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A word from A.W. Pink on the preacher’s duty of prayer:

The preacher’s obligations are not fully discharged when he leaves the pulpit, for he needs to water the Seed which he has sown… [T]he apostles devoted themselves “continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word,” and therein have they left an excellent example to be observed by all who follow them in the sacred vocation. Observe the order, and not only observe but heed and practice the same. The most laborious and carefully prepared sermon is likely to fall unctionless on the hearers unless it has been born out of travail of soul before God. Unless the sermon be the product of earnest prayer we must not expect it to awaken the spirit of prayer in those who hear it. As we have pointed out, Paul mingled supplications with his instructions. It is our privilege and duty to retire to the secret place after we leave the pulpit and beg God to write His Word on the hearts of those who have listened to us, to prevent the enemy from snatching away the Seed, to so bless our efforts that they may bear fruit to God’s eternal praise.

Luther was wont to say, “There are three things which go to the making of a successful preacher: supplication, meditation, and tribulation.” This was taken down by one of his students from his “Table Talks.” We know not what elaboration the great Reformer made, but we suppose he meant that prayer is necessary to bring the preacher into a suitable frame to handle divine things and endue him with power; that meditation on the Word is essential in order to supply him with material for his message; and that tribulation is required as ballast for his vessel, for the minister of the gospel needs trials to keep him humble, as the apostle was given a thorn in the flesh that he might not be unduly exalted by the abundance of the revelations given him. Prayer is the appointed medium of receiving spiritual communications for the instruction of our people. We must be much with God before we are fitted to go forth and speak in His name.

From A.W. Pink, Gleanings From Paul

Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Sermon 2 of 2 in the Autumn 2008 Prayer Series

September 28, 2008 – AM Service
On Him We Have Set Our Hope – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:43 — 8.2MB)

Sermon 1 of 2 in the Autumn 2008 Prayer Series

September 21, 2008 – AM Service
Promises, A Foundation for Prayer – Isaiah 41:10
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:18 — 5.8MB)

I had a good talk with my dad on the phone yesterday afternoon on Father’s Day. I suppose it’s traditional to list the reasons why you love your Dad but I want to tell you why I know my Dad loves me.

My Dad prays for me every day.

Ray Pritchard shares a special prayer written for he and his wife as they prepared for a ministry trip to the Czech Republic. This is such a good idea that I lan to use it myself soon. Ray writes,

How often have we said those four words? Christians routinely promise to pray for others. And such a promise, whether deeply felt or not, is always a wonderful gift. How encouraging it is to be going through a hard time and have someone who loves you say, “I’m praying for you.”

But there is something that can mean even more.

Go read Write a Prayer for a Friend.

January 6, 2008 – AM Service
Open To Us A Door For the Word – Colossians 4:3-4
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:32 — 7.6MB)

December 30, 2007 – AM Service
Satisfied in God’s Steadfast Love – Various Scripture
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:58 — 7.7MB)

December 9, 2007 – AM Service
Keep Praying – Colossians 4:2
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:53 — 5.5MB)

Christmas sugar cookies. Do you remember the fun you had as a child making sugar cookies with your family at Christmas? Do you remember the enjoyment of cutting out the shapes, little snowman, the star and Christmas tree shapes with the cookie cutters in the gooey white dough? I know it’s fun because I’ve watched my children and the joy with which they cut the shapes and spread the frosting and add the sprinkles and other decorations after the cookies come out of the oven. Great fun — great memories. Read the rest of this entry »

Check out Eight Ways to Improve Your Daily Bible Reading from the ESV Bible Blog.

And you should also listen to John Piper explain why he — and good pastors in general — emphasize Bible reading and prayer so much. Listen to the audio or read the transcript.

From Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening for October 11

“Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:”—Lamentations 3:41 (ESV).

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labour of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God’s warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!

Sermon audio from our recent three part series on prayer at Higgins Lake Baptist Church is now available for download.

1. Autumn 2007 Prayer Series part 1 of 3
2. Autumn 2007 Prayer Series part 2 of 3
3. Autumn 2007 Prayer Series part 3 of 3

Pulpit Magazine shares John MacArthur’s answer to the question “Can Satan Hear Our Thoughts?“

Scripture texts to pray for your children.

“All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists.”

D. A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers, pg. 29

Reading…

A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers
by D. A. Carson

From Power Through Prayer by Edward M. Bounds, chapter 4, Tendencies to be Avoided.

It is impossible for the preacher to keep his spirit in harmony with the divine nature of his high calling without much prayer. That the preacher by dint of duty and laborious fidelity to the work and routine of the ministry can keep himself in trim and fitness is a serious mistake. Even sermon-making, incessant and taxing as an art, as a duty, as a work, or as a pleasure, will engross and harden, will estrange the heart, by neglect of prayer, from God. The scientist loses God in nature. The preacher may lose God in his sermon.