This Blog Series is a reformatted version of a previous sermon series, Paul & the Pastor’s Heart.

Search me O God and know my heart today

Try me O Savior know my thoughts I pray

See if there be some wicked way in me

Cleanse me from every sin and set me free

I praise You Lord for cleansing me from sin

Fulfill Thy Word and make me pure within

Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame

Grant my desire to magnify Your Name

Lord take my life and make it wholly Thine

Fill all my heart with Your great love divine

Take all my will my passion self and pride

I now surrender Lord in me abide

These are the words of the old hymn, Cleanse Me O God. J. Edwin Orr (Jan 15, 1912-April 22, 1987), the writer of this hymn, but unfortunately not a known relative to me, lived and ministered exemplifying the heart of a pastor. He possessed a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of individuals and the church. 

Orr’s life and ministry were marked by a profound longing for spiritual revival and renewal in his time. He believed revival would be essential for addressing moral laxity and meeting the spiritual needs of people. 

He preached on individual repentance and regularly called for a renewed commitment to Christ. He believed in the importance of both individual and corporate prayer as vital pathways to revival and spiritual awakening.

Orr was passionate about reaching those who are lost and bringing them to Christ. He traveled to more than 150 countries, demonstrating a heart that embraced the entire world, reaching out to diverse cultures and peoples with the message of the Gospel and the call for revival.

Orr also served as a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of World Missions, equipping and teaching believers and leaders through his writings and conferences. He also, as evidenced in the stanzas above, wrote more than a few hymns for the purposes of introspection, purity, and complete surrender to God’s will. He penned these hymns to inspire and guide individuals in their personal devotion and walk with God.

A good pastor cares about these things: he cares for your personal salvation, your personal growth in Christ, and He cares that a world drowning in sin and lostness come to be reborn through the blood of Christ, that the world be changed by the church when we bring Heaven down to Earth. 

J Edwin Orr, like so many others devoted to the case of Christ, reflects the heart of the pastor. In the last two-thirds of the Book of Acts, we follow of man known for his missionary expeditions, but, with a closer look, embodies the heart of a pastor. The Apostle Paul’s life and writings give us a glimpse into the pastor’s heart. 

A Good Pastor is Grateful for His Fellowship

Consider how he begins his letter to the church in Philippi. Paul opens his letter with a warm expression of love, stating in Philippians 1:1-3, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you.” Herein lies the essence of a pastor’s heart—a deep appreciation for community. Each prayer and memory of the Philippians fills Paul with gratitude. A faithful pastor cherishes and nurtures the bonds within his congregation. 

As a pastor, I am moved to prayers of gratitude whenever I think of my congregation. Like Paul, I both regularly remember them by name in my prayers and ask that they pray for me. The bonds of love and fellowship are what make our community of faith unique. But it must be something we are diligent in, remembering one another, serving one another, staying in fellowship with one another. While Paul and his mission team were in Philippi, they were with these people daily. 

How often do you interact with the church? A Christian who finds ways to be with, speak to, pray for, and serve the church is a Christian who truly cherishes this incredible gift God has given us for our good and His glory!

Let us ask ourselves: Are we taking the time to appreciate those around us? Are we cultivating relationships in our community that reflect this spirit of gratitude?

Our prayers should not be just prayers for the sick. They cannot be. When you pray for only the sick, you devalue the power of your prayers. Our prayers open doors for healing, yes. But they also open the doors for the power of deliverance. They open doors for the power of salvation. They open doors for the power of wisdom. They open doors for the power of grace. They open doors for the power of peace. The power to exorcise demons, cleanse lepers, reforge broken families, rebuild destitute communities, and roll stones away. These are the prayers that filled Paul’s lungs. These are the prayers that came from the lips of Jesus. And these are the prayers that we must utter for one another. Pray as He taught us, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 

A Good Pastor is Confident in Growth and Transformation to Come

In verses 5-6, Paul expresses his deep conviction that “he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This powerful assertion reveals not only Paul’s faith in the Philippians but also his unwavering belief in the work of God within them. Paul recognized that spiritual growth is a journey marked by both challenges and triumphs, and he was confident that the Holy Spirit was actively working in their lives. His encouragement serves as a reminder that each believer has the potential to transform, no matter their current circumstances.

Paul knew these people. He saw the businesswoman, Lydia, move from intellectual faith to an active faith, opening her home to be the headquarters of the Philippian church. He saw a slave girl loosed from the bonds of occult and demonic oppression. He saw a hard Philippian jailer transform into a gentle father and caretaker of the abused. He never once doubted their incredible transformations because he trusted in the Lord’s ability to change them. 

A good pastor believes with confidence that he will see things in each of us congregants that are still left to be unseen. He trusts he will witness them do things for the Kingdom that they themselves have yet to imagine themselves doing. 

Of course, transformation does not happen overnight; it is a gradual process that requires time, patience, and, above all, God’s handiwork. But when Paul considered the Philippian believers, he saw not just who they were at that moment, but who they could become through Christ. We must view ourselves and others through the lens of potential and possibility, thereby fostering an environment where growth can flourish. A good pastor knows this and calls the best out in his people.

Paul’s letter reminds us that our journeys of faith are interconnected. We are not isolated in our struggles, nor are we meant to walk the path alone. Like Paul, we should be vessels of encouragement for one another. We must acknowledge the strides others are making in their spiritual lives and encourage their growth. We should create a supportive community where everyone can thrive and experience the transformative power of God.

The call is to realize our own spiritual potential, and help others realize theirs, also. Trust in the Lord’s intention for your life and embrace the confidence your pastor has in you. 

You are capable of becoming the person God has called you to be. Remember, the journey may not be easy, but with faith and perseverance, you will continue to grow and transform in Christ.