Prayer before and after this morning's service

O Lord,
I bless You that the issue of the battle between myself and Satan has never been uncertain, and will end in victory.
Calvary broke the dragon's head, and I contend with a vanquished foe, who with all his subtlety and strength has already been overcome.
When I feel the serpent at my heel may I remember Him whose heel was bruised, but who, when bruised, broke the devil's head.

My soul with inward joy extols the mighty conqueror.

Heal me of any wounds received in the great conflict;
if I have gathered defilement,
if my faith has suffered damage,
if my hope is less than bright,
if my love is not fervent,
if some creature-comfort occupies my heart,
if my soul sinks under pressure of the fight.

O You whose every promise is balm, every touch life, draw near to your weary warrior, refresh me, that I may rise again to wage the strife, and never tire until my enemy is trodden down.

Give me such a fellowship with You that I may defy Satan, unbelief, the flesh, the world, with delight that comes not from the creature, and which a creature cannot mar.

Give me a draught of the eternal fountain that lies in Your immutable, everlasting love and decree.

Then shall my hand never weaken,
my feet never stumble,
my sword never rest,
my shield never rust,
my helmet never shatter,
my breastplate never fall,
as my strength rests in the power of Your might.

(Taken from 'The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions")

Dr. Who?

Most people who have listened to my preaching for any length of time know that I often refer to the teaching and writing of Dr. David Martin Lloyd-Jones. Perhaps some (most?) have absolutely no clue who I am refering to, other than 'that guy that Pastor Bernie always talks about'. I must say that, in fact, Dr. Lloyd-Jones has probably had more influence on the way that I preach than any other person - living or dead. Of course, the good Doctor has been in the presence of the Lord since March of 1981. He actually told people to stop praying for his healing - he was ready to go home. In 1981 I was still in Jr High School and much more concerned about the onset of pubescent acne and girls than I was about anything great. Now I see Dr. Llloyd-Jones as something of a hero - and I hope that these few words may enlighten you as to why he is important to me - and perhaps this will be of value to those who take the time to read this (I know there are a couple of you).

Dr. David Martin Lloyd-Jones (let's call him MLJ for the sake of brevity from here on out?) led as interesting of a life that could be expected of a pastor. He actually began his career as a physician - and a successful one at that. However, this Doctor was soon to be absolutely gripped and thus intoxicated with the Gospel of the Cross. Soon thereafter he stepped aside from the medical world and entered into the vocation of proclamation. He had the blessing of being trained by the Spirit and the Word in the real World, versus the liberal leaning seminaries of his day.

MLJ's religious background will sound strange to American ears. He was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist. In other words he embraced the best of both worlds - the solid theology of the Reformation and the evangelistic and missional passion of Methodist revivalism. Thus he began his ministry pastoring a small Calvinistic Methodist church in South wales. Later, his preaching was heard by the loudest Evangelical voice of England, in the day, Dr. G. Campbell Morgan of Westminster Chapel, London. MLJ spent the remainder of his ministry preaching there every Sunday morning, Sunday Evening and several times during the week (1939-1968). He continued to preach regularly at various functions until his final sermon in 1980.

There's a small bit about his life. Here are a few reasons this man is so important to me:

A Balanced Biblical Theology - The Doctor carried his "Calvinistic Methodist" roots all the way through his ministry. He was thoroughly 'reformed'. Yet - those who hold tenaciously to the five points of Calvinism with arrogant airs and dogmatic assertions will find MLJ to be a great joy -- and a great irritation. MLJ was a master of teaching the Bible straight up. He theologized his text. No issues there -- the difference being that his theolgy was drawn from the text, thus filtered through the text as opposed to filtering the text with a particular theology. Granted - he ran into trouble at times. I have even found certain points with which I reverently and humbly take issue. However, MLJ is gloriously difficult to catagorize. He's been accused of being everything from hyper-calvinist to Pentecostal. The beauty of it is the fact that he has agreement and issues with all of the above -- because the Bible has agreement and issues with all of the above. I have personally learned much about theology by simply reading and re-reading sermons by "The Doctor".

