I have thought about your question long and hard. To begin with, I see three things:
1. The message is CHRIST and Him crucified (I Cor 2:2).
2. The CHARACTER of the messenger adorns the doctrine of God (I Pet. 5:3).
3. The CALLING is manifested by TRIUMPH (II Cor. 2:14).
The message of Christ and Him crucified is the constant and singular message of Holy Scripture–(I Cor. 2:2) "For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified". Every man that God sends is determined to know nothing, preaching nothing, and compromise nothing for the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the message of our own salvation, as accomplished by Jesus Christ the Lord.
Salvation was laid upon Him. He was willingly made responsible to bear the entire burden of saving God's elect. In the Old Testament, Judah made himself responsible to bring back his father's son Benjamin. Judah said, "I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever (Gen. 43:9)." Prov. 6:1-5 tells us to deliver ourselves from surety engagements. Don't swear to take up the cause for someone else, because when they fail, it will cost you dearly. Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ, full well knowing how deceitful and depraved we would make ourselves, in full wisdom, love, and strength, swore Himself responsible, not only for our sins, but for our righteousness as well.
And, He fulfilled His responsibilities as our Surety, when He "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant... and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He served God in our place by rendering the spotless obedience that law requires, and paying for our sins (Gen. 44:32-34).
Why did He do this? Because He loved us, because the Father gave us to Him, and to manifest His own glory. The glory of God, which no man can see apart from Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is the JUSTNESS of God to deal mercifully with sinful men. It is the JUSTNESS of God to make us righteous by the obedience of His Son (Rom. 3:21-26).
It is because of Jesus Christ that we receive all mercy, grace, and kindness. Nothing comes to us because of our works (Titus 3:5). The good that we did before salvation was all evil, and the good that we do now is so full of evil that it possesses NO merit. God blesses us because of Jesus Christ alone. Do you pray? Does He answer? Is it because of your praying, or is it because Jesus Christ makes you worthy in God's sight? Are you heard because of the sincerity and excellency of your speech, or are you heard through the merits of Christ's shed blood, and, by Him, seen as a spotless child? The answer reveals that you're trusting Christ for all acceptance, and therefore, your prayers in Jesus' name, are accepted (I Pet. 2:5). Our good works are well-pleasing, but they are not meritorious. We are accepted without them.
This is the blessed liberty and loosening from the chains of bondage. We once served God for reward, being moved by fear and greed. We did things to be accepted and to elevate ourselves above others. But now, we serve Him because we are accepted and because we delight to do His will (Rom 7:6). This is the service of thanks, and it is the only acceptable service (Heb. 13:15).
Therefore, to motivate God's people to godliness, love, and affection for the saints, we are determined to know NOTHING among them save Jesus Christ-who He is and how He got to the throne-crucified. This is not a continual message of word only; this is the constant and certain proclamation of our own salvation, as we continually experience it. This is why afflictions and so forth abode with Paul wherever he went. God would not allow him to minister in his flesh; He put Paul in situations requiring extreme deliverance, therefore Paul would preach Him... not in the wisdom of words which man's wisdom teaches, but in the demonstration of the Spirit-the Holy Spirit ministering Christ to Paul's own needs–, and power-the power of a revealed Christ meeting the needs of others.
Secondly, the CONDUCT of a gospel minister BECOMES THE GOSPEL. Recently, I was in Mexico and had a great time being among God's believing people. I spent several days with missionaries and other gospel ministers from the U.S. It is a pleasure for me to see older experienced men and women adorn this gospel of grace. It is a blessing to see willful servitude flow out of the very heart of God's people. It is a blessing to be dealt with by others for Christ's sake-not because I deserve it, but because I belong to Him. God's saints serve you and love you, NOT because they're trying to earn your favor, but because they know His love (Eph. 4:32 / Col. 3:12-15). And, this is the will of God for everyone that names the name of Christ. You are to make the gospel you preach evident by your conduct before men.
A man who talks about mercy and is unmerciful is a liar. A man who talks about God's electing love and does not love people is a hypocrite. A man who talks about imputed righteousness yet cheats in his dealings is deceived (I John 4:20).
And, this is especially true for those who preach. We more than anyone else MUST be so called of God that He makes us live it–(I Pet. 5:3) "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." And, this leads us to the CALLING. Paul said this, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish (II Cor. 1:14-15)." God Almighty ALWAYS makes those He sends to preach TRIUMPH over trials, tribulation, disappointments, and failure. He gives us over to tribulation, lest we become puffed up by our gifts and ambition. Then He shows us the sufficiency of His grace (II Cor. 12). He delivers us to the very brink of despair, and then ministers to us and unto others through what we've received (II Cor. 1 & 4). Just as much as God Almighty keeps the feet of His saints, He keeps the feet of His preachers-not only does He secure that we shall never fall away, but He makes sure that we are able to teach (II Cor. 3:5).
And, my brother, therein lies the ambition of every man called by God. LORD, HAVE YOU SENT ME? If so, I must preach. It is not something I consider quitting, it is something I most certainly would quit except He called me. It is not something that can be accomplished in the flesh or by natural ambition. It is a calling from the Almighty that He alone can give.
Just as every believer is to make certain of his calling and election by increasing in the fruits of righteousness-by increasingly bringing forth fruit through the message of Christ and Him crucified (I Pet. 2:1-10)–, every God called pastor gives diligence to the message he preaches. Is Christ all to me, and am I making Him all to those who hear me? It is Christ "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present ever man perfect in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:28)."
*