I get to go to Indianapolis this weekend to watch the Colts play (and to spend some much needed alone-time with my husband – that IS why we’re going, right, honey? :) We have tickets in the first row of the first balcony in the end zone. I’ve never been to Lucas Oil Field, but I understand these will be great seats. And it’s sure to be a great game against the Jaguars! Most people razz me if they hear that I’m a Colts fan: “Oooooh…Pey-ton Man-ning…?!” like I’m crushing on him or something. [NOT!] I always clarify: I am not a Peyton Manning fan; I am a fan of good leadership.
A BIG fan.
I am an especially big fan of good leadership in the church.
It’s true. I am wired to root for, to encourage, to support, to lift up – to pray for pastors. This is my calling…
But it is ALL of our responsibility.
We all need to be praying regularly for our churches’ leadership. Today, as we pray alongside Andrew Murray’s “30 Days of Prayer” (in his classic devotional The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer), he asks us to “pray for the power of the Holy Spirit on His ministers.”
If our deepest desire for our churches is that they would be Holy Spirit-led congregations, then we must recognize our responsibility and make it a priority to pray for our pastors and leaders to be led by the Holy Spirit. Just as Paul urges in the Scriptures quoted by Murray below, our pastors and ministry leaders depend on God’s strength and deliverance to come through our prayers. Their passion and vision for the congregations they lead comes from where if not from God? That we would all have fellowship and serve in churches that have leaders who are Holy Spirit-inspired, -led, and -driven! May you feel the burden of their need and responsibly lift them to the Lord!
It is also our privilege to pray for ministry leaders.
It is not by accident where you worship and serve. God very intentionally placed you under specific leadership – not only for your sake, but for theirs! When things seem to running great in your church or ministry, it is easy to just blindly trust that leadership is on track holding everything together. Indeed! These are the days that we must pray for them even more! A church that is seemingly running smoothly is fodder for the devil, and he will quickly and quietly move in to chew us up and spit us out! It is our privilege to pray for the Holy Spirit to continually rest on the shoulders of our leadership…to protect them, to be close in their ears, reminding them of their call to minister. It is our privilege to recognize their need and to take it to the Father - before it becomes a reality. Don’t wait for problems to arise in your church before you intend to pray. Count it a privilege to pray for the ongoing strength and protection of your leadership.
If you don’t realize the responsibility, nor recognize the privilege, consider the blessing you’ll receive for praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to be on your pastor. In what direction would our prone-to-wandering hearts be heading without the guidance of our pastor-shepherd? There is no greater blessing in this world than to be walking in the will of God, led by his Holy Spirit. When we pray for the Spirit’s anointing to rest heavily on our pastors, we will receive the blessing of his anointing as the Holy Spirit deeply touches our hearts: in the explanation of the Word of God, in the wisdom of godly counsel, in the comfort of an understanding ear, and even in the challenging words that bring conviction. The blessing we receive does not come from the minister, but through the minister by the Holy Spirit. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit on His ministers.
Per the prayer guide we are following:
What to Pray: For the Power of the Holy Spirit on His Ministers
"I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me" (Romans 15:30).
"He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers" (2 Corinthians 1:10-11).
What a great number of ministers there are in Christ's church. And what a need they have for prayer. What strength they might work in if they were all clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for this, long and often. Think of your own pastor, and ask especially for him. Connect every ministry in your town or neighborhood or the world with the prayer that all might be filled with the Holy Spirit. Plead for them the promise that they will be clothed with power from on high.
How to Pray: In Secret
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:6).
"After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself" (Matthew 14:23; John 6:15).
Your Own Prayer Requests: [Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you how to pray for your pastor in secret.]
-Tracy Barbel
2 comments:
I don't know if I'm allowed to comment on a Women's Bible Study blog since I'm a boy and the "post a comment" text is pink...but this was wonderful to read. Knowing that the congregation is praying for those of us serving is such an encouragement. Knowing that they're praying for that one thing we ultimately need above all (the Holy Spirit) is that much more encouraging. Thanks for the words!
Thank you so much for your Spirit-inspired words, Tracy, and a much-needed reminder to pray for those who serve us so faithfully in ministry!
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