1 00:00:00,710 --> 00:00:04,990 My message today is entitled, What Stephen Oldford 2 00:00:04,990 --> 00:00:05,610 Taught Me. 3 00:00:06,030 --> 00:00:08,510 There were some very important lessons I learned 4 00:00:08,510 --> 00:00:10,250 from knowing Dr. Oldford. 5 00:00:10,950 --> 00:00:15,030 Stephen Oldford was my homiletical mentor, colleague, and 6 00:00:15,030 --> 00:00:15,430 friend. 7 00:00:15,910 --> 00:00:17,370 He taught me how to preach. 8 00:00:17,790 --> 00:00:20,190 I was in the first graduating class of 9 00:00:20,190 --> 00:00:21,170 his school of preaching. 10 00:00:21,810 --> 00:00:24,170 We wrote a book together on preaching on 11 00:00:24,170 --> 00:00:28,770 his homiletical mentor, Graham Scroggie, and I even 12 00:00:28,770 --> 00:00:31,189 still serve on the Board of Oldford Ministries 13 00:00:31,189 --> 00:00:31,750 today. 14 00:00:33,230 --> 00:00:36,350 Upon reflecting on his life and ministry, I 15 00:00:36,350 --> 00:00:38,510 want to share with us today what I 16 00:00:38,510 --> 00:00:39,770 learned from Dr. Oldford. 17 00:00:40,030 --> 00:00:42,130 I don't think you can spend much time 18 00:00:42,130 --> 00:00:44,850 with a great prophet of God without some 19 00:00:44,850 --> 00:00:47,090 spiritual importation taking place. 20 00:00:47,470 --> 00:00:51,190 That occurred with Elijah and Elisha, and I 21 00:00:51,190 --> 00:00:53,770 can say my own life is better for 22 00:00:53,770 --> 00:00:55,350 having known Dr. Stephen F. 23 00:00:55,410 --> 00:00:55,810 Oldford. 24 00:00:55,810 --> 00:00:59,070 I want to list several areas where Stephen 25 00:00:59,070 --> 00:01:02,290 Oldford impacted my life and those lessons I'd 26 00:01:02,290 --> 00:01:03,690 like to share with you today. 27 00:01:04,570 --> 00:01:08,330 Number one, he taught me the importance of 28 00:01:08,330 --> 00:01:10,130 having a daily quiet time. 29 00:01:10,570 --> 00:01:11,570 This is critical. 30 00:01:12,170 --> 00:01:14,830 Dr. Oldford used to say, a man was 31 00:01:14,830 --> 00:01:16,650 only as tall in the pulpit as he 32 00:01:16,650 --> 00:01:19,050 was long on his knees before God and 33 00:01:19,050 --> 00:01:19,470 prayer. 34 00:01:19,750 --> 00:01:22,030 He wrote a little booklet, which I still 35 00:01:22,030 --> 00:01:26,010 have, entitled, Manna in the Morning, and it 36 00:01:26,010 --> 00:01:28,550 is a Christian classic on the necessity of 37 00:01:28,550 --> 00:01:31,850 having and maintaining a daily tryst with God. 38 00:01:32,530 --> 00:01:35,210 Dr. Oldford used to say that he learned 39 00:01:35,210 --> 00:01:38,590 through research that the average pastor only spent 40 00:01:38,590 --> 00:01:40,750 ten minutes a day in prayer, and he 41 00:01:40,750 --> 00:01:41,930 thought that was shameful. 42 00:01:42,770 --> 00:01:45,910 Dr. Oldford was, first and foremost, a man 43 00:01:45,910 --> 00:01:48,530 of prayer, and he taught me the vital 44 00:01:48,530 --> 00:01:51,890 necessity of spending quality time with God. 45 00:01:52,310 --> 00:01:54,610 That was the number one influence of his 46 00:01:54,610 --> 00:01:57,770 life poured into mine, and that was teaching 47 00:01:57,770 --> 00:02:00,990 me how to have an effective, vital, daily, 48 00:02:01,330 --> 00:02:03,370 and regular quiet time with our Lord. 49 00:02:03,910 --> 00:02:06,230 The reason I maintain a daily quiet time 50 00:02:06,230 --> 00:02:08,669 today is because of Stephen Oldford. 