This post is directed primarily to any pastors that may read it. You have come to a place in life where you have....possibly long ago....not only found your calling.....but have settled in to it....with no foreseeable changes until you enter into glory yourselves. You have under your charge anywhere from dozens to thousands of souls. Have you still the unction for the salvation of souls that you once had? Possibly....but even here you might believe that you have attained all that could be attained in your calling....and that is a dangerous place to be.
My name is not attached to any of these posts....but those who know me will not seriously consider what I am saying....for a very simple and biblically evidenced reason....it is not likely for someone not as accomplished....someone you know....to give you advice. You see nothing special in me....and you surely see my flaws.
Two things about this....there are more pastors who read this who do not know me than who know me....so my prayer is that they are not hindered by this very common characteristic that all of us Christians have. We want someone special....someone obviously powerful....a John MacArthur....or a Billy Graham....or a Charles Spurgeon or Martyn Lloyd-Jones....or particularly from my theological tradition....great Puritan's writings....or obviously from John Calvin himself.
Well that is sound thinking....and trustworthy as a habit....and that is what I have tried to do....for it has been Spurgeon and Bunyan and Edwards and Whitefield and the Puritans that I have given whole posts to....for years running....in recommending to you. And that is exactly what I am doing in this post on preaching....which is your primarily calling....is it not....shepherding the sheep given you?
I challenge you to listen to today's....John Piper....Sermon of the Day! I challenge you to listen to this and compare it to your preaching. Compare it to simply taking a Scripture....and for forty minutes explaining it....most of the time an explanation that any mature Christian can and has already done for himself or herself. See for yourself if a sermon like this title that I will mention does not go beyond what you can read in a commentary....and that it is evidence that God endues power in the sermons of some? Should you not petition Him for such mercies....that you might dispense them to us? Or has your learning maxed out....for you are now only a teacher? I posted to pastors many....many years ago a comment like this....'God may use the man who cleans the drain in your basement to show you where you may need help.'
Listen intently to the concept that Piper puts forth in that we are....vessels of mercy....and see if you see any evidence of this humility in evangelicalism today....which includes your own church? See if there is not....in this man's words....that special gift that God has given some. Place it up against the politics and culture wars that have consumed us in the church? And then examine yourself. That's all I ask of you.
These men....Piper and Spurgeon....and Edwards and Whitefield and Calvin and Luther...and Sproul and MacArthur....none of them are perfect. All of them either had or have failings....but they are the best that God has given us.....just as Jeremiah and Daniel were the best....and just as the Apostles were chosen....just as Paul was given God's Holy Spirit in such great measure. You take advantage of God's Word every day....hopefully anyway....take advantage also of those He has given us to help us along the way.
Brothers and Sisters....this obviously is not for pastors only. This is only one of many sermons....by one of many faithful ministers....that can revive you....and renew you...and maybe change your course dramatically....if you are humble enough to see what this minister....this preacher....this shepherd....is saying to us all.
The sermon is titled....God's Ultimate Purpose; Vessels of Mercy, Knowing the Riches of God's Glory....but you can search for it easily under....John Piper....God's Ultimate Purpose.
