THE TOIL OF PRAYER IN THE LIFE OF A PASTOR



Many are surprised to know that pastors struggle to maintain prayer as a priority in their lives.  In his blog, Tim Challies gives a quote from David M'Intyre in his book, The Hidden Life of Prayer. In the book he says prayer, "In its nature it is a laborious undertaking, and in our endeavor to maintain the spirit of prayer we are called to wrestle against principalities and powers of darkness." Read more.

THE MINISTRY OF PAUL WASHER

Paul Washer is director of the HeartCry Missionary Society. He is a dynamic preacher of the Gospel. He preaches a powerful and compeling message on the assurance of salvation, the dangers of easy believing and the necessity of repentance in salvation. I came across this sermon on youtube. It is rather long, but worth every second of your time.

THE MINISTRY OF JUSTIN PETERS

In January of this year, I attended a Winter Bible Conference at Grace Church of Tallahassee. The featured speaker for the conference was an evangelist named, Justin Peters. During the four day conference, Justin conducted a seminar titled, A Call For Discernment: A Biblical Critique of the Word of Faith Movement (Health and Wealth Gospel).

As a former Word of Faith adherent, I know first hand how the so-called prosperity gospel has wreaked havoc in the Church and has shipwrecked the faith of many. Justin pulls no punches in his critque of the Word of Faith movement. He discusses its metaphysical, cultic origins, its dangerous doctrines and outlandish manifestations. Most importantly, Justin concludes that the Word of Faith movement preaches a distorted view of the God-head and our Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, if they preach a different Jesus, then they preach a different Gospel; if they preach a different Gospel, then there can be no salvation.

The Word of Faith/Prosperity Gospel has run rampant in the Church, especially over the last 30 to 40 years. Spiritual discernment is at an all time low. I highly recommend Justin Peters' ministry to any church or Christian organization.

HOW IS A PERSON ADMITTED INTO THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH?

As some of you are aware, I am an ordained minister in the Primitive Baptist Church. For the past four years, I have had the privilege of teaching a class of my fellow ministers from our Church Discipline at our annual Church School Convention. Our Discipline is a document that contains our Articles of Faith and bylaws. This year I chose to teach on how our denomination admits members. Below is a skeletel outline of the teaching.

1. ADMISSION BY LETTER

a. Courtesy

Each church owes the other the courtesy of sending a letter or asking for a letter.

b. Connection

By presenting a letter, the prospective church member is expressing a desire to connect with a church of like faith.

c. Continuation

The letter enables a prospective church member to join another church without a break in membership.

d. Commendation

The letter is basically a note of commendation which certifies the person’s character and standing with their previous church.

2. ADMISSION BY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

a. Communication

A person without a letter should clearly communicate to their new church an account of their conversion and Christian life. If this is not clearly communicated, then the church in which they desire membership has no basis to admit them.

b. Confession

The new member should make a public confession of faith in Christ (not to become a Christian because they have already trusted Christ as Savior and Lord) before the church they wish to join.

3. ADMISSION BY BAPTISM

a. Candidacy

The person seeks admission in the universal Church and the local Church. He is a seeker.

b. Confession

The Bible is clear that before one is saved he must confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The word confession simply means to agree with the Word about who Jesus Christ is. (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 16:16)

c. Conversion

Conversion occurs when one believes the Gospel. Dr. Lorraine Boettner defines the Gospel as, “The good news about the great salvation purchased by Jesus Christ, by which He reconciled sinful men to a holy God.” Mark Dever says the Gospel is about how God “graciously sent His Son to die the death we deserved for our sin, and He has credited Christ's acquittal to those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus' death and resurrection.”

d. Ceremony

Baptism is a ceremony, a Christian rite. Properly administered, it is to follow conversion. Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward work of grace. This inward work of grace is the salvation of an undeserving sinner who has placed his trust in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. (Matthew 28:18-19)

THE TRUTH WILL STAND ON ITS OWN

I thought I'd share with you an interesting post by Phil Johnson, Executive Director of Grace To You. In the post, Phil Johnson is responding to someone's question who asked what is the appropriate response when a non-believer is not intellectually satisfied with a biblical answer given in response to a biblical question. Here is his answer.

I totally agree with his answer for three main reasons.

1. A non-believer's anticipated response to Biblical truth should never diminish our resolve to boldly proclaim it.
   
2. When we hold back from sharing truth because of the anticipated response of the non-believer, our reluctance could be an indication that we are ashamed of the Gospel.
   
3. We must keep in mind that Biblical truth is big enough and strong enough to compete and stand on its own against competing world views.

What do you think?