(6/10/08)
Christ is teaching in Matthew 18, and on establishing truth, He says in verse 16, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Jesus is reminding them of the laws written in Numbers and Deuteronomy.

I was reminded of this during the meeting on Thursday evening at Pigeon River Revival. The Perry’s sang, and sang not only beautifully, but under the unction of the Holy Ghost. Tracy, of course, testified between songs, and before they sang “Holy Shore,” he spoke about the men of God, how even some of God’s finest were becoming weary in well doing.

This was so perfect, so timely. For six months the women of Pray A Day have been endeavoring to keep a hedge prayed around the men of God who are called to preach the Word. Pastors, assistant pastors, youth and interim pastors, evangelists and missionaries. It seems, though, that the urgency of this prayer has not been easy to accept. I have doubted if it is even the right prayer for this year.

But, as Brother Lavon Boatner of Philadelphia, MS says, “God knows just what to do.” Tracy’s moving exhortation struck at hearts. We were pierced with the knowledge that, not only is this prayer imperative, but it is God’s perfect will for Pray A Day 2008. Thank you Tracy for being sensitive to the Spirit. You have no idea how you encouraged the women who labor in prayer daily for the preachers of the Word.

The requirements and responsibilities of God’s shepherds are not widely studied. As Christians we usually search the scriptures for those things that directly apply to us and our need. But upon close examination of the work of preaching, we see that the responsibilities of this office are grave, indeed. Those who are lazy, self-centered, who pervert the Truth will have blood on their hands and be called to account to God for their misdeeds. God says this plainly in Ezekiel 34.

The humble, faithful shepherd, however, will be blessed beyond measure, but we are seeing a day when even the faithful man of God is discouraged. And little wonder. He has a flock made up of every imaginable personality, all with demands, all with their opinions, and few who are meek and humble servants.

Don’t faint ladies. I believe in a very short while we will begin to see some fruit from this labor. Paul asked the Thessalonians in books one and two, “Pray for us.” He wrote to the church at Corinth, “ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf” ( II Corinthians 1:11).

I believe many a little preacher, striving to preach the gospel, feed the sheep, glorify God and deal with the weights of his duties is crying out, “Somebody, will you please pray for me! Take me to the throne of grace and plead my cause that I may be a watchman for the sinner and a shepherd to the sheep.”

(5/13/08)
In 2007 the women of Pray A Day prayed for revival, and what enthusiasm they exhibited. The reports of great revival, both in their churches and in their hearts, poured in.

This year, however, seems to be difficult. We are praying for God’s men who preach the Word, and it seems we are grinding out prayers. This is good. The more difficult the task, the more we know that the Enemy is alarmed and greater will be the result. E. M. Bounds says: “God wants elect men of whom self and the world have been severely crucified. Their bankruptcy has so totally ruined self and the world that there is neither hope nor desire of recovery.”

Paul asks of the Colossians, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (4:3-4).

This is one of many requests the great Apostle asked for prayer from the saints. His responsibility was great, his message grave, and his enemies many. And so it is with God’s men today. No wonder Satan is trying to hinder our prayers, but instead of discouraging me, he is providing the coal oil I need to pour on my fire.

In Romans, Paul asks that the saints “strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (15:30). “Strive” is the perfect word for it means (violent conflict, struggle, and to contend resolutely with or against forces and difficulties).

Let us be faithful to keep a hedge prayed around our pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and the young Timothy’s of the ministry. For ever sinner who comes to Calvary by the preaching of the Word; for every wounded heart that is mended; for every discouraged saint who finds the will to go on through the preached promises of God’s unfailing grace, we will be a part.

“The harder the battle, the sweeter victory!” Praise God, I can almost smell victory.

~Kyla

(4/1/08)
In Matthew ten Jesus is sending out the twelve disciples, and preparing them for persecution: “behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16).

Ask John the Baptist or Paul as they sat in prison, “Is it easy to be a preacher of Jesus Christ?” In fact, Paul told Timothy he must “endure afflictions” (II Timothy 4:5). Paul lists some of these sufferings in II Corinthians 6:4-6, and they did it—preached, endured, prevailed “by the Holy Spirit and love unfeigned.”

Study the lives of the notable men of God; Wesley, Moody, Havner—you will not read of lives of luxury and opulence. You will read of men who experienced what Paul described, but these men left an indelible mark on Christianity. How? By the Holy Spirit and love unfeigned.

They did not pretend to be filled with the Holy Ghost, nor did they pretend to love Jesus Christ. A man appointed by the Holy Spirit will have unction on his preaching. The great Spurgeon says: Unction is a thing that you cannot manufacture, and its counterfeits are worse than worthless.

How much thought do we give to the burdens on the shoulder of our pastor? How much time do we give, daily, laboring in prayer for him?

When the enemy came to kill and destroy on 9/11, what was his target? The tallest and most visible, making it the most vulnerable.

Satan can save a great deal of effort in diminishing our faith, thereby leaving us groping in a wilderness of confusion, simply by destroying the man of God. When he falls it scatters the sheep and leaves the sinner confounded, doubting that God is even real.

