A Prayer for Brother Preachers

Father,

We will stand before Your people tomorrow to teach them Your Word. May we not take this work lightly. You have appointed us to care for their souls. You have given us the Word to proclaim and apply. You have warned that not many of us should be teachers, for teachers will be judged with greater strictness. The care of souls is heavy work.

Anchor us firmly in the Lord Jesus Christ. Lift our hearts to trust in Him. Break us of dependence on ourselves. Break us from thinking that we are what the church needs. Cause us to look to Jesus for the enablement to preach and for the transformation of Your people. Cause our hearts to truly believe that without Jesus we can do nothing. Yet, with Jesus we can preach the Word. Since the Lord Jesus has died, is raised, is ascended, and is coming again, we can study, pray, and preach.

Would you work in us the same work that You worked in Ezra so many centuries ago? Please set our hearts to study, apply, and teach Your Word. May it be clearly seen that we have studied Your Word. May our testimony be above reproach in applying Your Word. May we clearly teach Your Word. May we preach Christ and Him crucified. Guard us from teaching our opinions, political views, and soap boxes. Enable us to teach Your truth without compromise. Then do the miracle that only You can of transforming or hardening hearts according to Your will.

Please enable us to trust Your promise in Isaiah 55:10-11. Enable us to believe that Your Word will accomplish all the work You send it out to do. May we believe in its power as the Spirit-given Word, so You receive all the glory.

Now I commend these brothers and Your church to You and the Word of Your grace that is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among the sanctified.

Amen. (Acts 20:28; James 3:1; John 15:5; Ezra 7:10; Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 20:35)

Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.