A PRAYER FOR SERVANTS OF THE WORD
Some preachers will be pre-recording their sermons today or tomorrow – or live streaming them on Sunday. Here is what we can pray for ourselves, or for those who preach.
Source: Matthew Henry, Method For Prayer (ed. Dan Arnold, Ligon Duncan): “Pray for the Ministers of God’s Holy Word and Sacraments.”
Quote:
TweetTeach your ministers how they ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, 1 Timothy 3:15 that they may not preach themselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 4:5 and may do their best to present themselves approved to God, workmen who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Make them competent in the Scriptures, Acts 18:24 that from them they may be equipped for every good work, 2 Timothy 3:17 in teaching showing integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. Titus 2:7-8
Enable them to give attendance to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching; to practice these things; 1 Timothy 4:13-15 to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word; Acts 6:4 to immerse themselves in them and to persist in them, that they may save both themselves and their hearers. 1 Timothy 4:15-16
Let words be given to them in opening their mouths boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, that they may speak as they ought to speak, Ephesians 6:19-20 as competent ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; 2 Corinthians 3:6 and let them by the Lord’s mercy be trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 7:25
Let the arms of their hands be made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; Genesis 49:24 and let them be full of power by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, Micah 3:8 to show your people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1
Make them sound in the faith, Titus 1:13 and enable them always to teach what accords with sound doctrine, Titus 2:1 correcting their opponents with gentleness; and let not the Lord’s servants be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach. 2 Timothy 2:24-25
Make them good examples to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity; 1 Timothy 4:12 and let them purify themselves who bear the vessels of the Lord, Isaiah 52:11 and let HOLY TO THE LORD be written upon their foreheads. Exodus 28:36
Lord, grant that they may not labor in vain or spend their strength for nothing and vanity, Isaiah 49:4 but let the hand of the Lord be with them, that many may believe and turn to the Lord. Acts 11:21
Please Collin, tell me. In the circumstances we find ourselves in why is it that we hear so little about 2 Chron. 7:14 . Although the Bible clearly indicates that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever, that He does not change, nor does His Word and yet I get the impression, that was for then and not for now. We much sooner talk about how good God is as we quote the many psalms and ..” Jesus loves me this I know ” But somehow I get the impression that is all we know…..want to know. We’re approaching Easter, is it possible that God is trying to teach us something about: suffering; identity ; seeking His face; humbling ourselves; turn from our wicked ways; ? ? ?……..(abortions, marriage breakdown, family violence, Gender issues, drugs, crime, gambling, etc.) At this point in time of moral, social and spiritual decadence I can hardly think of a Bible verse more applicable than, Chron. 2×7=14..(.that’s how I remember it) Yes, God is good and because of that Christ died for us. Even if this verse had a specific application at that time, to me it is inconceivable there ever was a time that it did not apply.