The Small Success Of A Gospel Minisitry

Adapted From A Sermon By

John Newton

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

(Matthew 11:25 ESV)

In Matthew 11:25, Jesus thanks the Father for hiding the gospel from the wise and revealing it to little children. John Newton’s sermon “The Small Success of a Gospel Ministry” explores why the preached word often yields little fruit—yet remains under God’s sovereign purpose. This message remains just as relevant today as it was in Newton’s time.

The Lord perfectly knew beforehand the persons who would profit by his ministry: but his observations, conduct, and discourses, were intended as a pattern and instruction to his followers. He is said to have marvelled at the unbelief of some, and at the faith of others; not as though either was a surprise to him, who was acquainted with all hearts, and always knew what he himself could do; but it is spoken of him as a man, and to show how his ministers and people should behave in all circumstances.

In the preceding verses he had been speaking of Capernaum, and other places, where his mighty works had been performed in vain. He had denounced a sentence against them; and foretold that their punishment would be heavier in proportion to the greatness of the privileges they had abused. But this was not the work he delighted in. Mercy and grace were his delight, and he usually expressed sorrow and pain for the obstinacy of sinners.

He wept for his avowed enemies, and prayed for the murderers who nailed him to the cross. It was not without grief that he declared the approaching doom of these cities; yet raising his thoughts from earth to heaven, he willingly accepted His heavenly Father’s will and showed complete joy in God’s plan. He knew, that however some would harden themselves, there was a remnant who would receive the truth, and that the riches and glory of the divine sovereignty and grace would be magnified. Before looking at the details, the context of these words gives us a few key observations.

I. That the limited results and power of the preached gospel among the many people who hear it is a cause of wonder and deep sorrow to the ministers and people of God. This was true for our Lord Jesus when he served as a preacher and messenger. And those who have received his Spirit think and act in the same way he did.

1. Those who have truly tasted that the Lord is gracious have experienced such strong proof in their own souls of how necessary and valuable the gospel is, that in their first enthusiasm, and until hard experience has shown them otherwise, they can hardly believe it is possible for sinners to resist its clear proof.

They are ready to say, "Surely it is because they are ignorant: they have not had opportunity of considering the evil of sin, the curse of the law and the immense goodness of God manifested in his Son; but when these things are plainly and faithfully set before them, surely they will submit, and thankfully receive the glad tidings."

With such hopeful expectations Melancthon began his ministry at the start of the Reformation. He thought he only needed to speak and be heard in order to convince people. But he soon discovered he was wrong. He learned that the love of sin, the strength of prejudice, the love of the world, and the schemes of Satan stood as such barriers in his path that nothing less than the powerful work of the Spirit of God could break through them.

And all who preach on the same principles and with the same outlook have felt something of his disappointment. Speaking from the deep feelings of a full heart, they expect that others will be just as deeply moved as they themselves are. But when they find that people listen with indifference, or even with scorn; that those whose salvation they earnestly desire become angry at them for their efforts of love; and that they cannot even persuade their closest friends and nearest relatives—this brings them deep grief and wounds them to the heart.

2. They themselves have become convinced that unbelief was the worst of all their sins. Therefore, though they feel pity for all who live in the practice of sin, they feel a double sorrow when they see those people reject the only means of salvation. They know that this rejection will weigh more heavily upon them than any other charge that can be brought against them. It brings joy to the heart of a minister to see a large and attentive gathering. But that joy is lessened by a rightful fear that some, or even many of them, may receive this grace of God without lasting benefit, and in the end have reason to mourn the day when the name of Jesus was first spoken in their hearing.

It seems clear then that those who show no care about the outcome of the gospel, who rest content with the thought that the elect will be saved and feel no concern for unawakened sinners, draw a wrong conclusion from a true doctrine and do not know what spirit they are of.

Jesus wept for those who perished in their sins. The apostle Paul felt deep grief and sorrow of heart for the Jews, even though he described them in these words, That they "displease God and oppose all mankind” It is right for us, while we wonder at the special grace shown to ourselves, to mourn over others. And since secret things belong to the Lord, and we do not know but that some of whom we now have little hope may at last be brought to the knowledge of the truth, we should be patient and forbearing after the example of our heavenly Father. We should try by every reasonable and wise means to lead them to repentance, remembering that they cannot be farther from God than by nature we ourselves once were.

