Pastoral Vision (24)
“The poor and needy seek water, and there is none,
Their tongues fail for thirst.
I, I the LORD will hear them;
I, I the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Isaiah 41.17
How passionate is our vision for the life of faith? How ambitious in the Lord are our objectives for the work He has given us to do? As we remember how great the might of God is, we should desire nothing more than to stretch out into that might as far as He will allow us to go.
But we will only hunger and thirst for more of the Lord and His promises as we consider how far short of that might and greatness we fall.
Nineteenth-century minister Alexander Cumming observed, “Men under impression that there is no water, that is, feeling the comparative destitution of living water, will pray with an earnestness, painted by the tongue failing for thirst, and then a prodigal supply of living water will be granted to enrich and irrigate parched spots.” When does the living water of God’s Spirit flow to and through us most abundantly? When we recognize our need for it and pray earnestly to receive it.
Rev. Cumming continued, “And why will the God of Israel postpone the descent of the living water till this perception of moral desolation prompts such intense prayer? ‘that men may see and know and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.’ That is, that the moral transformation wrought on multitudes of mankind may be ascribed not to the eloquence or wisdom of man, but to the might of God’s outstretched arm” (Ministers of Scotland: Lectures on Revival VI).
God will do great things when we seek them, but we must recognize our need and be careful to give Him all the glory.
I suspect that most Christians today are fairly satisfied with the state of their faith. They have a “good enough” experience of Jesus and they’re not really thirsting for much more. But the work of shepherds is to help people realize that splashing around in the mud puddle of faith is not to be compared with sailing on the ocean of God’s grace and power (Lewis).
We need to gain a clearer and more compelling vision of what God in His might can do. Then let us whet the appetites of those we serve for a greater experience of the Lord’s reviving power. When we do, they will begin to seek it more fervently.
Resources for Shepherds: Revival, renewal, and awakening
Resources are available to help you in leading your church to revival, renewal, and awakening.
What does it mean for a church to be revived? Our book Revived! addresses that question and marks out the path that can lead to revival. Learn more and order your copy by clicking here.
The psalms are a great source for leading us to pray for revival. Our book Restore Us! shows you how to use the psalms in seeking the Lord for revival, renewal, and awakening, and how to lead others to do so as well. Order your copy by clicking here.
Finally, not persuaded that your church needs revival? Then at least you can pray for those which are so captive to contemporary culture and winds of false doctrine, that they might be set free to seek revival, renewal, and awakening. Our book The Church Captive can help you in praying for churches worldwide. Order your copy by clicking here. Or order it in a free PDF here.
Order any one of the above books, and we’ll send you a free copy of Preparing Your Church for Revival. Learn more about this book by clicking here.
Men we invite you join one of our many prayer groups seeking the Lord for revival, renewal, and awakening via Zoom. For a complete list of available groups, send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We still have room for you join our September Kingdom Conversation on the topic, “To Judge the World.” We’ll be meeting Thursday evening, September 26, at 8:00. Materials are free, and I’ll be happy to send them to you and reserve a spot for you in our Conversation. Just send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let me know you’d like to join us.
From the Celtic Revival
So the body of the Church, enriched by the splendour of its Founder, is augmented by the hosts of saints and is made resplendent by religion and learning, so that those who come after draw profit from the concourse of the learned.
- The Monk Jonas, Life of St. Columban, Italian, 7th century[1]
The Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800) is a little-known segment of Church history. But it is very important, because those Irish Christians made an improbable impact on history at a time when Western civilization was falling into disarray. It’s not too much to say, as Thomas Cahill does, that Irish Christians “saved civilization” through their efforts at seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God. This is why, at The Fellowship of Ailbe, we remember and seek to learn from the legacy of the saints of this period.
It’s not too late for you to do so, too. Our book group on Cahill’s How the Irish Saved Civilization begins this Wednesday at 4:00 Eastern. We’ll be meeting every other week through the end of the year, so if you’d like to join us for this study, send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I’ll put you on the list for a Zoom link.
You can subscribe to Crosfigell and all our other teaching letters by clicking here.
New in the Bookstore
We are pleased to announce two new PDF books in our bookstore. To Judge the World considers the role of God’s people in bringing truth to light in all the niches, nooks, crannies, and arenas of our world. Winds of Doctrine looks at 21 different ill winds that can blow us off our course with the Lord and shows us how to “trim our sails” to keep on course. Download these new books to your e-reader and share them with your friends. Get a group together for study and discussion.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Support for Pastor to Pastor comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] Munro, p. 11.
