Praying for Your Pastor

By Nick Bibile

 

Ephesians 6: 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

God used Apostle Paul mightily, God used him as the apostle for the Gentile church and he had a glorious office in taking the gospel to the Gentiles but it was not a smooth path. He suffered much, heavily persecuted, he went through hunger, stoned, shipwrecked, they beat him up many times, thrown in jail, fought with wild animals, he was hunted by the unbelieving Jews, yet without any modern hi technology he was able to take the gospel from Jerusalem to many parts of Europe and established churches, made disciples and wrote two thirds of the New Testament. He was a hero. We wonder how one single individual who suffered so much, heavily persecuted yet had a blossoming ministry without any hi technology.

How did Paul do? We know God was behind it and it had lot to do with prayer.  He wrote to his brethren to pray for him.

2 Corinthians 1:11
You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Philippians 1:19
for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.

Philemon 1:22
At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

If you see a businessman who’s business is flourishing, it’s because he has other people working for him, without the others he cannot prosper. The apostle Paul was a great master businessman for the Lord Jesus as he did a great business for the Lord. He could not carry it alone unless he had others behind him in prayer and with prayer comes action to help him. In a great battle it is the general’s name is mentioned not all the individual soldiers but at the end the general tells his soldiers, “Without you we could not have won the battle.” That’s why the great apostle can say the following.

Rom 15:30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.

Striving together, agonizing together as a team in prayer.

Apostle was an ambassador in chains; he was the representative of the Lord Jesus Christ but in chains, to show he is put in prison. We have local churches and the pastor is the main representative of the local church. Local churches flourish not because of the pastor’s great ability to preach but the congregation. Are you paying for your pastor daily?

C.H Spurgeon was called the prince of preachers next to the Lord Jesus and the apostles. What was the success of Spurgeon? When friend visited him, he took them to the basement of the church where there was a prayer room, people always kneeling and praying interceding for the church, then Spurgeon tells his friends, “Here is the powerhouse of the church.”

Here is another quotation by Spurgeon of the church praying for him.

When I see my men rise to pray in such large numbers, I feel like Napoleon, when he sent out his old guards. The battle had wavered; “There,” said he, “they go; now the victory is sure.” Or, like our own guards, the black caps, who, wherever they went carried victory with them. The praying legion is a thundering legion everywhere. Men can stand against anything but prayer. We would pray the very gates of hell off their hinges, if we could pray as some men have done. Oh! That we had might in prayer. Do not, I beseech you, I entreat you, do not cease to pray.

Spurgeon in his book, All around Ministry, tells his students, the pastor should have godly leaders in his church, a pastor who has godly leaders is a growing church. Even if the pastor preach well but have no godly people around him that church will not flourish. If there are unconverted, worldly people in the church they will never pray for the pastor neither will give any help to the ministry. Spurgeon tells his student pastors, “God may have given the brother all those whom He intended to bless by him in that place, and it may be wise for him to fish in other waters.”

Pastor goes through a lot of preparation to give his message not only one week but every Sunday, rain or sunshine, difficult times or good times even during much hardship. He is like the cook in the restaurant, preparing the delicious food where God has put in his kitchen table. But it is sad to say that many are not even thinking of the pastor during the weekdays, many come to church as spectators to listen to the sermon for them to get the blessing.

Christian pollster George Barna has discovered that "pastors are the single most occupationally frustrated professionals in America." Yet that needn’t be so. Scripture makes it clear that we are to give special affirmation to our spiritual leaders. In 1 Timothy 5:17 we read, "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching." 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

I remember when I was a missionary in the Philippines, I was at a small poor church in Toledo where the poor people in the church came and gave food to the pastor, taking care of his physical needs.  If you cannot love your pastor whom you see how can you love the Lord Jesus whom you don’t see?  In the Old Testament the Levites, who took care of the temple lived by the wages of the people as the congregation supported them. It is the same in the New Testament.

 

Pastor needs support of the church. When I went to the Philippines as a missionary, I told my friends would you support me? Many said, “Yes.” But when I was there only a handful supported me. Reminds of William Carey when he said, when he goes to India. “I will go down into the pit but brother Fuller and the rest of you must hold the rope.” Oh! How we need godly spiritual leaders who will hold that rope.

 

If someone gives you a gift every week you will love that person and care for that person but the pastor who feeds the church with heavenly food, how much more you should be blessed as he is feeding your soul with the word of God. A praying church is a church that takes care of the pastor.

 

When you see a man agonizing for the flock, laboring for the flock, sometimes his heart begins to sink as he is just like you. Sometimes his strength is failing him, just like Moses his when he grew tired of his lifted hands, Aaron and Hur was beside him to help him.  The pastor desperately needs godly men who are close to him.

 

Around A.D. 47 the apostle Paul embarked on his first missionary journey. By his side was a faithful companion, Joseph of Cyprus, nicknamed Barnabas, or "Son of Encouragement." Why the title? Because Barnabas stood with Paul through shipwrecks, stoning and rejection.

 

Behind every great leader, there is someone who is willing to sacrifice for him.  This is true of the heroes of the Bible; it is just as true of today’s pastors.  They need people who will intercede for them in powerful, consistent, specific prayer.  An intercessor is someone who bears another’s burdens.  When Moses’ hands were tired, Aaron and Hur interceded by holding up his hands, and the battle was won (Exodus 17:8-13)

 

How many ministers are weak for warfare with sin because they are not supported by a godly people, and their hands are not held up by praying brethren! I need your prayers desperately if we are going to carry on this ministry; a prayer is more precious than gold, it makes me rich in God. Lift up your arms, like Moses.

 

Pastor is in the very front of the battlefield. Satan is always trying to tempt the pastor to sin. If the leader falls it will affect the entire church. Spurgeon said, “Brethren pray for me.” For oh, if I fall, what dishonor to the Holy Church at large? If your pastor sins what shame! If this Church becomes a failure, what dishonor. 

Peter was very close to Jesus and he was one of the leaders among the disciples. Satan wanted to destroy Peter. Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:31)

The closest disciples to Jesus were, Peter, James and John. They were the leaders of the church and Jesus before going to the cross-told them to pray for him.

 

Please do not forget to pray for your pastor as he loves Jesus from the bottom of his heart and his desire is to gives God’s precious words and how happy and joyous is he going to be when he see new born Christians growing up in the Lord, Like the parents are so excited to see the baby taking the first steps to walk then to grow gradually and become and adult.

 

The best hearers are the ones who prays daily to the pastor and the ones who love him best. The pastor can be a great preacher but if you are not praying for him and there is no action of love supported with prayer then you are living in a dry well without water, but plead with God in prayer heavenly rain will fall to your soul.

 

I will be the most miserable man on the earth if you don’t pray for me. But if you do pray for me I will be the most blessed man as your prayers with God’s grace and have a great effect on the whole church.  Will you truly pray for me while I live and serve God? May God help me, if you cease to pray for me, please let me know, because that day I will stop preaching.

A holy people who are listening to the sermon makes the best platform for the preacher. Lord help us to pray.  

 

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