David Tarkington

Prayer Point 10: Renew Every Pastor's Heart

The final Prayer Point for our ReVision Florida gatherings focuses on the hearts of our pastors.

Prayer Point 10: Renewal of the hearts of our pastors

Problem: No passion. Stagnant, dull services. No focus on the Word of God.

Symptoms: No salvations. No baptisms. No vision. No mission. No passion in the pulpit.

Truth: Spiritual renewal has always come on the heels of a renewed reverance and hunger for the Word of God.

Scripture:

• Psalm 51:12(ESV)
  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 
• Colossians 3:10-12(ESV)
  And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
• Romans 12:1-2(ESV)
  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17(ESV)
  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Our Prayer: God, renew and revive the hearts of our pastors. Return them to their first love. Remind them of Your calling on their lives. Lead them to serve You today in such as way that is as thrilling, exciting and dangerous as when they first answered the call. May the power of the Holy Spirit renew the hearts of our pastors for Your glory.

Prayer Point 9: We Must Own This Vision

Prayer Point 9: Ownership of the Vision

Problem: God's people do not sense ownership of the work to be done in our state. God has given us our communities and state as a stewardship. However, many of us feel like the problem of the lostness in Florida belongs to someone else. As Baptists, we sometimes believe the problem belongs to the Florida Baptist Convention, the local Associations or some other network of churches. The reality, the problem is ours.

Symptoms: Lack of unity among churches. Working to build small kingdoms rather than work for the Kingdom.

Scripture:

• Proverbs 29:18(ESV)
  Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. 
  
• Acts 18:9(ESV)
  And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 

Our Prayer: God, may we see the stewardship You have given us here. God has called us to reach our communities and this state. May we see the challenges, the problems, the possibilities and the vision as ours to fulfill under God's lead.

Prayer Point 8: Releasing of Resources

Prayer Point 8: Releasing of Resources

Problem: God has supplied the needed resources and funds for His work. His people will not release the resources.

Symptoms: Ministries left undone for lack of resources.

Scripture:

• Psalm 37:34(ESV)
  Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 
  
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8(ESV)
  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 
• Matthew 6:33(ESV)
  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• 3 John 1:2(ESV)
  Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
• 2 Corinthians 9:8(ESV)
  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Our Prayer: God, give your people a heart of generosity. May the church release the resources of God's for His work. In our abundance, let us understand that what we have is not ours, but Yours and send a fresh sense of sacrificial generosity.

Prayer Point 7: Need for Laborers

Prayer Point 7: Lord of the Harvest to Send Forth Laborers

Problem: A shortage of workers.

Symptoms: A harvest is waiting and the field needs workers.

Scripture:

• Matthew 9:37-38(ESV)
  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 
  
• Matthew 28:18-20(ESV)
  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 
• Luke 9:23(ESV)
  And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 
• Luke 19:10(ESV)
  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Our Prayer: Lord, change our mindset and our vision so we will see that the harvest is still great. Call out the next generation of workers, missionaries, church planters, pastors, teachers, evangelists and others for this task.

 

 

Prayer Point 6: Unity Among Christ Followers

As pastors and leaders praying throughout Florida, we come face to face with the issue of unity. There are churches splitting, fights among believers. There are even churches who wrongly view other churches as "competition" and therefore, create an island of ministry that misses the larger story. Therefore, our prayer focus this day is about unity. This is not a surface level, "feel good" unity, but a deep, gospel focused oneness of purpose and Kingdom-mindedness.

Prayer Point 6: Unity

Problem: No harmony. No agreement. No godly interaction and poor fellowship

Symptoms: Division among church leaders. Wasted time. Wasted energy

Scripture:

• Psalm 133:1(ESV)
  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
  
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12(ESV)
  Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 
• John 17:20-26(ESV)
  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” 
• Acts 1:14(ESV)
  All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
• Acts 2:1(ESV)
  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 
• Acts 2:46(ESV)
  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 
• Acts 4:24(ESV)
  And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 
• Acts 5:12(ESV)
  Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 
• Acts 8:6(ESV)
  And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 
• Acts 15:25(ESV)
  It has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 

Our Prayer: Lord, let us be in accord with You!

Prayer Point 5: Boldness

Today's prayer for pastors and leaders in the state of Florida is for boldness in preaching the gospel. As with the other points, these come from Dr. Clayton Cloer of First Baptist Church of Central Florida.

Prayer Point 5: Boldness

Problem: Lack of godly authority in the church and therefore, the truth of the gospel is by-passed or watered down.

Symptoms: Weakness in the pulpit. The true gospel message is not proclaimed. God's people are therefore presented a watered down message that leads to a timid fellowship and no boldness in living for Christ. 

Scripture:

• Ephesians 6:19(ESV)
  And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 
• Colossians 4:2-4(ESV)
  Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 
• Acts 4:19-20(ESV)
  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 
• Acts 28:31(ESV)
  Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. 

