Prayer Request for a Hurting Pastor

Friends,

I have not been here in long while to post, but the issues of my church and now my own personal issues have been pressing.

In the last three and a half months have had to give up my church (forced resignation -- my blog has the details so I will not rewrite them here). The consequences of this are that I have lost my church, my job and my home in a very short time. We have moved into a two bed room apartment and I have the following requests. I come here to you because I know all of you that love Jesus pray.

1) I am still in search of a steady job and we are really up against it financialy. We despritely need God's provision
2) My ministry is in shambles now. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do now.
3) Spiritually, I hunger for revival for myself, my family and the church of Jesus Christ, but I also am in a lot of spiritual pain right now dealing with betrayal from a lot of sides. 'Prayer in the storm' as it were. It is very difficult for me to pray or even look at God's Word at times.

I would appreciate prayer from all who would do so.

Blessings.

I will pray for you Sir Edward
- but you must draw near to Him.

Pastor,

I have read your posts on your blog, as well as another website which you regularly post and will pray for you and your family. Frankly I have missed your posts on SI.

Here are some scriptures that have kept me afloat during the "desert" time:

Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

[b]18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.[/b]

All of Psalms 84 but particularly verses 4-6

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

[b]6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [/b]

Isaiah 30:19-21

19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. [b]20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."[/b]

I would be happy to pray with you via phone as well. If you would like to do that, please send me a PM.

Blessings to you brother in the name of Jesus.

Just remember the devil is after your faith. If we abandon our faith there's no blood to cover that. That's why unbelief can be so dangerous.

Will be praying for you Edward. Jesus has not forgotten you...

Well, we know that God makes a way when there isn't a way. There is a standard or a line placed by the Lord that says this is as far as it goes.

God is in the business of restoring ruined places and God most often uses weak people. Often something has to die in us before he moves in a great way in us and the enemy comes against us in a big way when we are close to a special victory.

You must forgive the betrayal from a lot of sides, if you haven't already.

GaryE

Thanks to all,

Death2self -- your verses are very appreciated. Just what I needed.

Gary,
I learned a long time ago to forgive as quickly as possible, but forgiveness is only the start of recovery (an absolutely essential one) The hurt still remains and healing can only come from God and it still takes time.

I am really running out of strength at times to just continue fighting for the Lord, I really need a lot of wisdom and direction.

Thanx for the prayers.

Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
Mat 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Mat 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Mat 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Bruises are hidden wounds we endure without anyone really ever seeing them. The only time we even know they are there is when we get bumped. They hide just under the surface, just out of sight....But God sees, I'll pray for you and yours that the Lord Himself will comfort and lead you folks and cause all things to work together for good, keep yourselves in the Love of Christ during these times, and watch that no bitter root spring up and ruin you from the hidden places of a bruised heart. Let your prayers and tears become springs of refreshing in the days and weeks to come.

Hi Sir_Edward...

While I don't know much about this situation (in fact, I have no idea where your blog is located), I will certainly be praying for you.

I know someone that went through a situation very similar to your own. His public ministry apparently came to an abrupt end, and he faced betrayals and rejection from those that were closest to him. He was even accused by people that based their judgment on gossip and slander. Still, this man carried his cross -- until he could carry it no further. At that time, someone helped him carry it to the end.

Brother, let me encourage you that Jesus has been where you are now. While the situations that created these circumstances are certainly different from what our Lord endured, it is comforting to know that Jesus has felt even greater rejection, betrayal and pain. Keep carrying the cross until you can carry it no further. Be mindful that the Lord will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can endure. From what you have already written, the Lord obviously has great trust in your faith.

Let me say something else...

Sometimes, the problems that we endure are the result of our own doing. Of course, I am not saying this is true in your situation. However, the Word of God is filled with men of God who "dropped the ball" and fell into terrible mistakes or even gross sin. David is a great study in the faithfulness and grace that God provides to those who have a heart after his own. God doesn't give us what we deserve. And even if our "failures" become public, God is still able to turn things around for His glory. Several hundred years after David died, there was another king in Judah. Hezekiah was one of the better kings, and his heart remembered and returned to the Lord. Once, when Hezekiah was sick and the nation was under attack by the King of Assyria, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord.

The Lord answered Hezekiah (through Isaiah the prophet) and said that he would heal Hezekiah, add years to his life, and save the city for his "own sake, and FOR MY SERVANT DAVID'S SAKE." (II Kings 20:1-6). In other words, 300+ years after David died -- and about 350 years after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba (including the lust, the adultery, the lies, the coverup and the murder) -- God thought so highly of David that He said that he would spare Jerusalem for the sake of His servant David. Why? Because David treasured his relationship with the Lord above all things (Psalm 51). When Jesus was born, he wasn't considered the Son of Abraham, Isaac, Israel or Moses. Rather, he was considered the Son of David.

Be encouraged, brother, that the last chapter of your life is not yet written. When the "books" are opened in eternity, I pray that God makes a fantastically glorious ending to your story! Know that God understands your afflictions, and he will certainly deliver you from them all. Please know that many of us will be praying for you. I will pray for your relationships, your testimony, your future in the ministry, and of course, your financial situation.

:-)

Hi Sir_Edward...

I just wanted to let you know that I have placed you on a "prayer list" with people in my family, friends, several churches, and my girlfriend's family. Be encouraged that there are people throughout the U.S. and Mexico praying! If possible, please keep us updated about your situation.

:-)

our prayers are with you and the church body...i was encouraged however to read that while you lost so much you still have the two most important things in life.....faith in God and you'r family.
stay focused. In times like this it's like you are spinning out of control and the temptation to reach to the nearest object to stabilize ourself is strong the same is true physically, spiritually, and emotionally....hang on to the cross the word and the comfort of a loving family and the body of christ and you'll make it

ONE DAY, THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, WHAT YOU ARE GOING THRU TODAY WILL BE A DISTANT MEMORY- AND WHEN YOU MAKE IT THRU THIS TRIAL GOD WILL USE YOU TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING THE SAME FIRE! TRUST IN CHRIST HE IS FAITHFUL.

THE CROSS BECAME A TOMB WHICH MADE POSSIBLE A RESURRECTION WHICH GAVE LIFE TO ALL WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL

Thank you everyone for your prayers. I will try to update as much as I can but my time online is limited as you can understand.

Blessings.