How Many Souls Live in your Town?

Today I’m in Perth, Ontario. It’s a town of about 7000 souls. My friend, Dan, pastors a church here. Dan has a real heart for this community.

I’ll be getting together with him and a few other Calvary pastors from Ontario. We are gathering together to talk and pray, specifically about a family conference that is being planned for the Calvary Chapel family here later this year.

It’s going to be great.

While I love this area of the country, I am reminded how God calls each of us to different places. He shapes our heart to fit our calling, our city.

I love the GTA, and the city of Oakville where I live.

Wherever God calls you, I believe He will give you a heart for people – the people of the city where you live. It will be a heart like that of Jesus that we see in Matthew nine:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:36-38 NLT)

I am glad that Dan is here in Perth. I am glad for those 7000 souls. They have a place to go to hear the gospel.

Let’s pray for more Bible teaching churches to be planted throughout the province, the nation, and the world!

Jesus on Prayer

Last week I had the joy of teaching on the great subject of prayer as we wrapped up the book of Ephesians and our series on spiritual warfare, “The Warrior.”

This morning I read these words about Jesus:

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36-38 NKJV)

The kingdom advances through prayer. I am more convinced then ever about the importance of prayer in the life of a believer and in the life of a church.

A friend of mine who pastors a church that has grown quite rapidly was asked how it happened. His answer? “Prayer, bro!”

What would happen in your life and mine if we devoted ourselves to prayer?

Let’s find out! Lord, teach us to pray!

Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Pastor Chuck, and E.M. Bounds

This Sunday we finish “The Warrior,” our series on spiritual warfare. I will be speaking about prayer, which Ephesians 6:18-20 teaches us is essential in fighting our battles.

In his chapter on Prayer and Faith, E.M. Bounds in “The Necessity of Prayer” encourages us to persevere in prayer when times get tough. I read this tonight:

“There is bound to be much delay and long days of waiting for true faith, but faith accepts the conditions — knows there will be delays in answering prayer, and regards such delays as times of testing, in the which, it is privileged to show its mettle, and the stern stuff of which it is made.”

In a teaching that I heard Pastor Chuck give on prayer, he said something that I have never forgotten: “Prayer is the deciding factor in spiritual warfare.”

Lord, teach us to pray!