Untitled Sermon (2)

Prayer

Ephesians 6:19-24

10/4/20 A.M. @ EBC

Intro: In this passage we see, read and hear Paul’s heart for the message of God!! Believe me I feel his sincerity and heartbeat in this passage. Any minister that prays for riches or fame from the ministry is certainly not a minister of God but of self! Everyone of us who stand in the position of a shepherd/proclaimer should yearn for this as Paul did! Let’s see more about this subject together.

I. Who

Ø Pray… for me

· As I know you do!!

· Many of you have professed to me that you do indeed pray for me!

· I can assure you that your prayers in the positive are not going unanswered, for I know that I am unable to arise to level of pastoral and sermonic accomplishment without them!

· To that I say thank you very much… for being a pastor holds many challenges.

o The pull between being human and spiritual

o The overcoming of years of paganism

o The growing despondence of the downward spiral of spirituality among the church and the depths of paganistic decay among the lost!

· For sure and for certain… being a pastor is not the eloquent and cushy job that some think it is

· THANK YOU for your prayers!!

II. Why

Ø that the message may be given to me

· anyone of you can tell when a minister’s message is from God or from man

· Ashamedly, I’m sure that I have presented many of those in my own power and believe me I am left with an empty feeling!

· I shiver when I am to stand before you knowing that I am called to “feed” you and not just give you spiritually empty words

· Any one of you who exercise the task of searching for God’s message can attest to the feeling that overcomes you in doing so

o Humbling

o Desperation

o Sick to the stomach

v But then… God speaks!!

ü Exuberating

ü Can’t wait because there is a fire inside

ü Sense of peace

· I can assure you that preparing a message from God can be as easy as “falling off of a log” or as “difficult as catching a greased pig”

· Depending upon one’s Spiritual connection with God and His timing of delivery!

· Jeremiah 20:9 If I say, “I won’t mention Him or speak any longer in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.

III. What

Ø that the message of the gospel may be made known with boldness

· this my beloved is where I covet your deepest prayer

· for if I only am able to hear and receive the gospel… that is not enough

· I need to be able to proclaim it in a manner that is palatable to the hearers… certainly not watered down but to present it with taste

· Therefore, if someone is offended it will be because of the message of God… not the messenger!

· Not only for the sake of the proclamation of the message to the hearer but for the praise and adoration of the Trinity for His work in and around us!

· Let us ALWAYS be ready to present a message of HOPE to those who are hopeless!

· 1 Peter 3:15 but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Concl: Hopefully you know by now of my desire to benefit this church for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As opposed to being the pastor for the benefit for myself. I will gladly stay in the traces of leadership or willingly step aside anytime I become a detriment to the above stated reason!

So… pray for me that I might hear from God regularly and that I will be able to proclaim that message boldly!