Charles Spurgeon writes in “The Preacher’s Private Prayer” about the need for a minister to be constantly praying. The success in any ministry is that of the Holy Spirit’s working. A minister must be praying before any activity remembering he is talking to the Holy God of the universe. Prayer must be authentic and a lifestyle for the minister.
Where are the sermons today that reflect this kind of prayer? Paul Washer is a popular preacher that tries to emulate men that pray every day. The anointing of God is obviously on Washer’s sermons as men and women are convicted of sin, which illustrates Spurgeon’s words about how a minister that prays will show the power of God from the pulpit. Spurgeon states, “Wheels of fire will be fastened to your chariot, which had begun to drag right heavily, and steeds angelic will be in a moment harnessed to your fiery car, till you climb the heavens like Elijah, in a rapture of flaming inspiration.” Prayer puts the minister in the presence of God, and through his sermons, listeners know they are in the presence of God. However, not all preaching in today’s churches have this same effect.
Spurgeon notes some qualities of ministers that do not spend time in prayer and who try to make up the spark of the Holy Spirit in their sermons. He states, “Certain brethren aim at inspiration through exertion and loud shouting; but it does not come; some we have known to stop the discourse, and exclaim, ‘God bless you,’ and others gesticulate wildly, and drive their fingernails into the palms of their hands as if they were in convulsions of celestial ardor.” He then expresses his disgust at ministers he considers as performers instead of men that should be spending more time in prayer in order to let God’s spirit lead the sermon. With the rise of the internet, Spurgeon’s warning against this type of preaching is prophetic. The focus of earning views for sermons breeds sensationalism in the modern preacher. Too much thought is spent on how a sermon will look, and not enough time in prayer that God will use the sermon to bring people to Christ. Personal prayer is important, Spurgeon also believes that prayer in public is also important.
One point that is stressed in Spurgeon’s lecture is to make public prayers important because the congregation is petitioning the creator of the universe. Those that pray in church need to be spiritually prepared ahead of time by already having their own personal prayer time. In many charismatic churches today people that are asked to pray based on those that have a theatrical element in what amounts to a presentation. It is important that before anyone prays the minister must know where they are at spiritually, and if they have prepared for their prayer. The minister himself is to have a full prayer life and be a leader in prayer, and if others are to pray publicly he should know their hearts.
My prayers lately have been selfish and “The Preacher’s Private Prayer” has convicted me. Spurgeon said that I should be praying for every sermon, praying for my country, neighbors, and others I come in to contact with throughout my week. Spurgeon also said that prayer is the most important thing a minister can do, and if he is too busy to pray then he needs to cut something out so prayer can take a prominent role in his life. His admonitions have helped me and when I wake up in the middle of the night I have started praying for these different things and praying that God will help me with my praying. I want God to use me. I have been neglecting the prayer of a spiritual battle in a struggle that is spiritual. One day I want to be a pastor of a church and I would like to be known as a man of prayer.
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