Monday, July 23, 2012

desiring change

I want to see people come to understand, embrace, rejoice in, and know the freedom found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the primary reason why I am no longer a school teacher, but a seminary student with the desire for full-time ministry. I want to see the grace of God take root in the hearts of those I come in contact with. And I am fairly confident most individuals engaged in ministry desire something along these lines.

But in The Supremacy of God in Preaching, a small sentence reminded me of another person I should desire the same things for: me.


The spirit we long to see in our people must be in ourselves first. But that will never happen until, as Edwards says, we know our own emptiness and helplessness and terrible sinfulness.


After reading this, I realized I do not fully understand, embrace, rejoice in, and the know the freedom found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have not allowed the grace of God to take over all of me. What I desire for those around me needs to be my own desire first. I need grace just as much as anyone else, and to think differently only demonstrates how much I am in need.


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

the heart

In The Supremacy of God in Preaching John Piper counsels Christian preachers (though it would aptly apply to all Christians) to pick a theologian, and then study the individual well. He argues that there are a lot of valuable lessons we can learn from the great brothers and sisters who have gone before us. And this does not only apply to their written work, but the overall testimony of their lives from start to finish.

Piper's man of choice is Johnathan Edwards. As I was reading through the book, I quickly found out why. Many of the points made by Piper actually come from Edwards, and I found myself making notes of the many inclusions of quotes and phrases made by Edwards. He is far more than his famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (which is excellent).

Here is one example of Edwards trying to understand his own heart:


Have concluded to endeavor to work myself into duties by searching and tracing back all the real reasons why I do them not, and narrowly searching out all the subtle subterfuges of my thoughts...Very much convinced of the extraordinary deceitfulness of the heart and how exceedingly...appetite blinds the mind, and brings it into entire subjection.


I, too, am like Edwards. I try to understand my own heart only to learn more of its wickedness. I try to correct it only to find it easily leading me astray.

And like Edwards, I am in daily need of grace. If great men like him found nothing in themselves, but everything in God's grace, then how much more should I be learning from them? Only God knows and understands the heart of men. And only God can redeem it and make it new.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

starving

Underlying all their appetites, what is it people crave? What do I crave and long for?

John Piper says:


People are starving for the grandeur of God. And the vast majority do not know it...Christian preachers, more than all others, should know this truth-that people are starving for God. ~The Supremacy of God in Preaching 107-108

Johnathan Edwards says:


The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. There are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean. ~Johnathan Edwards in The Supremacy of God in Preaching 109

As I read through Ecclesiastes this truth jumps out again and again. Only in God can we find everything our souls yearns for.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

prayer

Another gleaning from John Piper's Supremacy of God in Teaching through the pen of Jonathan Edwards:

Ministers, in order to be burning and shining lights, should walk closely with God, and keep near to Christ; that they may ever be enlightened and enkindled by him. And they should be much in seeking God, and conversing with him by prayer, who is the fountain of light and love...Prayer seemed natural to me, as the breath by which the inward burnings of my heart had vent.
 p.99

While this does directly apply to ministers, it also can be stated for the lives of any and all who claim Christ. We are only as bright as we are close to the source. We are only as close as the time we set aside for prayer. Intimacy comes through prayer as Jesus Christ made evident in His earthly ministry.

I would love to say I have prayer covered. Unfortunately, I try to find shortcuts for intimacy. I long for it, but lack the willingness and desire to put forth the effort. I find other things far more enticing than seeking God and conversing with him by prayer. Prayer is definitely not natural to me as the breath by which the inward burnings of my heart had vent.

That is my prayer. Yes I am praying to grow in my love and desire for prayer. I want to be diligent in keeping near to Christ and growing in intimacy with Him. I got refreshing tastes of it this past week during vacation when free time stuck out far more clearly. Now vacation is over and the commitment to the discipline of prayer begins, for both my sanctification and joy.


Monday, July 2, 2012

gladness and glory

Last week I quickly made work of John Piper's Supremacy of God in Preaching. It was a book I was required to read for my Gospel Communication class, but since I wasn't going to write a paper or be tested on it I decided to put it off until the summer.

I am thoroughly glad I finally read it! On the one aspect, it was a direct challenge to me as I continue to pursue preaching as well as a beautiful reminder of the wonder involved in the God-given task. But for me today, the book was much-needed in more ways than one. The points made, while directed at ministers of the Word, were not applicable to them alone.

In fact, I have a handful of posts digesting the material contained in such a small book (only 100 pages).


...who is not manifestly glad in God does not glorify God. He cannot make God look glorious if knowing and serving this God gives no gladness to his soul. (page 57)

Again, Piper is directing this to ministers responsible for preaching God's Word. I have had opportunities and others are in the works as well, but being glad in God is critical for everyone seeking to bring Him glory.

Wherever I am, I am called to bring God glory. And this must be done with gladness. My heart should be glad and filled with joy at the thought of bringing God glory. Who am I to engage in such an endeavor? Why should I be worthy to declare God's glory to the world? The reality is I am a sinful man forever unworthy and unable to bring God glory. But thanks to Christ my unworthiness has been replaced by His holiness. Not only am I enabled to bring God glory, I can do so faithfully and effectively because of Christ.

This is where my gladness lies. And this is where God receives the glory through my service.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

liberty

For freedom You set me freeAnd yes, I am free indeed
You rewrote my name
And shackled my shame
You opened my eyes to see
I am free


I first heard this chorus performed by Shane and Shane at the Explicit Gospel Tour I attended back in April. And the upcoming 4th of July celebrations on Wednesday had no bearing upon finding it this past weekend.

As of late, my Bible readings dwell mainly in 1 Kings/2 Chronicles. Again and again I am reading the complete failures of nearly every king sitting on the thrones of Judah and Israel. Each generation follows the generation before it, often times finding ways to outdo the former in wickedness. Occasionally a relatively "good" king takes the throne only to see faithfulness last as long as he is alive.

And these readings constantly bring the issue of spiritual slavery to mind. All of these men were slaves to their own sin. They lacked the desire and ability to wrestle themselves free from their evil hearts. If we are honest, we confess that we are no different. But as the chorus reminds us, we have been set free by Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

And how do I respond?

Disinterested. Apathetic. Ungrateful. Depressed.

I've never met a slave. But studying history in college reveals a lot about how slaves respond to their freedom. Rejoicing. Excitement. Ecstasy. Gratitude. All to the point of wanting it for others.

Without belittling the grossness of physical slavery, spiritual slavery is in a class by itself. But this is what Christ has delivered us from. He's taken our names as objects of wrath and written them into His Book of Life. Our shame from the sins we have committed and those committed against us are bound forever. We are now enabled to live as we were originally created: for the glory of God and joy of our souls.

How should we respond in any manner apart of sheer jubilation in and worship of our Redeemer?