Delegation: The Priority of Prayer & Scripture (Ac 6:3-4)

Our first principle is derived from Acts 6:3 4, “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (NASB95).

The Apostles were facing a growing church with a diversity of demands. The solution? Delegation to trustworthy men. This solution is akin to Jethro’s advice to Moses in Exodus 18:17-27 to delegate to judges the handling of the multitudes of disputes. Acts 6:3-4 is foundational for pastoral leadership and its principles vital for our ministry. The Holy Spirit reveals our top two unchanging priorities: prayer and ministry of the Word. Should another activity displace these two priorities, then delegation to a trustworthy individual is critical to realign our priorities.

Over the years, I have seen more and more demands placed upon pastoral leadership, which can erode the pastor’s time and energy like “death by a thousand cuts.” These additional responsibilities can be detrimental to the pas tor, pastorate, and the whole church as well. For example, Sunday morning corporate worship is not merely an isolated event in the week but a culmination of a minimum of a week of praying, studying, and preparing a message. If our time of praying and studying Scriptures is cut short, the consequences will extend beyond us. During our corporate gathering, believers are encouraged by God’s Word that flows from previous times of praying and studying. Visiting unbelievers need a Spirit-filled message from a Spirit-filled pastor. The transformation of the believer and unbeliever is possible, but only through the Spirit and Word working. However, before any change takes place amongst the congregation, change must occur within you and me. For any pastor to not adequately pray and study is to remove oneself from our sole source of power. It is like standing before the Chief Shepherd of the Church and arrogantly performing your responsibilities in the flesh without a recognition of our dependency on Him. This way of ministering is not a sustainable approach to ministry, and it is ineffective for seeing lives transformed over the long run.

Dedication: A Passion for Purity & Protection (2Ti 2:20–21)

Our second principle draws from 2 Timothy 2:20–21 “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (NASB95).

Paul writes to Timothy, revealing that use fulness and effective service requires holiness. As we put off sin and put-on righteousness, we become a consecrated vessel for honorable use. Our life of holy consecration to Christ is impossible without an equally consecrated life of prayer to Christ. It is within our quiet, Prayer and the Pastor’s Work reflective prayerful meditations and self-examination through the lens of God’s Word where we cultivate Christlikeness, and confess our sins to our Great High Priest, and turn from our selfish, fleshly, worldly leanings. We must grow in godliness and be tenaciously honest about our real spiritual condition before our all-knowing, compassionate Savior. Through this transparency to our Lord, we can grow in holiness and overcome our sinful struggles. By overcoming sin in this manner, we are in a position to lead others unhypocritically and help them secure a victorious walk before Christ as well. Intimate prayer keeps us, and others centered on Christ.

Determination: Pleading for Others (1Ti 2:1–2)

Our third principle delineates our unique role as Christ’s ambassadors and intercessors. First Timothy 2:1–2 declares, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (NASB95).

Our communities need our prayers! It is becoming painfully apparent that the society in which we live is unraveling and is looking more and more like the days of Noah. Paul in 2 Timothy 3:2–4 lists individuals’ characteristics in the last days, and it reads like the daily news. In his commentary on the Pastoral Epistles George Knight notes a unique chiastic structure regarding this list where the center thought is “malicious gossip” or diabolos in Greek.1 This catalog of sin reveals how the lost person lives and reflect their father the devil’s characteristics. In this crucible, Paul challenges Timothy to persevere with godliness. Christ, our Savior, is the only Mediator between God and men, and we, His body, act as ambassadors between the lost and Christ, leading others out of the Kingdom of darkness to the realm of light. May we never grow cold or impatient in prayer fully pleading for others. Intercessory prayer reminds us of our deliverance by grace through faith and keeps us mindful of our mission and cultivating a love for the lost.

Duplication: A Plan to Develop Your Timothy’s & Titus’ (Mt 28:19-20)

Our fourth principle demands our attention and full focus. Matthew 28:19–20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NASB95).

Most local churches have an out standing focus on the foreign mission field, combining prayer with tangible financial gifts. However, when it comes to the local mission field, there can be significant challenges for those working in the field. Interestingly, before Christ chose His twelve disciples, He spent the night in prayer (Lk 6:12–16). This prayerful pattern is our model. All too often in ministry, we lack workers for the harvest. Jesus in Matthew 9:37-38 urges us to pray for workers for the harvest. How often have you sought the first available person rather than seeking the throne of God for the next helper? Prayerlessness in this particular area can have severe consequences, from poor choices, lack of spiritual discernment, and the removal of providential protections. If we truly are going to find and develop fellow workers, we must saturate the whole process with prayer.

Deception: Put on the Armor of God (Eph 6:11-12)

Our fifth principle directs us to remember that we are in a spiritual battle, and our armor is spiritual. As we are reminded in Ephesians 6:11–12, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (NASB95). Paul would further write in verse 18, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all per severance and petition for all the saints” (NASB95).

In our conservative circles, we tend to downplay the darker spiritual forces at work in the world. Although this rightfully prevents exaggerated thinking that places Satan and his minions under every rock or around every corner, it can also lead to more naturalistic thinking, minimizing genuine spiritual warfare activities. This passage and others like Daniel 10, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Job 1-2, and even Luke 22:31-32 reveal the need to be persevering in prayer. In most cases, we will not see the work going on beyond the veil of this world as we shepherd our congregation. But we must avail ourselves of help from God Almighty’s throne through prayer, for there are many unseen spiritual threats. Many battles are lost before they have even begun when we neglect prayerful worship, are spiritually undisciplined, and are not sufficiently outfitted for spiritual warfare.

Devotion: The Primacy of God and His Kingdom (Php 2:5–11)

Our final principle for your consideration discloses the importance of the interconnectedness between humility, prayer, worship, and the Kingdom.  Philippians 2:5–11 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (NASB95).

This passage reveals how a spirit of humility must be the ruling attitude for believers, especially leaders in the church. Humility is impossible without steadfast prayer. Christ modeled true humility via His incarnation, humiliation, and substitutionary sacrifice. Scripture reveals how God the Father honors Christ and exalts not only Christ’s person and name, but there is a coming 1,000-year kingdom where Christ will rule with a rod of iron, elevated over the nations. Today we are a mere extension, you might even say a distant outpost of that coming Kingdom. In the trials and tribulations of ministry, it is all too easy to lose sight of our devotion to God and His Son’s coming Kingdom. If we lose this vision of this glory-filled future, I fear we will think and act in terms too small, trivial, or insignificant.[1] The Millennial Kingdom is all about God and His glory. We will see this in four ways: The glory of God the Father as Christ’s is exalted in His reign; the glory of the Holy Spirit as He works during Christ’s reign; the glory of Israel as she receives her long-awaited promises from God; and the glory of the Church as she receives her reward and serves her King and Bridegroom. If we do not cast a prayerful vision before ourselves and those we minister to in the church of all this coming glory, our vision will dim and become myopic. We will be unable to see past the frivolities and ordinariness of this life.

As you consider re-examining the priority of prayer in your pastoral work, consider these six prayerful principles. May you fully realize and experience all that the Lord intends for your ministry unto Him and His people. And may your time in prayer become theologically richer and profoundly more intimate.

ENDNOTES

[1] Knight, George W. The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1992), 429-30.

Copyright VOICE Magazine, used by permission.

Issue: January/February 2021.