The trunk of the tree of the ministry of the word is a commitment to defend and proclaim the truth of God's word.

A commitment to defend,

I'm choosing these words carefully,

defend and proclaim the truth of God's word.

What are the essential qualities of successful pastoral ministry?

John Piper turns to Malachai II 1 to 9 to answer that question in this episode of

Light and Truth. This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church

on November 15th, 1987.

Let's start with the threads.

We start here because they're given mainly not for themselves but to awaken these

failing priests, rescue them from destruction, and bring them to success.

Here's the lesson I get from these threats before I look at them in detail.

Now let's read these threats.

Versus two and three, and then I'll drop down to verse nine. If you will not listen, if you

will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name says the Lord of Host, then I will send a curse on you.

I will curse your blessings.

Indeed I have already cursed them because you do not lay it to heart.

Behold, I will rebuke your offering, or your seed, perhaps referring to the crops.

And spread dumb on your faces, the dumb of your sacrifices, and I will put you out of my presence.

Now down to verse 9. And so, I make you despised and abased before all the people in as much as you have not kept my ways, but have shown partiality in your teaching.

Now there are four threats in those three verses. Number one,

verse two, I will curse them. Number two in verse two.

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