Johns Jottings
July 2015
I have been reading “The Way of the Master”, by Ray Comfort, which is the basis for the course which Steve is putting together, starting August. The first chapter is entitled, ‘A Dereliction of duty’. It speaks of what we know we should be doing but let other things take its place. He finishes the chapter by asking if we are praying for revival, but goes on to say if we are not sharing our faith it is though we are saying: ’Lord, I know that you have commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. But we will stay here and pray. We know that you have chosen the “foolishness” of preaching to save those who believe. But we will stay here and pray. And we know that the Bible asks us, “How will they hear without a preacher?” But we will stay here and pray, because it is easier to talk to God about people than it is to talk to people about God’. Read the rest of this entry »
June 2015
I was challenged by Dr. Annang`s sermon (see next page) on Paul`s prayer life. I knew that Paul always prayed for the churches that he ministered to, even those he hadn`t met, but what struck me particularly was the effort he put into it. I try to go regularly through everybody at church, lifting each one up to the Lord in prayer, asking that He might be with you in whatever situation your facing. But I have to ask myself, ‘Do I struggle in prayer? Do I wrestle in prayer?’ Prayer doesn`t come easily to anyone, especially pastors who are expected to pray about every aspect of church. I am no different. If I go into the inner room, as Jesus said, I struggle to keep awake. If I`m praying about some particular situation, my mind tends to wander to all sorts of irrelevancies, I have a wrestle to keep my focus on it. I suppose the question we must ask ourselves is, ’Do I put as much effort into prayer as I do into everything else?’ Spurgeon said, “He who prays without fervency does not pray at all.” We know what a great evangelist and church planter Paul was. He put as much effort into prayer as he did evangelism, We should be no different. Read the rest of this entry »
Scartho Celebration Church 