Anointed Expostory Preaching - I have to confess that I almost fell over when I read a quote by MLJ that said, "I wouldn't go across the Street to hear myself preach". Yet, thousands of people went more than across the street to hear him preach every week. There were no Gimmicks. There was no Pizzazz. He used no PowerPoint equivolent, and hardly used illustration. He preached for at least 45-50 minutes every time he spoke. By 2005 standards, no one should have even been present after the first 30 minutes. However, people were drawn to his preaching because of his contageous passion for the truth. Preaching the Gospel was not trivial, nor was it trivialized by this man. People were drawn by the truth itself and not by some Gimmicky reflection. It is said that MLJ's preaching was like flying - the sermon would begin slowly, picking up speed and moving rapidly down the runway, and ultimately conclude, while soaring into the heavens. His book entitled "Preachers and Preaching" continues to have great influence on my teaching ministry.

Living in the Sweep of Church History - MLJ was a cultural critic of the Modern Era, and was not afraid to call the common practices of the church and society into question. I believe this was so, because of his deep roots in church history, particularly reformation theology - and more specifically -- the Puritans. He was part of a yearly conference that explored the legacy of Puritan theology and practice. I have learned from this the incredible value of consciously standing on the shoulders of all who have gone before us. MLJ knew where he stood in light of that. Likewise, we stand here today because all this great 'cloud of witnesses'. In our burgeoning, superficial post-modern era, I think we do well to understand this truth and to sit at the feet of the women and men of God who have gone before us.

So there you have it. My apologies for this being a bit long -- but I wanted you know why this man and his legacy is so important to me. Like all fallen people, he is not without warts and inconsistancies. However, I think any man in ministry would do well to listen to him; for though he is dead, he yet speaks.

Here are a few more Web resources, if you're interested in reading further:

MLJ Recordings and Resources (You can even listen to his messages here. You should really listen for the way he says the Word "Wrath".)

Bio by John Piper

Books

Biography by Iain Murray

Cal Thomas puts perspective on the Sponge Bob fuss

I think this is an important article, in light of all the "Sponge Bob" fuss. I originally read it in the Tennessean (today, Thursday, February 10). This is the same article from a Wichita, KS newspaper.

I commend it to you ...

Wichita Eagle | 02/09/2005 | CAL THOMAS: CHRISTIANS SHOULD CAST LIGHT, NOT STONES

Why I control the knife (and how I long to let it go)

The primary reason that I volunteer to slice the roast or to carve the turkey or to pull apart the roasted chicken is not because I wish to be helpful. There is nothing about those tasks that I do for the love of wielding a knife or for the furtherance of domesticated husbandry. I take control of the knife because it is the one who has the knife that determines who gets the first taste of meat - that person of privilege usually being myself. I love to snack on the little bits and tastes of meat that fall from the carving blade. I'm sure that I'm no better than the dog (he gets what falls to the floor), but I am not ashamed to say that I love the first taste.

However, I'm also not ashamed to say that I love the feast. Whether it's simply a meal with my family or a holiday extravaganza - the first taste is always good. The feast is always better. Exponentially better. Not only is there more food, but the feast is savored with people I love and care about , and with whom I can laugh and cry and reminisce. Anticipation of the feast is in the taste. And that is good, beause I enjoy anticipation. Joy is in the feast. The appetizer is great. The meal is the best.

More and more I am convinced that this life is one of appetizers. We are in a season of anticipation. Again - I love that. There is something to be said about the pleasure of looking forward to Christmas morning or an evening with my wife or a vacation to some far away and exotic place. There is even greater joy - a more real joy - when the event actually is experienced in its fullness.

To put this scripturally I would draw attention to Romans 5. Verse 5 says so beautifully that 'God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is given to us'. This is right here and now. Yet - we truly 'rejoice in hope of the glory of God' (verse 2) and lay that next to 8:18 that says there is no suffering in this life that is worthy to be compared with the Glory that is to be revealed in us. There is a present first 'taste'. But we must remember that this is only a taste. The feast is to come.

It is good now.

It will be exponentially better then.