II. The best way to find relief from the discouragements we meet with from men is to lift our thoughts to God and heaven. For this the Lord Jesus is our example here. He said, “I thank you, Father.” The word means to confess, to promise, or consent, and to praise. As if it had been said, “I glorify your wisdom in this respect, I acknowledge, and declare that it is your will, and I express my own consent and approbation.” Our Lord’s understanding of God’s plans was perfect, and therefore his satisfaction was complete. It is said, “he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit,” (Luke 10:21) when he spoke these words. And the more we grow in faith and in the knowledge of God, the more we will be satisfied with his decisions, and will see and say, “He has done all things well.” It is necessary for our comfort to be firmly settled in the truth suggested in our text, that the Lord has made provision for the fulfillment of his own purposes, and that his plans will surely stand. From this teaching we may infer,

1. That where the faithful work and efforts of ministers and others, to promote the knowledge of grace and the practice of holiness, fail to succeed, yet they will be accepted. The servants of Christ may in their humble measure take up the words of their Lord and Master, in the prophet: "But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God," Isaiah 49:4. When he sent out his first disciples, he directed them, whenever they entered, to say, "Peace be to this house! And if a son of peace is there," if there is anyone who thankfully accepts your greeting and message, "your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you," Luke 10:6. That is, your good wishes and efforts will not be lost for lack of proper objects, but, when they seem to have no effect on others, will bring the happiest results to yourselves: you will receive all you were eager to share. Thus his ministers are to declare his whole will, whether men will hear, or whether they refuse to listen. And if they do this with a single aim for his glory, and in humble dependence upon his blessing, they are not responsible for the outcome; they will in no way lose their reward.

2. Faithful efforts in the service of the gospel will not completely fail. Though all will not hear, some certainly will both hear and obey. Though all are by nature equally opposed and unable, yet there will be 'people who offer themselves freely on the day of God's power,' Psalm 110:3. If the wise and prudent turn away from the truth, there are children to whom it will be revealed. The Lord renews to us a pledge of his faithfulness in this matter every time the rain falls. For so he has promised, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it," Isaiah 55:10.

3. The divine sovereignty is the best thought we can turn to for calming and strengthening our minds under the difficulties, discouragements and disappointments which accompany the preaching of the gospel. The more we give in to reasonings and vain inquiries, the more we will be confused and frustrated. When Jeremiah had been complaining of some things that were too hard for him, the Lord sent him to the potter's house, and taught him to conclude, from the potter's power over the clay, the just right which the Lord of all has, to do what he will with his own, Jeremiah 18:6.

It is only the pride of our own hearts that prevents this consideration from being perfectly clear and satisfying. How many schemes that take away from the free grace of God, tending to darken the glory of the gospel, and to diminish the righteousness of the Redeemer, have arisen from vain unnecessary attempts to explain the ways of God; or rather to limit the actions of Infinite Wisdom to the bounds of our narrow understandings, to measure the depths of the divine plans with our weak tools, and to say to Omnipotence, "This far you shall go, and no farther." But upon the ground of the divine Sovereignty, we may rest satisfied and steady: for if God appoints and rules over all according to the purpose of his own will, we have sufficient security, both for the present and the future.

1st, For the present. We may firmly expect, what scripture and reason join to assure us, that "the Judge of all the earth will do right." Whatever to us appears otherwise in his actions, should be charged to the darkness and weakness of our minds. We know, that in every area of knowledge, difficulties and objections come up for young beginners, which, at first view, may seem almost impossible to answer; but as knowledge grows, the difficulties gradually fade, and at last we see they were mainly due to the limits of our understanding. In the things of God it is entirely so; "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all;" his revealed will is, like himself, just, holy, pure in the whole, and perfectly consistent in every part.

We may safely rest upon this general truth, that "the Judge of all the earth shall do right." Though he does not give us a detailed account of his dealings, and we are not fully able to understand them; yet we ought, against all appearances and proud reasonings, to settle it firmly in our minds, that everything is carried out in a way that matches the views which God has given us of himself in his holy word, as a being of infinite justice, wisdom, goodness, and truth. And in addition,

2dly, For the future. He has appointed a day when he will make it clear that he has done right. Though clouds and darkness are now upon his actions, they will before long be removed. When all his plans in providence and grace are completed; when the present imperfect state of things is finished; when the dead, small and great, are called to stand before him, then the great Judge will be willing to open up the whole course of his dealings, and will show that his actions are right before angels and men. Then every bold complaint will be silenced, and every difficulty solved. His people will admire his wisdom, his enemies will confess his justice. The destruction of those who perish will be acknowledged as deserved, and of themselves; and the redeemed of the Lord will give all the glory of their salvation to him alone. What we will then see, it is now our duty and our comfort to believe with full certainty.

