DR. RT Kendall
www.rtkendallministries.com
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‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain’
- Psalm 127:1 (ESV)
I asked the late Carl F. H. Henry what he would do differently if he could live his life over again. He replied: ‘I would remember that only God can turn the water into wine’. I knew exactly what he meant by that. So many of us spend our lives trying to make things happen that God was never in at all. It is not too late for any of us to apply Psalm 127:1 to our lives and our ministries. I am in my 76th year and I intend to live by this verse to the hilt. This verse among other things means that (1) unless the idea we have in our minds was God’s idea in the first place, all our vision will come to naught; (2) unless what we are aiming to achieve is actually God’s own will, our efforts will come to nothing; (3) unless we pray in God’s will (1 John 5:14) our praying will be vain (and yet we may persist in asking for what God is not pleased with – and get our prayer answered, as in Psalm 106:15). There is a hint in this verse therefore that (4) something might indeed be built without God’s help. Never forget Absalom’s monument to himself (2 Sam.18:18). ‘The flesh profiteth nothing’, said Jesus (John 6:63 - KJV). For what God isn’t the instigator of will be of no benefit to his people. Finally, (5) if what we envisage, attempt to do and pray for was truly prompted by the Holy Spirit God will make it happen. It makes us feel pretty helpless. But it will also keep us from spinning our wheels and worrying over things that God never intended for us to take on board.
Louise and I have so much for which to thank God, especially that at our age we are asked to speak, write books and travel the world. Louise travels with me most of the time. 2010 was probably our busiest year – whether before or after retirement. I spoke 171 times in 61 venues in several countries of the world. 2011 appears to be much the same, assuming of course we are able to keep up such a rigorous schedule. I would appreciate prayers for a condition that I noticed right after my open heart surgery over two years ago, namely, times of dizziness that come on me unexpectedly. No medical expert (so far) seems to know for sure what has caused it. The best guess by my able Vanderbilt internist: cervicogenic dizziness. It is not life-threatening, only a nuisance, and thankfully I have not had to miss any preaching engagements. Louise’s health is very good – for which we thank God.
We continue to live in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Our son T. R. and Annette and our grandson Toby, as well as Melissa (who lives nearby) and her friend Rex, spent Christmas with us. T. R. continues to look after my ministry – handling book orders and my website. Annette is able to be home with Toby rather than have to work as a nurse (which she is qualified to do). Melissa is employed by Life Way (the publishing arm of Southern Baptists) and is working on an M.A. degree in counseling at my old Alma Mater, Trevecca Nazarene University. Louise and I are members of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. My ministry crosses theological and denominational lines – which has been my lot for many years.
I am asked, ‘What in your opinion is happening in the church, speaking generally, since you travel throughout the world’ (that includes Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the U.S.A.)? My reply: not a lot. I do however believe we are ‘between the times’ and that we are on the brink of something truly great. Phenomenal. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will exceed any work of God in church history. Yes, I really do believe that.
God continues to enable me to write books. Two volumes of Sermon on the Mount (which I have dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones) will be available in 2011 by Baker Book House (2012 in UK by Hodder and Stoughton). Hodder will publish The Scandal of Being a Christian in 2011. Monarch Books (UK) will publish my exposition of Isaiah 53 called Why Jesus Died. Jack Taylor, Charles Carrin and I have written a book called Word, Spirit, Power (stating our view that the Word and Spirit need to be reunited if there is to be a demonstration of authentic power in the church) which Baker Book House will publish in 2011. Charisma House will publish my book that was supposed to be entitled ‘Pride – the Sin No One Admits To’ but which they decided to call The Power of Humility – which I find rather embarrassing. I have a lot of books left in me, not to mention a good number of potential books from unpublished preaching at Westminster Chapel for 25 years. If publishing these is God’s idea, great; if not, I labor in vain to get them published!
Whether I have a continued ministry in the Middle East is something I cannot answer (although people ask me). I will travel to Israel at least twice in 2011. My friendship with Dr. Saeb Erekat, the Chief Negotiator for the Palestinians (whom I met in the days I visited the late Yasser Arafat), continues. My friend Rabbi David Rosen and I have sought to find a suitable Muslim to join us in writing a book on ‘Jerusalem – who is entitled to it?’ But all Muslims (so far) who initially say Yes end up saying No (for some reason). I simply have put this project too into the melting pot of Psalm 127:1.
Louise and all my family join me in praying God’s blessing upon you all. Thank you for your prayers. With warmest greetings and best wishes for 2011.
R. T. Kendall – Romans 8:28.
We praise God every day that doors are opening up for both a preaching and writing ministry. Several times a year I go to a ‘Word, Spirit, Power’ Conference with Jack Taylor and Charles Carrin. These two men have graciously taken me under their wings and have enabled me to be heard where I never dreamed of being heard.
Our premiss is this. It seems to us that there has been a ‘silent divorce’ in the church, speaking generally, between the Word and the Spirit. When there is a divorce, some children stay with the mother, some stay with the father.
In this divorce, there are those on the ‘word’ side and those on the ‘Spirit’ side. What is the difference?
Take those of us who represent the Word. Our message is this: we must earnestly contend for the faith ‘once delivered unto the saints’ (Jude 3), we need get back to expository preaching, sound doctrine such as justification by faith, the sovereignty of God and the internal testimony of the Spirit as taught by men like Martin Luther, John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards. What is wrong with this emphasis? Nothing. It is exactly right.
Take those whose emphasis has been on the Holy Spirit. What is the message? We need to rediscover the power that was manifested in the Book of Acts, there needs to be a demonstration of signs, wonders and miracles; we need to see the gifts of the Spirit operating in the church – that the world will once again take notice of the church so that people are left without excuse. What is wrong with this emphasis? Nothing. It is exactly right.
We believe that the need of the hour is not one or the other – but both! It is our view that this simultaneous combination will result in spontaneous combustion! And then, but almost certainly only then, will the world be shaken once again by the message of the church.
This was the message I have preached over the years at Westminster Chapel in London. This is what we are endeavoring to preach in America and around the world. This is not all we preach but it is certainly one of the main things we preach alongside the need for total forgiveness and learning to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. We need your prayers. God bless you. Thank you for taking the time to read this special letter to you!
R. T. Kendall |
