The Prayer of the Aged! (Psalms 71)

A Special Message to our Older Ministry

One of the blessings of life is growing old. Your perspectives are broadened and enlarged, and you can see further. As a watchman on a wall, the aged David had a greater regard for safeguarding the truth by committing the same to others to show and speak of the strength and power of God’s wondrous works. By those truths, God is honored, and man is humbled, and the next generation of spiritual children can flourish!

Now that “I am older and gray-headed,” my perspectives have shown me that there has been a great falling away in such a short period; such a decline in Biblical truth and love for the Gospel of Christ is obvious. As Paul said, “men shall be lovers of their own selves” and “will not endure sound doctrine.” What he said he also saw and experienced, as we do today. Here is the warning parameter to us today; “From such turn away.” (cf. 2 Tim. 3:1-5). David’s remedy? Fight the good fight of faith by asking God for strength to “show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day” (Ps. 71:15). 

Contrary to popular belief, David assures us in Psalms 71 that older ministers should never retire. As long as the minister has breath, he is to preach the word with God’s strength! The following is a brief summation of inhibitors that the aged ministers must not fall prey to.

DOCTRINE DIVIDES

In the 70s, there was a warning from the senior ministry. They sounded the alarm about the decent of doctrine. They warned of the new mantra, a friendlier and more respectable religion that said, “Doctrine Divides.” Even Spurgeon, of the 19th century, warned of a departure from sound doctrine when he left the Baptist Union, which took a watered-down approach to the atonement. He called it the “Downgrade controversy.” I understand the ploy because a doctrinal teaching ministry separates the chaff from the wheat, possibly exposing the lack of Biblical interests. Such was the case when Jesus spoke hard truths; He asked His disciples, “Will ye also go away?” (cf. John 6:60-67). Doctrinal truths will often create a divide. And, while every pastor cares, something else is far worse: disunity, a lack of spiritual foundation, and a careless Biblical fortitude. Jesus’s cleansing of His Father’s House was a passionate zeal for purity and truth.  His doctrine dropped as dew, feeding and nourishing the sheep by the indissoluble words of God. His teaching was not dry and lifeless. Paul used great plainness of speech.

Doctrine is clear; it is the foundation. Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Be on guard against feeling inadequate, washed up, or discarded. “If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth” (Jer. 15:19). Be strong and courageous!

DOCTRINE IS DILUTED 

Since doctrine became a “dirty word,” it has led to the dissolution of God-honoring doctrine, so much so man’s things filled its place. The 80s and 90s exposed humanistic thinking from a God-central perspective to a man-centrist doctrine. The doctrine was displaced with humanistic ventures, capitalizing on man’s lack of Bible knowledge. Practice became the center stage, resulting in churches without the Bible, sermons without the Lord Jesus, love without atonement, and men without sin. As a result, a new gospel appeared to address dysfunctional behaviors and needs for reformation. Toys, gadgets, and euphoric highs have become the new spirituality, proof of spiritually filled life: a new Judaism of old, a man’s religion with dead works while discarding the poor and needy! Is there a famine for hearing the words of the Lord? Will sinners be able to find the true gospel preached? One of the effects of Holy Spirit-blessed preaching, when God is pleased to give, is the conviction of His word. A brother or sister grows in knowledge of the truth. They may not always express it, but such assurances promote life-changing character and deeper devotion toward God and His word. The sermon is not necessarily designed to make people “feel good,” a popular expression today. But evince true deep convictions of truth. Did you enjoy Sunday’s sermon? Or did you go home after church, enter the privacy of your room, fall in prayer, and thank God? Could true gospel preaching attended by the Holy Spirit be what David hoped for, as he expressed? “Thou shalt increase my greatness” (Ps. 71:21).

DOCTRINE HAS DISAPPEARED

The dissolution of doctrine has gone so far that the doctrine has practically disappeared today: Creeds, Statements of Faith, and Doctrines are considered taboo. Does this sound familiar?  Today, we have "unity" in "diversity," a "happy love," and we can "all get along anyway!" A new ecumenicalism that brings people together instead of division. The old doctrinal acronym Tulip has been replaced with the ABCs of modern religion – Audiences, Buildings, and Cash! Or the wondrous works of God in plain and systematic sequence – foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification – have been discarded for palatable church-growth-oriented images.

It may be the aged minister feels helpless amid such doctrinal disappearance. We must once again preach the simple truths little children can understand. Doctrine does not have to be a faint drum beat in the background but rather a beautiful mosaic and colorful language of God’s “wondrous works.” There is no need to shy away from Bible words because those you preach to are sleepy. Even more, with grace in your heart, preach as David did: “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee, and my soul, which thou hast redeemed” (Ps. 71:23). In other words, preaching is bearing personal witness that these things are true! By enjoying the word yourself, you will demonstrate the purpose of God-honoring preaching! I keep a favorite quote by Martin Lloyd Jones in the front of my Bible. “Preach as though you not only believe it but eye witness to it.”

DEEDS IN PLACE OF DOCTRINE

If doctrine has disappeared, what’s replaced it? Modern Christianity has arrived with enjoyable human-interest stories, more popular than great doctrinal themes of “Thy righteousness,” “Thy truth,” and our redemption. Even David’s troubles were lessons to his comfort as God lifted him. (Ps. 71:19- 21).   Sadly, pulpits are removed; Pastors feel they can’t compete with teligenics and theatrics. Like Theaters to entertain, church people want to be amused. Have you encouraged your Pastor to preach the word?

What has replaced doctrine? That’s the question. How about another ‘D’ word, called Deeds? The vacuum is filled with a works-based theology. We know good works are appropriate and beneficial and are mentioned everywhere. (Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12; Gal. 6:10).  So, what is the answer?  

Doctrine with deeds, not deeds without doctrine—God’s glory as fact and your manifest work to declare it.

Are good deeds a ‘quid pro quo’ (pay to play…do you remember Balaam?) If so, the people of God are on the path of outward religion and human pride, which is called legalism or pharisaism. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of Herod.”

ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IN ALL THINGS

The Biblical answer is simple: “Preach the word!” David “showed” (Strong’s G5046; proclaimed, announced), “My mouth shall show forth” (G5608; to tell, declare, proclaim) God's praise! Preaching doctrine adorned with love and good works (cf. Titus 2:10-14) is praise to God.

Our doctrine should be expressed in love to God and by evident good to others. Doctrine is a footing or a compass that always points to the honor of God. Preach to an audience of One: God! And others will be blessed by it. Without the foundation, what will a church look like? 

There may have been times when a youthful David pursued a course in thinking he could help God. But he learned something far greater, that it was God who helped him. And without the works of God, there would be nothing else. That is why the aged David prayed, “O God forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come” (Ps. 71:18).

As I get older, I am in greater need of God’s strength to show forth His praise. But also, I have a greater zeal to preach to all His dear children who come to church now with hopes of others who follow!

By His Grace,

Stephen Aquino

11/10/2023