Our Prayer: God grant us boldness to love loud, to share our lives and our Lord with this state (and beyond.) May timidity and fear be banished. May we trumpet truth in our lives, our love and from our lips.

Prayer Point 4: Encouragement for Pastors

Encouragement is needed for all believers, but as a part of our prayer emphasis for ReVision Florida, the specific prayer focus here is for the shepherds of local fellowships.

Prayer Point 4: Encouragement for Pastors

Problem: Four pastors a day leave the ministry.

Symptoms: Discouragement, lack of support from the church and fellow pastors.

Scripture:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11(ESV)
  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
• Psalms 86:7(ESV)
  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 
• Acts 11:23(ESV)
  When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14(ESV)
  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 
• Romans 15:5(ESV)
  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 
• Galatians 6:2(ESV)
  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 
• 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17(ESV)
  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 

Our Prayer: May the God of comfort encourage every pastor. May God raise up an Aaron and Hur around every brother. May every pastor’s wife be lifted, strengthened and blessed.   May God encourage the families of our pastors.  May the pastoral staff and families be encouraged.

Have We Lost the Wonder?

01 04 - The Wonder & the Word

Sometimes I fear that as believers we have lost the wonder and awe of God he so rightly deserves. Today, I had the privilege of talking to a young lady here in my office about what it means to surrender fully to Christ.

After talking for about an hour, the Holy Spirit drew her to a point of conviction and choice. She confessed and repented and received Christ. It was amazing. There were no trumpets sounding (at least where I could hear them) and no one stood up and jumped around, but there was a transformation.

Amazingly, God reached into this woman's life and changed her from the inside out. He made her new. It was awesome (and I don't use that word "awesome" like we did back in the 80s. I mean it was truly awesome!) This young woman was transformed before my very eyes. She walked into my office dead. She walked out fully alive in Christ.

She didn't deserve this gift of life.

I don't either. 

That's what makes it so amazing.

God's great love reaches out to offer that which we don't deserve and never could earn - life.

Last night I led our group through a study of Acts 3. The story begins with the healing of a lame man by Peter and John as they were heading into the temple. The lame man is not named, but he is fully restored and his legs, which never worked, began to function. He begins to praise God, as he should.

Peter and John are thrust into a moment where God drew a crowd. The people were in wonder and awe at what they saw, and Peter affirmed that it was not he, nor John who healed the man, but Jesus Christ. 

The power of the name of Jesus Christ was explained.

This man was transformed by Christ, just like the woman in my office was transformed by Christ.

This has been a frustrating day. Numerous meetings, angry church members and friends, frustrated counseling sessions, etc. This is one of those days where the Enemy screams "You don't belong here!" He screams this and other lies. He chips away at all that is good (ministry, mission, purpose, etc.) and then God speaks. He shows up. 

With all the things going on that seem to matter, but don't, God reminded me today what really matters. He does. In fact, He is in control and working to change lives. He chooses to use us and that is amazing.

May we (I) never lose the wonder.

Prayer Point 3: We Need Purity Among Our Pastors

This is the third prayer focus point that pastors throughout Florida are focusing upon. 

Prayer Point 3: Purity Among Our Pastors

Problem: Pastors who lack integrity and honor.

Symptoms: The testimony and integrity of the church is destroyed. The pastor's testimony is destroyed. The pastor's family is harmed greatly.

Scripture:

• Psalm 24:3-5(ESV)
  Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
  He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 
• Psalm 51:10(ESV)
  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
• 1 Corinthians 6:18(ESV)
  Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 
• Colossians 3:5(ESV)
  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 
• Proverbs 16:2(ESV)
  All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. 
• James 3:17(ESV)
  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 
• Titus 2:12(ESV)
  Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
• Matthew 5:8(ESV)
  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 
• Philippians 1:9-11(ESV)
  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

Our Prayer: Keep your pastors pure of heart. Expose impurity, grant repentance and create clean hearts with us.

Prayer Point 2: We Need to be Filled by the Holy Spirit

Continuing along this prayer journey for our state and our churches in the Florida Baptist Convention, the second point of prayer is that pastors and leaders would rely on the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Point 2: The Filling of the Holy Spirit

Problem: Sometimes pastors preach with no spiritual power or authority shown and end up working under their own strength.
Symptoms: Dead churches. No salvations. No baptisms. No boldness in witnessing.
Scripture:

• Acts 4:31(ESV)
  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 
  
• Exodus 35:30-31(ESV)
  Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 
  
• Ephesians 5:18-21(ESV)
  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 
  

Our Prayer: Pour fresh oil upon us. May the fire of God fall upon Your people that we may be Your instruments in this state. Make us, as pastors,  clean vessels so You may pour the Holy Spirit into us to be made useful for the calling which we have been given.