The great subject that filled our Saviour with joy, and that will, as far as it is understood, support his servants through all their difficulties and disappointments, is the thought of the sovereign hand of God directing the success of his word when and where he pleases. We must put off speaking of this until our next sermon by Newton. For now we will end with a few conclusions from what has been said so far, by way of introduction.

1. Pay close attention to how you hear. The gospel of salvation, which is sent to you, will be either "a fragrance from death to death, (or) a fragrance from life to life," to every soul of you. There is no middle ground. Though, in a common and familiar way of speaking, we sometimes complain that the gospel is preached without effect, there is in reality no possibility that it can be without effect: an effect it must and will have upon all who hear it.

Happy are they who receive and take hold of it as a joyful sound, the gift of God's love beyond words. To these it will be "a fragrance from life to life." It will give life to the soul at first, and keep that life, against all opposition, until it ends in glory. But woe, woe to those who do not receive it. It will be to them "a fragrance from death to death." It will leave them under the sentence of death, already spoken against them by the law which they have broken, and it will send them to eternal death, under the heaviest added weight of guilt and misery.

Remember the judgment on Capernaum, and why it was spoken. Jesus preached among them the words of eternal life, and they rejected him. This was all. In other things, perhaps, they were no worse than their neighbors, and probably refused to hear themselves judged worthy of a heavier punishment than Sodom, and those cities which, for their wicked acts, were destroyed with fire from heaven. But our Lord assures us, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for those who treat his word with contempt. For this guilt and condemnation was not limited to the Jews who rejected his person, but extends to all who will at any time treat his gospel with contempt.

However small his ministers are in other respects, if they faithfully deliver his message, he has declared himself closely involved in the reception they meet with: "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me," Matt. 10:40. It is therefore at your peril to treat the preached gospel with indifference: (if it is spoken in line with the scriptures) the word of God which is preached will judge you at the last day.

2. Watch out against being wise in your own eyes, so that you do not come near the character of those from whom the righteous God sees fit to hide the knowledge of those truths, without which they cannot be saved. The gospel is not offered to you so that you may give your opinion of it, that it may stand or fall according to your decision, but it firmly demands your submission.

If you think yourselves able to judge and examine it by that imperfect and corrupted light which you call your reason, you will probably find reasons enough to reject it. Reason is rightly used in the ordinary concerns of life; and has so far a place in religious inquiries, that none can or do believe the gospel without having sufficient reasons for it. But you need a higher light, the light of God's Spirit, without which the most glorious displays of his wisdom will appear foolishness to you.

If you come simple, dependent, and willing to be taught; if you pray from your heart, with David, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law," (Psalm 119:18,) you will be heard and answered; you will grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; but if you neglect this, and trust in yourselves, as if this promised help of the Holy Spirit were unnecessary, the glorious light of the gospel will shine on you in vain; for Satan will keep such hold of you by this pride of your hearts, as still to keep you in bondage and darkness, that you will neither see it, nor desire to see it.

3. If you have some spiritual understanding of these things you have reason to praise God that you see a little. You were once fully blind. You saw neither your disease nor your remedy. You could see nothing of the excellence of Christ, or the beauty of holiness. But now the eyes of your understanding are in some measure opened. It is the grace of God that has made you thus far different from what you once were, and from what multitudes around you still are. Be thankful. Receive it as a sign of good from him.

Do not be discouraged that the beginnings are small, but wait on the Lord, and they will be increased. Seek him by prayer. Spend time with your bibles. Attend the public worship of God. In the humble use of these means, (while you try to act faithfully according to the light you have already received,) you will gradually grow in wisdom and comfort. The christian growth is not instant but by degrees, "the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day," (Prov. iv. 18,) and as the grain comes forward surely, though unnoticed, Matt. 13:31, 32.

In this way your view of gospel truth will increase in clearness, evidence, and power, until you are taken from this land of shadows to the place of perfect light, to see the truth as it shines in the person of Jesus, without a veil, and without a cloud for ever.