I recently picked up one of his books from my study, The Van Havner Notebook, and wanted to share some of his words. I will use several posts to share some of his insightful wisdom.
A minister may have his study walls lined with diplomas, his ordination papers signed by illustrious men, a sheaf of recommendations from the mighty of the land, but if the stamp of heaven on his commission is faint and fading, he had better close up shop and take time out until he can return to his pulpit with a brand new autograph from God. When he is thus re-signed, he will be reassigned, like Elijah, like Jonah, like Peter. He may be given the same task, for some churches need not a new preacher, but the same preacher renewed.
A man sent a note to John Wesley saying, "God does not need your learning." Wesley replied, "God does not need your ignorance." But greater than a full head is a full heart and God must fill it. The complement of a full heart is an empty hand, a realization that we are nothing and have nothing in ourselves, that our sufficiency is in HIM alone.
A friend of mine, speaking of a well-known preacher of some years ago, said, "At one time he was my greatest inspiration but there came a day when he was my greatest warning." What a tragic finish when a life that once inspired comes to its close as a grim danger signal!
Maintaining the spiritual "glow" when we have lost our "go" is a major problem. Sometimes I see smug old ministers who are coasting to retirement. It is next to impossible for a church to have revival under such leadership, because the pastor himself needs reviving.
We must stir up the gift of God within us, that we may be burning and shining lights. But it is the dynamic of the Spirit, not human enthusiasm -- old Adam worked up to a high pitch. Stir carries the idea of kindling the flame -- doctrine that we may believe, discipline that we may behave, dynamic that we may burn! This is the true New Testament Timothy, believing, behaving, burning!
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