Are you Praying Well?

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35 

What more can be said? If the Master found it necessary to start the day in solitary prayer, what about his servants?

"The men who have most fully illustrated Christ in their character, and have most powerfully affected the world for him, have been men who spent so much time with God as to make it a notable feature of their lives. Charles Simeon devoted the hours from four till eight in the morning to God. Mr. Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer. He began at four in the morning. Of him, one who knew him well wrote: “He thought prayer to be more his business than anything else and I have seen him come out of his closet with a serenity of face next to shining.” John Fletcher stained the walls of his room by the breath of his prayers. Sometimes he would pray all night; always, frequently, and with great earnestness. His whole life was a life of prayer. “I would not rise from my seat,” he said, “without lifting my heart to God.” Luther said: “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” He had a motto: “He that has prayed well has studied well.” 

~ E. M. Bounds in Power through Prayer

If you're too busy to pray...  you're too busy.

~ PJVS

Take Courage!

"The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”" - Acts 23:10-11

Of the 102 passengers that boarded the Mayflower in 1620, 37 were members of the separatist Leiden congregation seeking freedom of worship in the new world. They were willing to take a most dangerous journey for the hope of religious freedom. For those believers, seeking and serving God freely was worth any sacrifice, so they chose to set sail and... Take courage!

Paul was faced with opposition and persecution time and again. There were times when his very life was endangered. Yet, the Lord was always faithful to come along side to encourage him as needed. Paul knew that God had much for him to accomplish and the path would not be easy, but he pressed on with the Lord's message ringing in his heart... Take Courage!

The Lord has a purpose and plan for every believer, but it may not be easy. Paul wrote Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12... "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted".  Pastor, your path will be difficult at times but the Lord will always stand near to encourage you. The Pilgrims found freedom and you will achieve God's task if you will just press on and... Take Courage!

~ PJVS

E. G. R. People...

 "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14

As every snow flake is different, so each one of God's children is different. We are different in many ways and our spiritual journeys differ in both speed and level of maturity. A lesson I had to learn early in my ministry was this: everyone is at a different place in their walk with God and I need to be attentive to this fact. I need to be sensitive to their diversity and be kind.

Paul urged the Thessalonians to warn, encourage, help and be patient. Some brothers were idle, some were timid, some were weak and some just needed patience. I recently heard someone use the term "E.G.R. people" (Extra Grace Required people) for those who had special spiritual needs. Showing the love of Jesus is needed by everyone, but especially by "E.G.R. people". Be sensitive to their diversity and be kind.

Who are the believers that live in your circle of ministry? Are they all up to speed spiritually? Or do you find many of them are still struggling in their stability and growth? Be a good pastor and be patient and kind to your "E.G.R. people".

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen... He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench... ”  

~ Matthew 12:18-20

~ PJVS 

Don't be an Imitation!

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning." ~ Psalm 130:5-6

"Oxygen is required for human life to exist. Fuel is needed for an automobile to run. And intimacy with Christ is the essential element and necessary fuel for useful ministry. If your faith doesn’t show through your ministry, you’re simply an echo of what God intends you to be. Your personal relationship with God greatly affects everything in ministry. As a spiritual leader, if you’re not Christlike, you can’t be productive.

 

Jesus was absolutely correct when He warned, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Note the promise—bearing much fruit. Merely standing close to spiritual fires won’t make your ministry vibrant. Without constant contact with Jesus, you’ll soon become shallow, your vision superficial, your influence diluted and your satisfaction near zero. You’ll just be an imitation of the real thing."

~  The Shepherd's Covenant for Pastors by H. B. London & Neil B. Wiseman

"Often the work of the Lord itself may be a temptation to keep us from that communion with Him which is so essential to the benefit of our own souls."

 ~ George Muller

May you never allow ministry for Jesus rob you of intimacy with Jesus. May you never be an echo, but always the real thing!

Because apart from Him we can do nothing, 

~ PJVS

Lead Anyway...

