Prayer is theology in action. Prayer is a means of grace in that the Holy Spirit moves in our heart so that we may cry out to God. Prayer is prevenient grace in that when we don’t know how or what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26). Likewise, we pray according to what and how we believe. If we believe in error, or practice wrongly, that will have a negative effect in how we pray (Jas. 4:3). Even so, God’s prevenient grace is evident in that faith is a gift of God to unbelievers and believers. We pray as an exercise of faith, and sometimes we pray when we have little to no faith, but God graciously responds (Mark 9:24).
The Legacy of Earl Pearly Paulk, Sr.
Earl Paulk was a second-generation Pentecostal who defied Pentecostal stereotypes. He was not formally educated, but neither was he ignorant. In fact, he was self-educated and well informed. He had a brilliant mind that could collect, collate, and synthesize lots of information.
New Book – “Preacher Paulk”
Available in Hardcover and Softcover from Amazon.
Earl Pearly Paulk was a pioneering Pentecostal leader whose ministry spanned five decades, serving the Church of God as an evangelist, pastor, state overseer, and denominational executive He was renowned as one of the finest Pentecostal preachers in the movement. As a scholar of the Holy Scriptures, he influenced the doctrine of the Church of God and was a leading apologist for Pentecostalism. He was among the best of his generation, and a hero to the next generation. If one wishes to understand the development of Pentecostalism, then one needs to know Earl Pearly Paulk.
Vincent of Lerins: The Commonitorium
Vincent of Lérins (c. 390-450 CE) was a fifth century monk, presbyter, and theologian. Vincent’s concern was straightforward. How can we discern between truth and heresy? How can we properly read Holy Scripture? To this end, Vincent wrote the Commonitorium. Vincent is the first to present a systematic treatment on Scripture and Tradition as a theological method.
Earl P. Paulk, Sr. on Ministerial Ethics
I’ve been researching and writing on my late great uncle, Earl P. Paulk, Sr. (1904-1992). In 1957-1958, he published a three part article in the Church of God Evangel on Ministerial Ethics. His advice is both wise and timeless. It’s worth reading. Here are excerpts from my forthcoming book: Preacher Paulk – The Story of Earl Pearly Paulk, Sr.