What History Tells Us

In spite of what we sometimes think...

• we did not invent worship music in the last 30 years
• we are not the only generation to face big advances in technology and shifts in worldview
• God did some amazing things before 1970
• there are some great preachers/teachers born before 1900 from whom we could learn a great deal
  

Over vacation last week, I read "The Sacred Anointing." This book focuses on the themes of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. His pastoral ministry lasted ~40 years from about 1929 to 1970. He continued mentoring, writing and speaking occasionally until his death in 1981. What a life, what a book!

He contended for the importance of what some call "unction", a preaching that bends toward a true dependence on the Holy Spirit to anoint the messenger. He encouraged those he mentored to never "grieve" the Holy Spirit. For him that meant, humble dependence. This was not simply a machination or a posturing for self-gain. He really didn't want to disappoint the Holy Spirit by misrepresenting His Word or by moving forward in human effort alone. One of the great quotes:
"To me there is nothing more terrible for a preacher, than to be in the pulpit alone, without the conscious smile of God."

I was challenged and moved by DMLJ's approach to the Scripture and his view of God. I couldn't put the book down, but maybe that's just me. Either way, I think we all need to take more notes from history.