The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 9 November 2019 – PRAY FOR YOUR PASTORS
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DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019
TOPIC: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTORS
READ: 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7 (NKJV)
1. This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3. not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4. one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
5. (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
6. not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
THE MESSAGE:
Paul uses the term episkopos (meaning overseer) to designate those who have been called to care for God’s sheep. In English, this word is sometimes translated as bishop, but the words ‘pastor’ or ‘shepherd’ are also correct. According to Paul, there are three basic areas every pastor is supposed to be above board. First, he must be blameless in the society (verse 2a). In other words, his morality must not be open to question. This also includes the fact that he must be a husband of one wife (verse 2b). This standard was not only true in Paul’s time but also important today in Africa. Second, he must have self-control. He must not be given to wine, women or money. That is, he must not submit himself to an unhealthy love for women, pleasure or money. Third, he must be a good manager of his home. A pastor who does not understand how to care for his family will find it difficult to care for the Church of God. If he cannot gain the respect of his own family, he cannot be respected in the Church for which he is an overseer.
Beloved, the happenings all over the world today in relation to pastors and overseers of churches call for caution and prayers. There are cases of pastors who do not only feed fat on the resources of the Church but also engage in chronic acts of immorality. There are those who employ diabolic means of obtaining and sustaining their so called anointing. There are also those who see nothing wrong in getting themselves drunk even before appearing in the church to lead the people of God in worship. It becomes imperative for Church members to begin to intercede for their pastors who are the focus of the devil at this end time. It is clear that a good number of pastors are already out of the programme of God for their lives and ministries. You must rise up to pray for as many pastors as are under the power and control of the enemy. In case you are sure that your pastor is on the right track, please pray for him as well that the message of the cross of Christ will not depart from him. Kindly pray for your pastors.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray for all the shepherds of Your flock who have derailed that, Your mercy will bring them back on track, and that those who are standing for You shall not fall, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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