Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
Where Are Godly Shepherds?
God told the prophet Jeremiah, "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me" (Jeremiah 33:22, NKJV). He was saying, "I give you this covenant promise that I?m going to increase the holy priesthood that will shepherd my multiplying flocks."
You may wonder, "Where are all the godly shepherds the Lord promised us? Where are they pastoring? Are you saying we can find their righteous churches in any city, town, or village? There aren't enough Bible schools and seminaries in the world to even begin to fulfill this incredible prophecy. I know the Lord is raising up godly young ministers, but surely they are few and far between."
How will God do this? We find the answer in the book of Revelation: "...To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5-6). God has made us all his priests! Everyone who has been washed in the blood of Jesus is a member of his royal priesthood.
The apostle Peter echoed this as he wrote, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). God has called us to be priests who minister to him. You see, the Lord's concept of "church" is much different from ours. We think of church as being a ministry to people. It is a place where all the needs of God's people--spiritual, physical, and emotional--are met. Of course, that is all part of what makes up a church. But the true body of Christ, according to the scriptures, begins with ministry to Jesus Christ. His concept of the church is anyplace where a holy priesthood of people are being transformed into his image and offering spiritual sacrifices to him.
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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