07/23/2024
There are many pastors who read my thoughts each morning, and today's message is a word for you. I know that many of you are mighty in prayer and that God blesses you in this effort. I also know that you pray in all matters of the church regarding its edification and advancement, but this is a word of encouragement for those who are slow to enter their prayer closets, or find prayer time to be a struggle. Paul was sitting in prison when he wrote to the Ephesians, but in chapter three he went on to describe his calling to them. It is the same calling that ministers of the gospel receive today...
“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,”
Ephesians 3:7-9 ESV
Receiving a calling to preach is an instilling of divine power and responsibility. When it comes upon you it fills you with understanding and spiritual power. Pastor E.M. Bounds says this about that calling:
"Strong spiritual leaders - people of holy might - are tokens of God's favor. Times of spiritual leadership are times of great spiritual prosperity to the church." – E. M. Bounds
But he goes on to describe the central characteristic that God's calling requires of those who receive it, and delivers a warning regarding its lack of use…
"Prayer is one of the eminent characteristics of strong leadership... How can a person who does not get his message fresh from God in prayer expect to preach? A preachers lips must be touched by the burning flame of prayer." – E. M. Bounds
The apostle Paul knew the power that came from prayer, he knew the power and necessity for seeking God, and after he had told the Ephesians he had come to preach the gospel, he spoke to them regarding his prayer life; specifically his prayers for them.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV
The blessings and overall direction for your church depends mightily on your ability to pray. Your weeks are full and rushed, but despite that workload of visitation, board meetings, and so many others that tax on your time... You must jealously guard your prayer time. All of the other efforts depend on your walk with God and that has no passion without a constant dialog that is prayer.
Much like a church's congregants, there are pastors who need advanced instruction in prayer. The skills needed to perform a pastor's calling are learned, and most of them are learned through prayer... So the ability to pray must come first. If that is a challenge for you then seek out a peer who is strong in prayer, or a deacon who you can confide in. Strong men of faith should be your textbooks on prayer. Seeking encouragement and leaning on those that God has placed in our path is a necessity for all Christians... Even pastors.
Bounds concludes his thoughts on this subject with this simple sentence...
"As far as the real interests of Christianity are concerned, a pulpit without prayer will always be a barren thing." – E. M. Bounds
This morning as I pray, I ask God to hear the prayers of His children, but especially the prayers of those He has called. I ask Him to lead His ministers to a deeper understanding of prayer and that He walk closely with those who seek Him, that their pulpits not be barren, and their congregations be blessed by His word.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for those you have called to serve you as preachers and teachers of your Word. I thank you for those like Moses, and King David that you called to lead your people in righteousness, holiness, your merciful protection, and into the realization of your promises through holy prayer. Today is no different than those ancient days when these men sought you fervently, and listened intently for your voice as you spoke to them. You instruct all believers in prayer Lord, but today I pray especially for those you have called to lead your Church. Help them to find comfort on their knees before you, and open their ears so that they can hear your will clearly. By your Holy Spirit I ask that you give them the words to pray, and that he lead them to obedience in your will. We can’t obey you Lord if we don’t hear your voice, so I pray that they are able to persist in prayer until you speak. Help them to pray through the quiet pauses in conversation with you, and through those times of earthly uproar when the world is succeeding in drowning out your voice. Send angels to strengthen them Father, and to protect them in times of both physical and spiritual strife and danger. Bless them in their obedience, and desire to be near you. Show them the love of Christ so that they can love you as he does, and then command them to follow Him safely through the darkest deserts, and past the most alluring of Satan’s temptations. Perfect them in their prayers Father, and teach them that the most effective are not the ornate, nor the scholarly, but those simple prayers of a penitent heart, and the most innocent utterances, and sincere prayers, of a child. Take away the trappings of the world, Lord God, and humble them before you. Let them lay prostrate in their prayers, stand them naked before you, bring them to their knees in submission to you, and otherwise make them less so that you might thus make them more. Once their prayers are pleasing to you I ask that you bless them, and give them the power and wisdom, to do your will... to lead your children, and your churches, into salvation and righteousness through Christ.
“And going a little farther he [Jesus] fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.””
Matthew 26:39 ESV
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Rich Forbes