Certain jobs are impossible without suitable tools. Nails are not well driven by tissues and breaking up concrete with a toothpick is ill-advised. So ministry without prayer must likewise be frustrated.
In Lectures to My Students, Charles Spurgeon advises pastors of their particular duty in chapter 3, “The Preacher’s Private Prayer.” As I read this week I could not help but be reminded of my own need to pray for God’s spiritual work in one28 and specifically for the 07SR less than four months away. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Phil Johnson will be speaking about Spurgeon’s commitment to contend for Christ, and I took the following quotes as Spurgeon’s call to pray as we prepare.
Of course the preacher is above all others distinguished as a man of prayer. He prays as an ordinary Christian, else he were a hypocrite. He prays more than ordinary Christians, else he were disqualified for the office which he has undertaken. (p.42)
We cannot save them, or even persuade them to be saved, but we can at least bewail their madness and entreat the interference of the Lord. (p.46)
There is a distinct connection between importunate agonizing and true success, even as between the travail and the birth, the sowing in tears and the reaping in joy. (p.46)
The preacher who neglects to pray much must be very careless about his ministry. He cannot have comprehended his calling. He cannot have computed the value of a soul, or estimated the meaning of eternity. … He will surely become a mere superficial talker, best approved where grace is least valued and a van show most admired. He cannot be one of those who plough deep and reap abundant harvests. He is a mere loiterer, not a laborer. (p.48)
We not only ought to pray more, but we must. (p.49)
If we cannot prevail with men for God, we will, at least, endeavor to prevail with God for men. (p.46)
It is not just preachers who are to make supplications, though perhaps they have the greatest responsibility to do so. But every believer who desires God’s work in their own heart and in the lives of others must appeal to God for it. We often have not because we ask not.
3 Comments
You, my friend, are definately on the blog train right now. Right now all I have felt like doing is commenting on the weather. Which is, if I may say, cold.
Man am I looking forward to the 07sr!
Saw Phil & Darlene and both are very excited about coming up. Phil is beginning his prep work. While we too are looking forward to 07SR, we are more so seeing you all again next month.