51 00:02:08,669 --> 00:02:13,810 Number two, he taught me sermon construction by 52 00:02:13,810 --> 00:02:16,390 teaching me Graham Scroggie's Golden Hammer. 53 00:02:16,870 --> 00:02:21,010 Scroggie was Stephen Oldford's homiletical mentor when he 54 00:02:21,010 --> 00:02:22,250 was a student in London. 55 00:02:22,830 --> 00:02:26,470 The Golden Hammer is as follows in regard 56 00:02:26,470 --> 00:02:27,770 to sermon preparation. 57 00:02:28,610 --> 00:02:31,390 Read the passage in question over and over 58 00:02:31,390 --> 00:02:31,990 again. 59 00:02:32,790 --> 00:02:37,090 Research the passage in question, observing three principles. 60 00:02:37,090 --> 00:02:39,910 Number one, the historic principle. 61 00:02:40,430 --> 00:02:43,250 Number two, the contextual principle. 62 00:02:43,990 --> 00:02:46,130 And thirdly, the grammatical principle. 63 00:02:46,750 --> 00:02:48,670 And this is where the beauty and dynamic 64 00:02:48,670 --> 00:02:50,350 of the Golden Hammer comes in. 65 00:02:50,870 --> 00:02:54,070 You then relate the passage in question and 66 00:02:54,070 --> 00:02:56,830 activate the Golden Hammer through these next three 67 00:02:56,830 --> 00:03:00,130 questions that need to be asked and answered. 68 00:03:00,590 --> 00:03:04,270 Number one, what is the dominating theme? 69 00:03:04,270 --> 00:03:08,370 Number two, what are the integrating thoughts? 70 00:03:08,990 --> 00:03:12,330 And number three, what is the motivating thrust? 71 00:03:12,770 --> 00:03:15,610 The motivating thrust is the doctrine or challenge 72 00:03:15,610 --> 00:03:16,270 of a sermon. 73 00:03:16,850 --> 00:03:18,730 So I sat at the feet of my 74 00:03:18,730 --> 00:03:22,310 homiletical mentor, Stephen Oldford, as he had sat 75 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:25,030 at the feet of his homiletical mentor, Graham 76 00:03:25,030 --> 00:03:25,730 Scroggie. 77 00:03:26,450 --> 00:03:29,070 The third lesson I learned from Stephen Oldford 78 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:31,330 was to pursue a life of holiness. 79 00:03:31,330 --> 00:03:35,170 Dr. Oldford's hero was Robert Murray McChain. 80 00:03:35,810 --> 00:03:37,690 And on the wall of Dr. Oldford's study 81 00:03:37,690 --> 00:03:39,910 was a framed quote of McChain. 82 00:03:40,370 --> 00:03:43,190 And it was, Lord, make me as holy 83 00:03:43,190 --> 00:03:44,890 as a saved sinner can be. 84 00:03:45,370 --> 00:03:48,650 That was Dr. Oldford's pursuit, a pursuit of 85 00:03:48,650 --> 00:03:49,050 holiness. 86 00:03:49,690 --> 00:03:51,930 And I feel this is the missing ingredient 87 00:03:51,930 --> 00:03:53,650 in many preachers today. 88 00:03:54,570 --> 00:03:58,490 I recall Manly Beasley relating the following incident 89 00:03:58,490 --> 00:04:00,230 in the life of Stephen Oldford. 90 00:04:00,230 --> 00:04:03,650 Dr. Oldford was scheduled to preach at a 91 00:04:03,650 --> 00:04:05,150 church in the Dallas area. 92 00:04:05,730 --> 00:04:07,890 And a seminary student was to go to 93 00:04:07,890 --> 00:04:09,490 the airport and pick him up. 94 00:04:09,990 --> 00:04:12,410 The seminary student asked the pastor of the 95 00:04:12,410 --> 00:04:15,290 church if he had a photograph of Stephen 96 00:04:15,290 --> 00:04:17,529 Oldford so he would be able to recognize 97 00:04:17,529 --> 00:04:19,410 him when he got off the plane. 