Do you get heart-burn when you preach?

“Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

I have had the privilege of preaching a few times and what I’ve experienced is that preaching is a great form of worship. I like to sing (although apparently I suck!), but it’s when I speak from God’s word, as his mouth piece, that I really feel heart-burn!

Despite my delight in preaching passionately (and seeing others do the same), I do think that there are times when our emotions are not appropriate for the wonder of the truth that we may be speaking. For example, we may be speaking of the power of the gospel, and yet our hearts are not at all in awe or reverence or gratitude or joy toward that truth. It’s not a cool space to be in, yet, from time to time, is probably applicable to all who preach.

Now the question that I’ve often asked is this: Is that OK? Is it fine to preach or teach or do anything without heart-burn for God? Should we be content in those times of relative numbness to glory? Does God not really care? Is the role of the preacher fulfilled by being theologically accurate and clear?

My gut answer to these questions is no! Surely when God gave the first command, he meant it to be fulfilled i.e. to love the Lord our God with all our being, including our emotions. By being at peace rather than at war with emotional indifference to truth, are we not honoring him with our lips while our hearts are far from him?

I agree with the Lloyd-Jones quote above, yet I know that I will never manage to always live up to it. Thank God that he provides for that which he demands. He will provide the passion for his demand for passion. Preaching with heart-burn brings glory to our God and shows unbelievers that this gospel is a reality and not just a doctrine.

Let’s pray for God’s grace. Both to repent from indifference and to provide for passion. I feel there is a call to be more like Jeremiah in our preaching and teaching and speaking about God. Check out his emotional interaction with the Word of God:

“If I say, I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”

Jeremiah 20:9

That’s what I want!