All tagged pastors
Let’s take a moment this morning and ask ourselves "When was the last time I prayed for my pastor?" We often get wrapped up in praying for those in need around us in our daily lives and forget the importance of praying for our pastors, priests, and reverends... but as Paul taught... Praying for our pastor brings them strength, and us joy.
Prayer as a tool for spreading the gospel continues to be our thought this morning, and Pastor E.M. Bounds observes that "The gospel moves altogether too slowly..." and suggests prayer as the cure for this lumbering pace when he says "Prayer, more prayer and better prayer will do the deed." He goes on to write; "This means of grace will give swiftness, splendor, and divinity to the gospel." We live in a world filled with wickedness and unbelievers. Some know who Jesus is by name but have never heard the gospel, while others may be entirely ignorant of God, Jesus, and faith. Our task at hand is to deliver that message and allow these poor souls to make a spiritual decision based on biblical facts and not their own conclusions… then to help them on their spiritual way.
This morning we will consider the role of mothers, and the clergy, as it relates to raising children in prayer and faith. We know that this is a pastor’s primary calling, and this is confirmed by reading what Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote on the subject "The work of the ministry is to change unbelieving sinners into praying, believing saints." But Bounds goes on to say that "By faith we are saved, and by faith we stay saved. Prayer introduces us to a life of faith.", and often that introduction begins in a mother’s arms. Our Bible verses today drive this fact home by pointing out that faith is indeed a gift born of grace, and that the disciples prayed with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.
Today, as we pray through our day, let’s give special attention to lifting up our missionaries, and pastors in our prayers. Let’s pray that they be inspired by the Holy Spirit so that their words will be courageous and bold as they speak the Word of God, and deliver the good news of Jesus Christ to those they come in contact with. Let’s also pray that they not hesitate to ask for our prayers just as Paul so often did.