"And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly." ~ Luke 22:61-62

"He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep." ~ John 21:17

"Peter’s failure shouldn’t serve as an indictment to discourage you from becoming a leader. It’s an encouragement that God, even with your weaknesses, can accomplish his work through you. That’s very good news! You are flawed, yes. But God will still use you to lead others to advance his kingdom. While you are responsible to learn all you can and grow to be like Jesus in every way possible, your usefulness is more dependent on God’s grace than your effort. He has called you to leadership — so lead.

You will fail. You will disappoint yourself, your followers, and God—but lead anyway... Peter’s failures didn’t disqualify him from significant leadership in the early church and from leaving a legacy for the church for all time. Flawed people can still make a profound leadership contribution."... You will make leadership mistakes. You will fail both personally and professionally in fulfilling your leadership role. You will blow it so badly some days that you will be sure your church or ministry should fire you and God should put you on the shelf. When you think all is lost, Jesus will surprise you. He will restore you as his follower and put you back into leadership." ~ Jeff Iorg, from SEASONS OF A LEADER'S LIFE . 

Don't give up! Just continue to make "a profound leadership contribution" ... as you depend on God's amazing grace.

Because "the righteous falls seven times and rises again" (Prov. 24:16)

~ PJVS 

The Sting of Criticism...

Louis McBurney wrote the following in the book "Standing Fast: Ministry in an Unfriendly World". 

"The ministry is sometimes pressure, discouragement, disappointment, heartache, criticism, and conflict. I try to communicate that to all who are considering the job. If they don’t believe me, I just show them my mail.

   • Don’t Believe Everything You Hear... 

Recently a woman shook my hand after one service and said, “Good grief, Pastor! Your hand is soft. I bet you haven’t seen a good day’s work in your entire life.”

She grinned, turned, and walked off. She obviously didn’t know how such a statement can hit pastors. I just stood there thinking to myself, Thank you very much. Good day to you as well!

A lot of criticism people throw our way is based on ignorance or misconceptions. When it’s appropriate, I try to educate people. But when it’s not, I find it best just to forget the comment.

   • Ask God About It...

When I encounter tough opposition or a stinging criticism, I ask myself, “Is God trying to show me something in this? Is this a process of character development in my own life?”

So I sometimes take these criticisms to the Lord in prayer: “This is what they’ve said about me Lord. Is it true? Help me to be honest with myself and determine what truth, if any, lies behind their comment.”

I will actually read to God the letters critical of me. Sometimes I discover God is trying to say something to me. Other times, he reassures me that I’m on the right track and not to become discouraged."

As you move into the busy days ahead, may you "Stand Fast" and remember ... "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;" 

- 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Because He set before us an open door, 

which no one is able to shut, 

~ PJVS

Selfless Compassion...

"I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race..." ~ Romans 9:1-3

I attended an ordination service for a good friend some years ago. He was being ordained to the Gospel ministry with a focus on inner city mission work. His brother spoke of growing up near the city and making many visits as a family. One thing he remembered about my friend was the way he wept over the homeless and downtrodden of the city. To this day my friend has unceasing anguish in his heart for the city. He has selfless compassion.

Sincere ministry should be passionate. The passion comes from deep within and motivates us as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14, "For Christ’s love compels us..." In the above passage he is also moved by the lost condition of his brothers and he has a passion for their salvation. His passion is so strong that he is willing to be cut off from Christ for the sake of his brothers. He had selfless compassion.

Jesus gave his life for the salvation of the lost, what are we willing to give? Do we love the Lord and the lost enough to be passionate about their salvation? May we pray for the passion of Paul as we look to the fields that are white unto harvest? Sincere ministry needs selfless Compassion. 

"It is a fair rule of thumb that only that love of neighbor which can also draw people to Christ is truly a reflection of that love for God which is its source." ~ Jeremy C. Jackson

Love them like Jesus my pastor friend, 

~ PJVS