I am convinced that this means I must thoroughly enjoy everything that God has given now - and that I can be completely satisfied with that. Yet, while being satisfied in Him, I must also hunger and thirst and long for everything that will be revealed and to deeply desire the feast that is to come. Thus we are completely satisfied, while eagerly anticipating. God has ordained that we taste what is delicious now, while looking at and longing for the feast that is to come.

I'm hungry for home today. I think of the words of a brother who is already there:

So if I stand let me stand on the promise
That you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace
That first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy
That has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man
Who is longing for his home

Father, I long.

Wycliffe in Overdrive - CT article

I absolutely love the spirit and vision of Wycliffe Bible Translators. This article is well worth the read.

Wycliffe in Overdrive - Christianity Today Magazine

Perpetuating the Dying

I have always said that I am not ashamed to declare that I am a pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance and that I am happy that this is the affiliation of our church. I continue to do so. I love what the C&MA is doing all over the world. The work of the C&MA in the difficult places and among the unreached peoples of the world is truly inspirational. God is at work. I am glad to be associated with such. However - now all niceties aside - I read a quote today that I wish the 'powers that be' would really take to heart. It is from Samuel Escobar's The New Global Mission: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone (Christian Doctrine in Global Perspective); InterVarsity Press, 2003.

ANY LONG-RANGE vision for missions must include not only the planting of new churches but also the renewal of old ones. The former without the latter eventually leads only to lands full of dead and dying churches. The birth of new congregations is no guarantee that they will remain spiritually alive.

I received word today that yet another church in our District is closing. There are several others that I personally know are drying up on the vine and should probably already have shut their doors. It's a grevious thing. I know that most reading this little blog are not going to be overly concerned about this issue - but it's one that I believe is vital and is near to my heart. Existing local churches must do what it takes to shore up weaknesses and call upon the graciousness and mercy of our Lord. If we are truly going to be those who send laborers to the difficult places, we must be those who are willing to labor here - and do what it takes to see the Kingdom of God flourish in this place, which can also be quite difficult. Sin and Satan are the same wherever we go. But our weapons are also the same - we don't use weapons of flesh. We use weapons of Spirit. The Word of God. Prayer. The Gospel of Christ crucified.

I am praying for renewal in our churches. We need an awakening. I commend Escobar's book to you. Read it. Get a vision for renewal and prayer. I pray that the C&MA in the US will move beyond perpetuating the dead and dying and seek true ressurection and life.

The Pornography Culture - David B. Hart: Freedom of Will or Freedom to Rebel?

I just read the following article:

The Pornography Culture - David B. Hart

It is best to print it off and to read it carefully - but I'm convinced this writer is on to something quite important in light of American culture and our predisposition to 'freedoms'. It seems that his critique of 'choice' and 'freedom of the will' in light of a pervasively pornographic society truly makes the Biblical argument that we are not only made in the image of God - but we are all indeed accountable to God - whether we as a society will recognize it or not.

Here's a small sample of Hart's argument:

... it is more than empty nostalgia or neurotic anxiety to ask what virtues men and women living in an ever more pervasively pornographic culture can hope to nourish in themselves or in their children. Sane societies, at any rate, care about such things - more, I would argue, than they care about the 'imperative' of placing as few constraints as possible upon individual expression. But we have made the decision as a society that unfettered personal volition is (almost) always to be prized, in principle, above the object towards which volition is directed. It is in the will - in the liberty of choice - that we place primary value, which means that we must as a society strive, as far as possible, to recognize as few objective goods outside the self as we possibly can.

Of course, we are prepared to set certain objective social and legal limits to the exercise of the will, but these are by their very nature flexible and frail, and the great interminable task of human 'liberation' - as we tend to understand it - is over time to erase as many of these limits as we safely can. The irreducibly 'good' for us is subjective desire, self-expression, self-creation. The very notion that the society we share could be an organically moral realm, devoted as a whole to the formation of the mind or the soul, or that unconstrained personal license might actually make society as a whole less free by making others powerless against the consequences of the 'rights' we choose to exercise, runs contrary to all our moral and (dare one say?) metaphysical prejudices. We are devoted to - indeed, in a sense, we worship - the will; and we are hardly the first people willing to offer up our children to our god.

I highly recommend taking the time to print and read this article.