98 00:04:19,990 --> 00:04:22,930 The pastor replied, no need for that. 99 00:04:23,350 --> 00:04:26,270 Just go to the airport terminal and wait 100 00:04:26,270 --> 00:04:28,050 for the passengers to emerge. 101 00:04:28,050 --> 00:04:30,930 When you see a man that looks like 102 00:04:30,930 --> 00:04:33,770 he has God all over him, that is 103 00:04:33,770 --> 00:04:34,590 Stephen Oldford. 104 00:04:35,230 --> 00:04:37,290 Well, the seminary student went to the airport 105 00:04:37,290 --> 00:04:40,430 and as Dr. Oldford emerged in the crowd, 106 00:04:40,830 --> 00:04:43,190 the student knew instantly he was the man 107 00:04:43,190 --> 00:04:43,770 of God. 108 00:04:44,410 --> 00:04:46,830 The importance of a life of holiness is 109 00:04:46,830 --> 00:04:49,050 what Stephen Oldford demonstrated to me. 110 00:04:49,510 --> 00:04:51,590 I know I've fallen in some ditches in 111 00:04:51,590 --> 00:04:54,590 my time and I've made imperfect tracks along 112 00:04:54,590 --> 00:04:55,470 the narrow way. 113 00:04:55,470 --> 00:04:57,890 But bless God, I'm still on the way. 114 00:04:58,470 --> 00:05:01,530 Holiness must be a pursuit aggressively sought. 115 00:05:02,290 --> 00:05:04,750 I remember Dr. Oldford explaining to me one 116 00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:06,930 day in a study how he lived a 117 00:05:06,930 --> 00:05:09,710 life of victory always under the Lordship of 118 00:05:09,710 --> 00:05:10,530 Jesus Christ. 119 00:05:10,750 --> 00:05:13,530 And if even any thought entered his mind 120 00:05:13,530 --> 00:05:16,510 that was displeasing to God, Dr. Oldford would 121 00:05:16,510 --> 00:05:18,670 stop what he was doing and say, nail 122 00:05:18,670 --> 00:05:20,050 it Lord, nail it. 123 00:05:20,790 --> 00:05:21,750 I like that. 124 00:05:21,750 --> 00:05:25,550 The fourth thing Stephen Oldford taught me was 125 00:05:25,550 --> 00:05:29,970 the absolute necessity of having an anointed ministry 126 00:05:29,970 --> 00:05:31,690 of the Holy Spirit. 127 00:05:32,370 --> 00:05:34,690 That to even try to preach without the 128 00:05:34,690 --> 00:05:35,910 anointing was futile. 129 00:05:36,470 --> 00:05:38,690 I recall meeting with Dr. Oldford in his 130 00:05:38,690 --> 00:05:40,870 study one day and he said to me, 131 00:05:41,210 --> 00:05:44,250 give me some time brother to regather myself. 132 00:05:44,610 --> 00:05:46,210 I must regather myself. 133 00:05:46,590 --> 00:05:48,970 I just got through preaching and virtue has 134 00:05:48,970 --> 00:05:49,650 left me. 135 00:05:49,650 --> 00:05:52,230 My mind went to the passage in the 136 00:05:52,230 --> 00:05:54,490 Gospels of the woman with the issue of 137 00:05:54,490 --> 00:05:57,010 blood and how she touched the hem of 138 00:05:57,010 --> 00:05:57,930 Jesus' garment. 139 00:05:58,530 --> 00:06:00,750 And she turned and said, who touched me? 140 00:06:01,090 --> 00:06:03,410 For I feel virtue has left me. 141 00:06:03,950 --> 00:06:05,290 That was Stephen Oldford. 142 00:06:05,690 --> 00:06:08,010 He was a man anointed by the Spirit 143 00:06:08,010 --> 00:06:08,570 of God. 144 00:06:08,730 --> 00:06:11,870 And he knew full well that one must 145 00:06:11,870 --> 00:06:14,750 tarry until one was endued with power from 146 00:06:14,750 --> 00:06:15,450 on high. 147 00:06:15,450 --> 00:06:19,050 In the Gospel of Luke in chapter 316 148 00:06:19,050 --> 00:06:23,330 it reads, John answered saying unto them all, 149 00:06:23,730 --> 00:06:26,910 I indeed baptize you with water, but one 150 00:06:26,910 --> 00:06:29,990 mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose 151 00:06:29,990 --> 00:06:32,250 shoes I am not worthy to unloose. 