{"id":2350,"date":"2022-05-27T14:51:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T18:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/?p=2350"},"modified":"2022-09-18T11:39:25","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T15:39:25","slug":"prayer-for-the-preacher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/devotional\/prayer-for-the-preacher\/","title":{"rendered":"Prayer for the Preacher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Prayer for the Preacher<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(That God\u2019s Word may have Free Course, Run Swiftly, and be Glorified!)<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

E.M. Bounds (1835\u20131913)<\/em> wrote nine classic books on prayer. In one book, he writes of the critical need for people in a church gathering to be in prayer for the preacher as he speaks God\u2019s Word. He used these verses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 Thess 3:1 (KJV) \u2013 Finally, brethren, pray for us<\/strong> that the Word of the Lord may have FREE COURSE<\/strong> [\u201crun swiftly\u201d NKJV, \u201cspeed ahead\u201d ESV]<\/em>, and be glorified, even as it is with you.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
1 Thess 5:25 (NKJV)  \u2013 Brethren, pray for us.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Ephesians 6:18-20 (NKJV)  \u2013 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit\u2026and for me, that UTTERANCE may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel\u2026that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
E.M. Bounds wrote that those people who are in prayer for the preacher are like Powerline Poles that hold up the electrical current wires. [Note: Electrical power lines were new thing in E.M. Bounds\u2019 day. Their first use was for the telegraph in 1844.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00abMen in the pew given to praying for the preacher are like the poles which hold up the wires along which the electric current runs. They are not the power, neither are they the specific agents in making the Word of the Lord effective. But they hold up the wires, along which the divine power runs to the hearts of men\u2026. Preachers, not a few, who know God, have had large experience and are aware of the truth of these statements. Yet how hard have they found it to preach in some places! This was because they had no \u201cdoor of utterance,\u201d<\/em> and were hampered in their delivery, there appearing no response whatever to their appeals. On the other hand, at other times, thought flowed easily, words came freely, and there was no failure in utterance. The preacher \u201chad liberty,\u201d<\/em> as the old men used to declare.\u00bb <\/p>[\u201cThe Weapon of Prayer,\u201d Ch. 10, \u201cThe Preacher\u2019s Cry \u2013 Pray for Us!\u201d by E.M. Bounds, published 1920.]<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n
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A Very Important Decision\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all know the importance of prayer, but sometimes we just get occupied by the \u201cthings\u201d of this life. One obvious sign that our \u201cPowerline Pole\u201d may be falling is that we begin criticizing the messenger God is using. There is a mighty big difference between intercession and accusation \u2013 they are as incompatible as darkness and light! In these End Times, as Satan, \u201cthe accuser of our brethren\u201d (Rev 12:10)<\/em>, is furiously at work, intercessors are needed more than ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, maybe our \u201cPowerline Pole\u201d has faltered a bit, but no worries; \u201cfor God is able to make [us] stand\u201d (Rom 14:4).<\/em> We simply need to repent of any criticism and turn back to the Cross and let the Blood of Jesus cleanse us (1 John 1:7,9)<\/em> so that we can stand as intercessors and follow Jesus\u2019 intercessor example (Heb 7:25)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s make a decision to be an intercessor today! May the Lord empower us to stand tall as \u201cPowerline Poles,\u201d \u201cholding forth the Word of Life\u201d (Phil 2:16)<\/em> so that God\u2019s Word can have \u201cfree course\u201d<\/em> and \u201crun swiftly\u201d<\/em> to bring the powerful \u201celectricity\u201d of revival wherever and by whomever God uses to speak it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalms 68:11 (KJV)  \u2013 The Lord gave the Word: great was the company of those that published it.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Acts 19:20 (NKJV) \u2013 So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cElectric Powerline Pole\u201d Prayer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dear Father, thank You for the \u201cliving and abiding Word of God\u201d (1 Peter 1:23) <\/em>\u2013 the Word by which we were born again (Jam 1:17; John 1:12-13)<\/em>, the Word of our salvation, redemption, sanctification, and transformation from \u201cglory to glory\u201d (2 Cor 3:18)<\/em>. You have declared that everything You change, design, and create in our lives is through Your Word:<\/p>\n\n\n
