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"EVERY PASTOR’S THREE GREAT NEEDS" (Heb 13:18) June 14, 2008 I. PAUL DESIRED THE PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE .A. CONSIDER SOME EXAMPLES OF PRAYER FOR GOD’S MINISTERS. 1. Biblical Illustrator: ""pray" for your minister, that in dispensing among you the Word of God, he may be enabled rightly to divide it." "Pray for your pastor that he may never speak to you "smooth things" merely for the sake of pleasing you." 2. (John 17:9) "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." 3. In (2 Cor. 1:11) Paul speaks of "helping together by prayer for us." 4. (Exo 17:11-13) "And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. {12} But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. {13} And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."1. There is no record in the N.T. That any other of the apostles besought the prayers of the Church. Paul did so in no less than seven of his epistles: A. B. (Eph 6:19) "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,"C. (Col 4:3) "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:" D. (1 Th 5:25) "Brethren, pray for us." E. (2 Th 3:1) "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:" F. (Phile 1:22) "But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you." G. (Heb 13:18) "Pray for us....." C. NOTICE THE URGENCY OF THIS NEED FOR PRAYER 1. A. Saphir said: "He who labored more than the other apostles, and who was endowed with so many gifts, seems to have had the greatest craving for sympathy, for affection, for communion, and the most vivid conception that God only giveth the increase; that it is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord" 2. A. W. P. Says: "The servants of Christ stand in real and urgent need of the prayers of their people. They are but men themselves, ignorant, weak, and erring, and unless they are granted a double portion of the Spirit they are not equipped for their arduous and honorable calling. They are the ones who bear the brunt of the battle, and are the special objects of Satan’s attacks. They are often tempted to compromise, to keep back that which, though unpalatable to them, is most profitable for their hearers. In the face of many disappointments and discouragements, they are apt to grow weary in well doing. It is, then, both our duty and privilege to supplicate God on their behalf for daily supplies of grace to be granted them from on High; that they may be delivered from temptations, kept faithful, steadfast and devoted." 3. A musician is commended, not that he played so long, but that he played so well. And thus it is not the days of our life, but the goodness of our life; not the length of our prayers, but the fervency of our prayers; not the measure of our profession, but the sincerity of our profession, -- that is acceptable unto God. " PRAYER FOR A PASTOR: Lord, visit Thy church in this dark evil day; O keep us lest haply we swerve. And graciously listen as humbly we pray, For a blessing we do not deserve. We pray for a pastor to rule us in love; To edify, comfort, and feed; As wise as a serpent, as meek as a dove, Made willing and able to lead. A father to counsel, a shepherd to guide, A brother to visit the sick. A steward with wisdom and skill to provide, With feelings and sympathies quick. A man whom the little ones gladly will meet, Not harsh to brother in fault; Affectionate, tender, obliging, and sweet, His converse attended with salt. A man who will stand for the truth unalloyed Should the poison of error appear; Who seeking no conflict, will never avoid The battle through cowardly fear. We crave such a leader, our course to attend As long as we sojourn on earth, Dear Jesus, in love Thine ambassador send, And teach us to value his worth. --F. Windridge II. PAUL DESIRED TO HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE 1. A GOOD CONSCIENCE: This word "Conscience" is one of the many words that link the writings of Peter and Paul.... a. Peter uses this phrase three times. (1 Pet. 2:19; 3:16,21) 2. Some believe this verse is stated in the light of (Ch. 2:12) (1 Pet 2:12) "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles : that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers , they may by your good works , which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." 3. The Pulpit Commentary says: "A good life without words is a better defense of religion than the most learned apology without a good life." B. A GOOD CONSCIENCE CAN KEEP ONE OUT OF TROUBLE. 1. Of Pharaoh, when he took Abraham’s wife for a concubine. a. (Gen 12:18-19) "And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? {19} Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way."2. Of Abimelech, when he took Isaac’s wife for a concubine.. a. (Gen 26:9-11) "And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. {10} And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. {11} And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."3. Of Jacob, in his care of Laban’s property. a. (Gen 31:39) "That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night." 4. Of Joseph, when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. a. (Gen 39:7-12) "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. {8} But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; {9} There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? {10} And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. {11} And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. {12} And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." 5. Of Nehemiah, in the matter of taxes. a. (Neh 5:15) "But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God." 6. Of Daniel, in refusing to eat of the king’s meat and wine. a. (Dan 1:8) "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."
7. Of Peter, in declaring the whole counsel of God. a. (Acts 4:19-20) "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. {20} For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." b. (Acts 5:29) "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." C. A GOOD CONSCIENCE SHOULD BE HEEDED. 1. May we say to our conscience (as Ruth to Naomi), "I will go with thee whithersoever thou goest." 2. A bad conscience, like Adam’s, will flee from the presence of God. 3. (1 Tim 3:9) "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."4. (1 Tim 1:19) "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:" 5. Thomas Carlyle said: "The deadliest sin is the consciousness of no sin." A quiet conscience sleeps during thunder and lightning. 6. James Madison said: "Conscience is the most sacred of all property." 7. CONSCIENCE: "A preacher by the name of Rawson was a strong preacher. He was said to throw "fits" in the pulpit too. One day, he preached on the subject: "And I was the song of the drunkard." Some folk got up and left during the sermon. The next Sunday, he preached on the subject "And they being convicted of their conscience, went out one by one." On this occasion, no one left; but stayed and took the rebuke from their pastor." 8. Jeremiah Taylor said: "Conscience is a clock, which in one man strikes aloud and gives warning; in another, the hand points silently to the figure, but strikes not. Meantime, hours pass away, and death hastens; and after death comes judgment." III. PAUL DESIRED TO BE REMEMBERED AS AN HONEST PREACHER. A. HONESTY IS AS RARE TODAY AS HEN’S TEETH. 1. Three boys were bragging about their Fathers: The first one said, "My Dad can shoot an arrow and make it to the target before the arrow hits it." The second said, "Well, my Dad can shoot a deer with a gun 500 yards away and be there to catch the deer before it hits the ground." The third said, "That's nothing. My Dad works for the city. And he can punch out at 4:30 in the afternoon and be home by 3:45!" 2. George Washington said: "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an 'Honest Man'." 3. Honest under all circumstances: — Some years before England abolished slavery in the West Indies, a negro, who was a slave, but who had become a Christian, was put up for sale. A kind master, who pitied his condition, and did not want him to fall into the hands of a cruel owner, went up to him, and said, "Sambo, if I buy you will you be honest?" "With a look that I have no power to describe," says the gentleman, the black man replied, "Massa, I will be honest whether you buy me or not." 4. Complete honesty in little things is not a little thing at all. 5. You see, the word "sincere" comes from two Latin words meaning "without wax." Artificers of Middle Eastern countries fashioned highly expensive statuettes out of a very fine porcelain. It was of such fragile nature that extreme care had to be taken when firing the figurines to keep them from cracking. Dishonest dealers would accept the cracked figurines at a much lower price and then fill the cracks with wax before offering them for sale. But honest merchants would display their porcelain wares with signs that read, "sine cera," "without wax." 6. George Washington said: "I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy." 7. Thomas Jefferson said :"The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." 8. Edward R. Murrow said: "To be persuasive, we must be believable. To be believable, we must be credible. To be credible, we must be truthful." 9. Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions a. Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live. b. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, to improve it in the most profitable way I can. c. Resolved, never to do anything which I should despise or think meanly of in another. d. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge. e. Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. 10. Thomas Jefferson said: "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." Conclusion: John Parnell wrote: It matters not what you do-- Build a nation or a shoe; For he who does an honest thing In God's pure sight is ranked a king.
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