Pray for Brother John

God has used some key individuals in the last several decades to fuel a reformation within evangelicalism at large, among those men is John Piper, author and pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. On Januaray 6th an announcement was posted from Desiring God Ministries, of whom Piper is founder and president, stating that Pastor Piper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

This is indeed sad news, yet from reading Piper's personal address on the subject one would not think that it was so. Piper writes, "This news has, of course, been good for me. The most dangerous thing in the world is the sin of self-reliance and the stupor of worldliness. The news of cancer has a wonderfully blasting effect on both. I thank God for that. The times with Christ in these days have been unusually sweet. " What a testimony. Piper sounds very much here like the old Scottish Presbyterian preacher and missionary Robert Murray M'Cheyne. He sounds much like the man Job, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him."

God has indeed been merciful and gracious to John Piper and He has been merciful to us all in allowing such a godly man to speak, encourage, and teach many of us. In this time be praying for John Piper. Pray for full recovery, for His devotion to the Lord, for his family's encouragement, for his church's faithfulness, and for the grace and glory of God to be manifested through this. You can find out more by checking online at www.desiringgod.org or by reading the public letter sent out by Piper under my top articles page.

In a like manner continue praying for Don Whitney as he is at home recovering from his surgery from last month. These two men have been great teachers in the church and each with their distinct cases of cancer need our prayers at this time. And our God is able to heal both men and to use their ilnesses to His glory. What a sovereign Lord we have.