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John 1:3 (NKJV) \u2013 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Lord, we acknowledge the creative authority of Your Word and the power and majesty of Your voice that \u201c\u2026breaks the cedars\u2026divides the flames of fire\u2026shakes the wilderness\u2026and makes the deer give birth\u2026\u201d (Psalm 29:4-9)<\/em>. Let Your voice roar through the servant You are using today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord Jesus, You told us that \u201cthe flesh profits nothing,\u201d but the Words You speak are \u201cspirit and life\u201d (John 6:63)<\/em>. Lord, it is Your Word that we need to hear. All other words are nothing more than \u201cchaff.\u201d<\/em> Strengthen and energize Your messenger to speak Your Word faithfully:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeremiah 23:28-29 (NKJV)  \u2013 \u201c\u2026he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?\u201d says the Lord. \u201cIs not My Word like FIRE?\u201d says the Lord, \u201cand like a HAMMER that breaks the rock in pieces?\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Lord, we need the Holy \u201cFire\u201d<\/em> and Holy \u201cHammer\u201d<\/em> of Your Word so that hearts might be changed. Therefore, we ask that Your Word would be FIRE in the mouth of Your messenger, and let us be as WOOD! Revive us! Set us on fire with Your Word!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeremiah 5:14 (NKJV) \u2013 \u201c\u2026because you speak this Word, behold, I will make My Words in your mouth FIRE, and this people WOOD, and it shall devour them.\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
For this gathering, oh Lord, grant us to be \u201cnoble-minded\u201d (Acts 17:11)<\/em> that we might receive the Word, not as from men, but as it truly is \u2013 from You! For only then can Your Word \u201ceffectually work\u201d<\/em> within us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Thess 2:13 (NKJV) \u2013 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also EFFECTIVELY WORKS in you who believe:<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Not tickled ears (2 Tim 4:4)<\/em>, but transformed hearts \u2013 this is for which we long! Deliver us from the religious curse of being calloused-hearted, \u201cforgetful hearers.\u201d<\/em> By Your great grace, convert us to be the \u201ceffectual doer\u201d<\/em> who \u201cwill be blessed in what he does\u201d (Jam 1:25 NASB)<\/em>.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Holy Spirit, only Your anointing can \u201cqualify\u201d (Exo 40:15) someone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exodus 40:15 (NASB)
\u201c\u2026and their anointing will qualify them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
It is Your anointing that makes the messenger of Your Word \u201csufficient ministers of the New Covenant\u201d to speak God\u2019s Word to bring \u201clife\u201d to His people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NKJV)
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Who also made us SUFFICIENT as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives LIFE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O Spirit of God, continue to anoint with fresh oil this messenger whom God has sent. God\u2019s covenant with Christ and with those (in Christ) whom He sends is that His Word will be in their mouth, and an immeasurable supply of Your Spirit will rest upon them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John 3:34 (NKJV) \u2013 For He whom God has sent speaks the Words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 59:21 (NKJV) \u2013 \u201cAs for Me,\u201d says the Lord, \u201cthis is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My Words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants,\u201d says the Lord, \u201cfrom this time and forevermore.\u201d<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Jesus, we are Your people. We are Your Church gathered here. We desperately desire tuned-in ears to \u201chear what the Spirit says to the churches\u201d<\/em> in these End Times (Rev 2:7,11,17,29; Rev 3:6,13,22)<\/em>. May we ever grow accustomed to hearing even Your soft whispers now so that we would not miss hearing the trumpet on that Day when You come in the clouds to rapture Your Bride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, dear Lord Jesus, stir up hunger, thirst, fresh passion, and love in our hearts for You as we hear the wonderful Words of Life You choose to speak with us here today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Peter did, we also confess:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John 6:68 \u2013 Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life.<\/pre>\n\n\n
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As young Samuel prayed to hear God\u2019s Voice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Sam 3:9 (NKJV) \u2013 Speak, for Your servant hears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the Psalmist prayed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psalms 85:8 (NKJV)  \u2013 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints\u2026<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
As Your Church and Your Bride gathered together here to hear Your Words of life, we know that our delightful testimony and praise to You, Jesus, will be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Song of Songs 5:16 \u2013 His mouth is most sweet. Yes, He is altogether lovely\u2026!<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Come quickly, Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Jesus\u2019 Name.
Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prayer for the Preacher (That God\u2019s Word may have Free Course, Run Swiftly, and be Glorified!) E.M. Bounds (1835\u20131913) wrote nine classic books on prayer. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5,323],"tags":[451,449,397,452,446,339,447,165,374,448,450],"class_list":["post-2350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-devotional","category-prayers-of-my-heart","tag-anointed-word","tag-church-gatherings","tag-doers-of-the-word","tag-forgetful-hearers","tag-gods-word","tag-noble-minded","tag-power-of-prayer","tag-prayer","tag-preaching","tag-revival","tag-spirit-and-word"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/12207809_s.jpg?fit=868%2C551&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa8ofw-BU","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2350"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2648,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350\/revisions\/2648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}