Piper on Preaching What You Don’t Feel

John Piper:

Can a pastor preach on joy when he is feeling little of it? 

Yes. He is preaching what the word says and will say it whether he feels it or not.

Yes. He will be praying that in the very preaching of it, the gift of joy might be given. It does happen.

Yes. He will be honest with his people and over time communicate to them that he has his ups and downs and may have to preach on a text that does not find great fulfillment in his life at the time of preaching.

Yes. But over time the disjunction between text and person will undermine the ministry of the word. Preaching is expository exultation, and when the exultation is missing for extended periods of time, life will contradict content and this will weaken or even kill the ministry of the word.

The Cross

The Perfections of God are Eternal

Hence all the perfections of God are eternal.  In regard of the Divine eternity, all things in God are eternal; his power, mercy, wisdom, justice, knowledge.  God himself were not eternal if any of his perfections, which are essential to him, were not eternal also; he had not else been a perfect God from all eternity, and so his whole self had not been eternal.  If anything belonging to the nature of a thing be wanting it cannot be said to be that thing which ought to be.  If anything requisite to the nature of God had been wanting one moment, he could not have been said to be an eternal God.

The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock - Page 286

Time Wasted Away

Apart from church, Sunday was sadly an unproductive day for me.  My plans were set on trying to finish a couple of books that I’ve been working on but instead I laid in bed trying to take my so called “Sunday nap” and then later trying to figure out how to work this whole WordPress deal.  It really is amazing how we go through life not realizing how much time is not spent on things that are not beneficial to our souls.  Today was not a bad day after all as if I spent my whole day watching episode after episode of CSI (one of my favorite TV shows).  Although I was somewhat careless of the time that was given to me.  After all it is right and healthy for us to understand that time is a gift and should be stewarded well while here on earth.  I mean my afternoon and evening, give our take 7-8 hours is time that I will never get back.  Now I should probably mention that Sunday’s are a time for rest for the believer so there is absolutely nothing wrong with naps on the Lord’s day granted you really need it but me trying to figure out WordPress for 3 hours is quite funny and a little sad.  Jonathan Edwards has reminded given me a much needed reminder concerning my time.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

“white men still can’t jump”

Introducing Zoei Toh: The Lord’s Prayer & Amazing Grace

 Our Father,
Which art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trepass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power
And the glory, forever.Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

 

 (HT: Consumed)