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What Are Your Thoughts On This Prayer Request?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by preacher4truth, May 21, 2013.

  1. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    A lady at church requested prayer for her son who is a bi-vocational pastor. At his secular job he is given somewhat of a hard time for his faith for being a believer. Their request is to find him a job with, in her words; 'only other believers'.

    What do you all think of such a request as this?

    - Blessings
     
  2. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    I would simply tell her I will pray for wisdom for the man and for God's will in the situation.

    It's not our job to analyze other people's prayer requests, it's just our job to pray for them.
     
  3. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    abcgrad94,

    Didn't you just analyze it yourself?
     
  4. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    Is it her request, his request, or both?

    Couple of different "what do you think" depending on whether it's a mother praying for relief for her son and a pastor's viewpoint of his calling from God.

    IMO, both need prayer (as well all do). However, what we pray on their behalf may not be in full compliance, with a prayer request, as stated. In this case, in particular, God may have this pastor exactly where he should be to reach the lost. Perhaps instead of praying for the job change mentioned, our prayer should be for God's guidance and help so he can put on the full armour of God. And, as always -- Thy will be done. --

    Just some thoughts this afternoon, FWIW.
     
  5. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Oldtimer,

    The request was from her son to her, then mentioned at church.

    I agree with your assessment of the prayer request!
     
    #5 preacher4truth, May 21, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: May 21, 2013
  6. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Did jesus send us out to be light to the saved, or to the lost?
     
  7. Judith

    Judith Well-Known Member
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    First off I am not sure there is such a job. Even if he was full time in a church he would not be totally around believers.

    Second I am not so sure the Lord would want us in a position like that. I think he would have to die and enter heaven for that. So tell her that you will pray for him like that but it is going to cost him his life to bring it about and see what she says.
     
  8. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    I agree. 'Share in sufferings as a good soldier of Jesus Christ...' comes to mind. 2 Timothy 2:4.

    Pretty much most of you hit on what my thoughts are here and I believe they align with Scripture as do yours.

    As to one who says we should not analyze prayers, but pray -- to that I kindly disagree. We are to pray in wisdom and we should be able to counsel those in their prayers and requests as well, i.e. 'shepherd them'. Analyze itself means 'to examine carefully and in detail so as to identify causes, key factors, possible results' and there is nothing wrong with using our God given wisdom to do do and doing it with Biblical insight as to direct others in God's ways. By the way, to bypass praying for him to get a new job and instead to praying fot them to have wisdom is in itself an analyzation of the particular request.

    I do however agree to pray for wisdom for them, but I am quite disappointed that such a prayer was mentioned, as people should be more in tune with the Word of God in these situations and know that 'For it has been granted unto you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake' -- Php 1:29 ...and in our suffering for him we should rejoice to be counted worthy to do so...& 1 Peter 3:14 'But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;' 1 Peter 4:16 'Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.'

    One should rejoice in this. Especially a pastor IMHO. I wish people knew their Scriptures better than they do -- these people have been saved for years. Yes, I am disappointed, but it is nonetheless an opportunity.

    - Blessings
     
  9. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    :thumbsup:

    Some people want to isolate themselves from the world -- and not suffer.

    The prayer to me is a bit troubling. Why not pray for endurance, victory? Why not rejoice in it instead of this?
     
  10. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Why would this request trouble you? Have you walked in this man's shoes? It may, or may not, be because he's a wimp when it comes to persecution. Maybe, being a bi-vo pastor takes so much of his time and mental ability, the extra stress at work is making it hard for him to adequately lead his flock. I know several bi-vo pastors who could attest to this!

    I can also attest that an all-Christian workplace does NOT guarantee less stress on the job.

    There's lots of "requests" one could make in his situation. I suppose if he asked people to pray his church could pay him a living wage so he didn't have to be bi-vo, someone would criticize him for that, too. As a pastor, shouldn't people already pray for him without being requested to do so? Why not just pray for him and leave his motives to the Lord?

    The truth is, none of us always know what to pray or how to word our requests. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

    Romans 8:26
     
  11. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Why not pray that the Lord will increase the church, so he does not have to be bi-vo
     
  12. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    abcgrad94,

    Thanks for the response and your continued 'analyzation' of this prayer request. :wavey:

    No one needs to 'walk in his shoes' to share biblical truth with him to help in his situation as I have and others who have offered sound advice. Thus there is no plan 'B' from God because of 'the walk in his shoes', only a plan 'A' and that is revealed in the Word and truth for his immediate circumstance. It looks to me he is in Gods will, as it is his will for him to suffer, as I've given Biblical evidence. As a pastor he should know this as it is plainly taught in Scripture and he should know how to pray about it as well. He should also be rejoicing to suffer for His name. Believers, especially pastors need to tough it up and not look for a way to find an out and only be around believers. It's an utterly ridiculous request.

    You did read the passages above where I got this truth, correct? Maybe use it to adjust your thinking as well, as this might be as to why you also don't find this prayer request a bit troubling, as others and myself have found it to be.
     
    #12 preacher4truth, May 22, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: May 22, 2013
  13. USN2Pulpit

    USN2Pulpit New Member

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    From the admittedly non-objective viewpoint of a bi-vocational pastor, "Amen!"

    However, Paul was an evangelist AND a tent-maker. If he can do it, I pray for power that I can do the work given to me in my little corner of the world.

    I will say this: everyone at my secular workplace knows I'm a pastor, and many have come to me for spiritual advice. One I'm working on right now: "my daughter and I want to be baptized - what do we have to do?"

    I love that question - what an open door! And an opportunity I would not have had if I had been a full-vocational pastor.
     
  14. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    main thing that struke me in this prayer request was that the mother was seeking to keep him away from non christians and praying that...

    Wouldn't it be better to simple ask for the lord to guide/direct to where he wants him to go, period?
     
  15. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    That is great that you have that going on at work!
     
  16. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Not just the mother, both of them.
     
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