, universalism and popular religion and proclaim that "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 3: 12).

But with Holy Spirit boldness, we can rise to the challenge (Acts 4: 31).

Conclusion
Speaking "on God's behalf" represents the undertaking of a sacred and solemn duty. Doing so must involve the greatest, most absolute dependence upon God the Holy Spirit through earnest, fervent, passionate prayer and total yieldedness to the will of God as revealed in his Word. Anything less, exhibits the greatest display of arrogance and audacity, for without God's grace, leadership, fullness and power not one man in the history of the world should ever dare "to speak on God's behalf".