Quarterly Pastors Prayer Initiative: July 17th at 2:00 PM EST
Everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp… When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses…Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. Exod 33:7,9,11
This passage has always fascinated me because I think it gives a profound insight into the spiritual training of Joshua for his later leadership task. Joshua had front row seats to the holy conversation between God and a man. He witnessed a two way conversation with Moses talking to God (Exod 33:12-16) and then God talking to Moses (Exod 33:17- 23).
And then Joshua would stay in the tent after the conversation was over—in the presence of God.
This communication is later replicated on a higher level by Jesus himself:
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1
Jesus prays in front of his disciples—they are the collective Joshua watching the greater Moses converse with his Father. Jesus didn’t always pray in secret (Mark 1:35) - in fact, sometimes he deliberately prayed in the presence of others in order to generate faith (John 11:42).
And after Jesus ascends to heaven, what do we find these same leaders doing? Praying together! (Acts 1:13-14). The fire from Jesus’ prayers kindled their prayer lives too.
We are a movement that believes in the centrality of the gospel. We believe in the Holy Spirit. We believe in the need for revival. And we believe God visits his leaders when they gather together for prayer.
I invite you to join with other pastors for a collective time of prayer. Just one hour (Mark 14:37). Not because we are strong, but because we are weak. But our mighty Father comes in power to the collective prayers of his people and especially his praying shepherds. Please join us my brothers. There is something very powerful about collective prayer. Like a greenhouse, God grows things into us as we pray. He will unite us. He will impart faith to us. He will answer our collective prayers. He will give us joy!
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
If interested, please let Joel know and he will send you the link to our next meeting on July 17th at 2:00 PM EST. jshorey@redeemerde.org.
Tim Kerr is an elder at Sovereign Grace Church Toronto and the author of Take Words With You: Scripture Promises & Prayer.
Joel Shorey is the new Director of Church Planting for Sovereign Grace Churches and the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Newark, DE. Joel and his wife Ashley have four children.