Pastor's Time
Posted by: aubuchon8 <aubuchon8@...>
Protecting Your Time with God (1st in a series of 10)
By Dr. John S. Powers
Years ago, A. W. Tozer penned, "We're here to be worshippers
first and workers only second. We take a convert and immediately make a
worker out of him. God never meant it to be so. God meant that a convert
should learn to be a worshipper, and after that he can learn to be a worker.
The work done by a worshipper will have eternity in it." (A.W. Tozer, Gems
from Tozer: Selections from the Writings of A.W. Tozer (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania:
Christian Publications, 1969), 15.)
If you haven't figured it out by now, many pitfalls exist
in ministry. At the top of the list of dangers that pastors and staff members
must avoid is substituting work for God as worship of God. After almost
30 years in ministry, I will be the first to admit that there is much work
to be done, especially if one takes the task of the Great Commission seriously.
The "to do" list seems endless at times.
Recently, I had a dear friend share a pastor's job description
that he had discovered in a church newsletter. As I carefully read those
words, I found myself nodding with agreement. See if you may relate too.
The ABC's of The Pastor's Role:
Ambassador, advocate, administrator, activator
Baptizer, building usage consultant, budget juggler
Confidante, confronter, community builder, counselor, coach, cheerleader
Discussion leader, divorce mediator, detail freak
Encourager, emotional baggage handler, evangelist, educator, evaluator
Funeral companion, father, friend
Grace giver, grounds inspector
Historian, homelitician, hospice worker, hiker
Interpreter, issue classifier
Justice seeker, judicatory responder, janitor, joker
Knowledge dispenser, kid
Latent gift discoverer, liturgist, leader
Mediator, missionary, moderator, musician
Nurturer, nurse, nudger
Organizer, opportunity spotter
Public speaker, problem solver, preacher, patriot, proof-reader,
pilgrim
Questioner, quarterback
Reviewer, Roberts' Ruler
Spokesperson, spiritual director, shepherd, social worker, steward,
spouse
Teacher trainer
Unifier, utility player
Volunteer coordinator, vision caster, visitor
Wedding ceremony presider, writer
X-traordinary ingenuity with limited resources (like figuring a
way to use X)
Youth advocate, Yule celebrator
Zeal stoker, zoo keeper (so it seems, some days)
Whew! If you have been in ministry for two nanoseconds,
I am confident you would be able to add items to this lengthy list. A pastor
who is committed to doing the work of ministry by first being a worshipper
will, Tozer said, "have eternity in it." In other words, work that flows
out of worship has a never-ending impact.
Imagine that you are standing next to a ripple-free pond
or lake. Reaching down you clutch a smooth stone. With a flick of your
wrist, you "skip" the stone across the water. From center to circumference,
the entire body of water is impacted by the ripple effect. Pastor, when
it comes to our tireless efforts there, is a ripple effect from our worship
too! Staying healthy in ministry includes protecting your time with God.
Jesus understood the importance of protecting His time
with the Father. Oh, how the Savior prayed! He prayed early in the morning
(Mark 1:35) and in the evening (Matthew 14:23). He often prayed alone (John
6:15) and also when people were present (Matthew 11:25-26). Luke tells
how Jesus prayed all night (6:12). He prayed during one of His miracles
(John 11:41-42). He asked a blessing at meals (Luke 9:16; 24:30; Matthew
15:36; 26:26-27). Major decisions in His life were preceded by prayer.
Since the "Spirit drove Him" (Mark 1:12) into the wilderness for the temptation
by Satan, it is likely that He was in a state of prayer immediately after
His baptism. His decision to leave Capernaum and preach in "the other cities
also" (Luke 4:42-43) followed His praying. Luke 6:12-13 tells us that Jesus
prayed all night before selecting His most intimate relationships, the
twelve disciples. Jesus prayed during personal needs and crises like Gethsemane
(Mathew 26:39). Even His final words on the cross are a prayer--"Father,
into Your hands I entrust My spirit" (Luke 23:46). The King of the Universe
felt the need, and exercised every opportunity, to spend time with His
Father.
As mere mortals
so should we. How does a busy pastor juggle
the multiple tasks of ministry while developing and exercising a spiritual
discipline of personal prayer? Once again, Jesus is our model. Mark 1:35
indicates the actions He took that encourage me to keep a personal vigil.
1. Discipline: Jesus prayed early. We all have
24 hours each day. Spending time with the Master is a personal choice.
Friend, there is nothing a busy pastor may do that is more important that
prayer before he prays and nothing more important than to pray after he
prays. Develop this spiritual discipline and experience divine visitation.
2. Determination: Jesus took action daily. Mark
tells us it was "early," and "still dark," when Jesus "got up, went out,
and made His way to a deserted place." This shows determination on our
Lord's part. Remember, the devil will do anything to keep a busy pastor
from the prayer closet. I repeat
Anything! Friend, do you harbor a prayerless
heart? Have you fallen prey to the evil ploy of the adversary? Paul's remedy
for such a malady in recorded in Ephesians 6:1-18.
3. Devotion: Jesus prayed. Pastor, long before
you were called to the occupation of ministry, God called you to an everlasting
preoccupation with Him. Every day before the sun kissed the morning shadows,
Jesus prayed. Need some help getting started (or revived) in your prayer
life? Here are four ways to help you protect your time with God.
- Settle your mind. A fruitful prayer
life begins with a choice.
- Set a time. Protect that divine
appointment at all costs.
- Still your heart. If you are too
busy to pray, you're too busy!
- Select accountability. Ask a close
friend, a deacon or fellow pastor to hold you accountable in this area.
Remember, there will always be work to do for Him. But
spending time with Him brings a satisfaction to your work because there
is joy in your worship.
Scripture quotations are from the Christian Standard Bible®
copyright 2000 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Dr. Powers is the author of "Redefining Church Membership"
and "The BodyLife Journey, Guiding Believers into Ministry" A pastor for
22 years, Dr. Powers received his master's of divinity and doctor of ministry
degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He considers "The
BodyLife Journey" a personal life-message from the Lord.
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Running for the Prize Sermons