152 00:06:32,670 --> 00:06:35,550 He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost 153 00:06:35,550 --> 00:06:36,830 and with fire. 154 00:06:37,490 --> 00:06:40,710 This speaks of two baptisms, one of water 155 00:06:40,710 --> 00:06:42,430 and one of fire. 156 00:06:42,430 --> 00:06:45,190 The Holy Spirit, I can sit and listen 157 00:06:45,190 --> 00:06:48,290 to a man preach and within five minutes 158 00:06:48,290 --> 00:06:50,170 I can tell you if he has the 159 00:06:50,170 --> 00:06:52,050 anointing of God on him or not. 160 00:06:52,810 --> 00:06:54,890 This was one of the most important aspects 161 00:06:54,890 --> 00:06:57,890 of ministry that Stephen Oldford taught me. 162 00:06:58,310 --> 00:07:00,730 Never enter a pulpit without the anointing of 163 00:07:00,730 --> 00:07:01,870 God upon you. 164 00:07:02,230 --> 00:07:04,350 And to do that you must maintain a 165 00:07:04,350 --> 00:07:06,710 close walk with God and live a holy 166 00:07:06,710 --> 00:07:07,850 life unto Him. 167 00:07:08,750 --> 00:07:11,230 The saddest day in the Church in America 168 00:07:11,230 --> 00:07:14,190 to me was when seminaries began to teach 169 00:07:14,190 --> 00:07:16,750 their students how to preach but not how 170 00:07:16,750 --> 00:07:17,950 to get the anointing. 171 00:07:18,450 --> 00:07:21,870 I vividly recall sitting in a preaching class 172 00:07:21,870 --> 00:07:25,130 taught by a prominent professor of preaching and 173 00:07:25,130 --> 00:07:27,170 I could tell that the student next to 174 00:07:27,170 --> 00:07:28,030 me was upset. 175 00:07:28,690 --> 00:07:31,110 When class was over the student approached the 176 00:07:31,110 --> 00:07:34,570 preaching professor and said, You taught us today 177 00:07:34,570 --> 00:07:37,390 how to project our voice and be professionals 178 00:07:37,390 --> 00:07:40,170 in the pulpit but when I study the 179 00:07:40,170 --> 00:07:43,030 ministry of Jonathan Edwards I see he had 180 00:07:43,030 --> 00:07:45,230 the power of the Holy Spirit upon him. 181 00:07:46,110 --> 00:07:50,950 When he preached the seminary professor answered the 182 00:07:50,950 --> 00:07:54,790 student by saying, You sir are no Jonathan 183 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:55,610 Edwards. 184 00:07:56,290 --> 00:07:58,470 But I believe that seminary student knew a 185 00:07:58,470 --> 00:08:00,630 whole lot more about preaching than that stuffed 186 00:08:00,630 --> 00:08:01,670 shirt of a professor. 187 00:08:01,670 --> 00:08:03,970 That's why so many of our pulpits in 188 00:08:03,970 --> 00:08:05,130 the land lack power. 189 00:08:05,510 --> 00:08:07,330 They have no anointing from above. 190 00:08:07,770 --> 00:08:09,410 Stephen Oford taught me better. 191 00:08:10,170 --> 00:08:12,810 The next thing I learned from Dr. Oford 192 00:08:12,810 --> 00:08:15,270 was that he lived for others. 193 00:08:15,690 --> 00:08:18,170 There was a wooden plaque on his desk 194 00:08:18,170 --> 00:08:20,950 and it had one word carved into it, 195 00:08:21,230 --> 00:08:21,570 others. 