{"id":43,"date":"2005-12-06T16:43:00","date_gmt":"2005-12-06T20:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=43"},"modified":"2013-07-03T14:56:49","modified_gmt":"2013-07-03T18:56:49","slug":"prayer-for-ministers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=43","title":{"rendered":"Prayer for Ministers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is another poem by John Newton concerning the pastorate. It was included in the Olney Hymns- pretty good accountability for pastors to sing this song with their congregations! I came across this poem in Worthy is the Lamb: Puritan Poetry in Honor of the Savior<\/em> (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004). May it encourage and challenge you as it has me.<\/p>\n

“Prayer for Ministers”<\/p>\n

Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep,
\nFrom death and sin set free;
\nMay every under-shepherd keep
\nHis eye, intent on thee!<\/p>\n

With plenteous grace their hearts prepare,
\nTo execute thy will
\nCompassion, patience, love and care,
\nAnd faithfulness and skill<\/p>\n

Inflame their minds with holy zeal
\nTheir flocks to feed and teach;
\nAnd let them live, and let them feel
\nThe sacred truths they preach.<\/p>\n

Oh, never let the sheep complain
\nThat toys, which fools amuse;
\nAmbition, pleasure, praise or gain,
\nDebase the shepherd’s views.<\/p>\n

He, that for these, forbears to feed
\nThe souls whom JESUS loves;
\nWhate’er he may profess, or plead,
\nAn idle shepherd proves.<\/p>\n

The sword of God shall break his arm,
\nA blast shall blind his eye
\nHis word shall have no pow’r to warm,
\nHis gifts shall all grow dry.<\/p>\n

O LORD, avert this heavy woe,
\nLet all thy shepherds say!
\nAnd grace, and strength, on each bestow,
\nTo labor while ’tis day.<\/p>\n

– John Newton<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here is another poem by John Newton concerning the pastorate. It was included in the Olney Hymns- pretty good accountability for pastors to sing this song with their congregations! I came across this poem in Worthy is the Lamb: Puritan Poetry in Honor of the Savior (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004). May it encourage and challenge …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Prayer for Ministers’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3966,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43\/revisions\/3966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}