The Gospel Coalition

Many of you have heard the news that R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (President of Southern Seminary) has withdrawn his candidacy for SBC president, having recently discovered he has a pre-cancerous tumor on his colon.

I encourage you to listen to Russ Moore’s comments here and take a few moments to listen to Tom Schreiner’s powerful prayer for Dr. Mohler as well. I pray that you will be encouraged to greater prayerfulness for Dr. Mohler and his family during the difficult upcoming months.

Russ Moore’s Comments

I’d like to ask for us to have a time of prayer right now: a time of prayer of thanksgiving, that the Lord enabled the doctors to find this when they did, so that it can be treated; a time of prayer for the healing of the president in a very quick and rapid way, knowing that our God is a Father who listens to the cries of his children; and also a prayer for all of us, that we would follow the president’s leadership in the way that he is responding to the crises and trials that he has had with his health this year.

You know, all of us in this room have come here different ways, but most of us are here because of his leadership. Some of us came here as students because we believe in his vision. Some of us came here as faculty members because he brought us here because of his vision.

He taught us as soon as he got here that we ought to take seriously what the Word of God says: God is sovereign, He speaks truthfully. “Don’t just do something; stand there.”

He’s taught us since then that we ought to be carrying out the mission of Christ all over the world. “Don’t just stand there; do something.”

Now let’s pray that we will all see the way in which a man of God responds to crises, that we might learn in his life, not just his words: “Don’t just do something; kneel there.”

Dr. Tom Schreiner’s Prayer for Dr. Mohler

O Father, you are a great King. You are majestic and holy and awesome and wonderful and sovereign… You do rule and reign over all things. Lord, we do praise your majestic and holy Name. We bow before you as our God.

Father, it is so good to know in this hour when we’ve heard about our president’s health that you love your children, that you are a Good Shepherd… that you hold us in your arms. And Lord, we pray that for Dr. Mohler and for Mary and Katie and Christopher. Would you hold them close to you?

When fear comes, Lord, we pray that you would give them strength. When anxious thoughts strike, we pray for the peace that passes all understanding. When discouragement comes, Lord, we pray for hope. Lord, how we pray that you would surround and strengthen them with your Holy Spirit.

Lord, we do ask that through this, the gospel would go forth. We know your Word says that great afflictions come so that we will not trust in ourselves, but in a God who raises the dead. We confess, O Lord, we believe in such a God, we believe in a God that has raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead. We believe that sin and death and disease cannot conquer us. They cannot ultimately win. We are victors in all things! Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord, we praise you for Dr. Mohler because the message of the gospel, the message of hope, the message of triumph over sin and death has resounded from his life. We praise you for what has happened at Southern Seminary in and through him. We praise you that that message has resounded throughout evangelicalism and indeed throughout the world. How we thank you for his leadership, for how you have used him!

And now, Lord, we lift him to you in his need. We pray, Lord, for uncommon wisdom for the doctors and the physicians that are attending him. We pray, Lord, as the surgery takes place that you would give them remarkable insight. Give them dexterity in the midst of the operation. Give them the kind of wisdom that would bring healing and strength to Dr. Mohler.

Lord, we read in your word that we do not have because we do not ask, so we ask, Lord, for successful surgery. We ask, Lord, for healing. We ask, Lord for full restoration. We are bold to ask that it would be rapid and soon.

We bow before your will… We know you do all things well. Lord, we know how you’ve used Dr. Mohler in our midst and throughout this land and beyond. So we do plead with you that you would bring him back to us soon, strong and healthy and ministering once again.

O Lord, may the faith of all of us be strengthened through this trial and affliction. May we all be reminded that we rely on you for everything, that our lives are short, that we may not have much time left. May we have a renewed vision to live for your glory, to spread your gospel, to strengthen the saints, and to live for the glory and honor of your name.

And Lord, that is our ultimate prayer. May your Name be glorified through this. May you be honored. May you be praised.

We ask all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Thanks to my good friend Robbie Sagers for passing along the audio.)