196 00:08:22,150 --> 00:08:24,410 He lived for eternity and others. 197 00:08:24,850 --> 00:08:27,610 His favorite saying was that as CT stood, 198 00:08:28,090 --> 00:08:30,970 Only one life shall soon be passed. 199 00:08:30,970 --> 00:08:33,570 Only what's done for Christ will last. 200 00:08:34,130 --> 00:08:36,350 I recall when I was a student at 201 00:08:36,350 --> 00:08:39,210 his preaching institute that he was to meet 202 00:08:39,210 --> 00:08:41,210 with a few of us for some casual 203 00:08:41,210 --> 00:08:42,830 table talk on ministry. 204 00:08:43,290 --> 00:08:45,670 Well, he turned the corner and the floor 205 00:08:45,670 --> 00:08:46,850 had just been polished. 206 00:08:47,390 --> 00:08:48,890 As soon as he turned the corner he 207 00:08:48,890 --> 00:08:50,810 slipped and his feet went up in the 208 00:08:50,810 --> 00:08:53,150 air and he crashed to the ground. 209 00:08:53,570 --> 00:08:55,410 He was 84 at the time. 210 00:08:55,970 --> 00:08:58,050 I helped him up and we sat down 211 00:08:58,050 --> 00:08:59,250 at the dining room table. 212 00:08:59,250 --> 00:09:01,870 He kept rubbing his wrist but he refused 213 00:09:01,870 --> 00:09:03,610 to leave and go see about it. 214 00:09:04,070 --> 00:09:06,310 He just kept talking to us and ministering 215 00:09:06,310 --> 00:09:07,910 to us for an hour and a half. 216 00:09:08,310 --> 00:09:10,230 The whole time he continued to rub his 217 00:09:10,230 --> 00:09:11,170 painful wrist. 218 00:09:11,730 --> 00:09:13,330 He put others in front of him when 219 00:09:13,330 --> 00:09:14,390 it came to ministry. 220 00:09:14,830 --> 00:09:16,650 That should shame the rest of us. 221 00:09:16,990 --> 00:09:18,830 We have it turned the other way around. 222 00:09:20,150 --> 00:09:22,470 The last thing I learned from Stephen Oford 223 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:24,310 that I wish to share with you today 224 00:09:24,310 --> 00:09:26,570 is the fact that he was a man 225 00:09:26,570 --> 00:09:27,230 of revival. 226 00:09:27,770 --> 00:09:30,150 He longed to see revival in his day. 227 00:09:30,550 --> 00:09:33,750 He studied it, wrote wisely upon it and 228 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:35,050 prayed for it continually. 229 00:09:35,670 --> 00:09:38,130 I can vividly recall the times of prayer 230 00:09:38,130 --> 00:09:40,310 he and I had as we prayed for 231 00:09:40,310 --> 00:09:43,610 God to breathe once again His Holy Spirit 232 00:09:43,610 --> 00:09:45,610 of revival into the church and land. 233 00:09:45,970 --> 00:09:48,870 Stephen Oford took my first book that I 234 00:09:48,870 --> 00:09:51,810 wrote on revival and edited it for me 235 00:09:51,810 --> 00:09:55,190 and gave it its title, Reality of Revival. 236 00:09:55,570 --> 00:09:56,810 He even wrote the foreword. 237 00:09:57,230 --> 00:09:59,390 He was a man first and foremost of 238 00:09:59,390 --> 00:10:01,730 revival and he taught me to be one 239 00:10:01,730 --> 00:10:02,290 as well. 240 00:10:03,050 --> 00:10:05,610 I hope these attributes and lessons from the 241 00:10:05,610 --> 00:10:07,950 life and ministry of Dr. Stephen F. 242 00:10:08,070 --> 00:10:10,670 Oford have helped you as they have helped 243 00:10:10,670 --> 00:10:13,130 me to be a better and more effective 244 00:10:13,130 --> 00:10:15,750 laborer in the kingdom of Christ. 245 00:10:15,750 --> 00:10:17,490 May God bless you.