Somebody Must Pray For the Men of God!

How many times did Paul ask, “Pray for me?” Here is what will happen if we daily lift up the ministers of the Gospel:

1) The sheep will be fed and therefore able to live lives worthy of the title, “Christian.”
2) Sinners will be saved.
3) Those who would sow discord in the church will be prevented by the undiluted Truth of the Gospel.
4) There will be more love among the brethren.
5) The Word of God will flow from our hearts, our churches, and begin to water this dangerously dry land.

Any man who has been appointed (II Timothy 1:11) to preach the glorious gospel must have time to pray, study, and spend much time alone with God. His attacks from the enemy are strong, many, and devastating, therefore, if we do not maintain a protective hedge around him he will be less effective, and could eventually fall.

You may pray only for your pastor, for evangelists, or the young men who are just beginning—whomever the Holy Spirit directs you to pray for, pray diligently, pray daily.

If we will be faithful, we will be awestricken at the results. I believe there is a great revival in the making, but “how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).

~Kyla

(3/4/08)
For this year of 2008, the women of Pray A Day have committed themselves to praying for the preachers of the Gospel. Our committed includes all 365 days of the year. Is not there something comforting about this; knowing that someone is in the Throne Room of Grace daily, pleading the cause for the men of God.

My ministry focus has always been “Prayer”. I don’t see it changing because prayer is our answer to all of life’s questions, all of life’s problems. Prayer is hope. It is the most hopeful exercise of the day, for it matters not what attack the Enemy brings, how fiercely we are tried and tested, how lethargic we become, or how defeated we feel—prayer is our answer.

Try praying one day, without ceasing, and I promise, on the authority of God’s Word, at the end of that day, hope will reign in your heart.

This brings me to the subject at hand: The men of God. When the enemy came on 9/11, what was their target? Two buildings that stood tall above the rest, buildings that were the most visible, making them easy to attack. This is why preachers are Satans’ favorite target.

Not only are they easy targets, but Satan is smart enough to know that by the fall of one man of God, many will suffer. Let us begin to examine this, the highest calling of God.

First of all, preachers must be “appointed” by God, not man. II Timothy 1:9 “Who (God) hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

II Timothy 1:11 “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

This is not a profession, a career—this is a Divine appointment. Men appointed to preach the Gospel are not chosen at a certain age, they are chosen before they are born. Jesus, always our example, was chosen preacher, teacher, Messiah before the foundation of the world. As John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeths womb we know there is a very special calling on this baby’s life.

It is the same with all men who have been chosen to stand behind the sacred desk. Long before they are born they are appointed to break the Bread of Life.

God said it so well in Jeremiah 3:15, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

This is the first and foremost requirement for a preacher; that God gives them according to His heart.

Last year Pray A Day focused on revival. This was easy for the women knew, without question, how very needful it was. This year I have not encountered as great an enthusiasm, but how can we hear without a preacher? How can revival take place without a God-appointed minister of the Gospel?

When you pray, ask the Holy Spirit, “What is the need for today?” Here are some important issues that have come to my heart:

1) Sufficient time to study, pray, and meditate
2) Conflicts in the church—enemies within the ranks
3) Physical weariness, emotional, even Spiritual weariness
4) Financial Difficulties
5) Strife within their family

All of these play into Satan’s hands for his goal is to silence God’s men, thereby, silencing the Gospel.

I urge you ladies of Pray A Day, and men and women everywhere, who love God and His Word, pray diligently for the men who have been chosen of God to preach the Truth of the glorious Gospel of Christ.

~Kyla

PRAY-A-DAY 2008 (12/31/07)
We are praying for those men of God who have been appointed (II Timothy 1:11) to feed the sheep, oversee the sheep, and preach Jesus Christ to sinners (II Corinthians 4:5). Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

The Enemy would prevent this work for 2008. In all the years we have prayed in this Pray-A-Day ministry, no prayer has been so attacked as the one for the shepherd of God. This speaks loudly! We are about to level a blow to Satan that has him very disturbed, for, in praying for those who feed the lambs and the sheep, those men who preach the Blood, the Cross, and the Resurrection, we have struck a nerve!

Silence the man of God and sheep will go hungry. Prevent him from preaching Calvary to the lost and the sinner will be deprived of the Truth.

We will look closely at this supreme calling, and, over the next twelve months, try to learn about the differences between a bishop, minister, preacher, pastor, and evangelist. In the meantime, as we begin our praying in earnest on January 1st, let us seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost each day. Some of you will be called upon by God to concentrate your intercession on your pastor; others will be assigned by Him to pray for a particular evangelist, or evangelists at large. God knows each of our hearts and what will be best suited for us.

We are embarking on a great adventure, one that has the potential to bless thousands, so be faithful. Let’s mark on the calendar as we intercede each day, striving for 365 check marks on December 31st. Then, when we stand back and see what God has been able to accomplish through our meager efforts, we can rejoice and be exceedingly glad to be a part of such a great work.