Evangelicals Now
<< October 2003 >>

Why you should pray for your pastor

'Brothers, pray for us', 1 Thessalonians 5.25
A. Because of who he is.

1. God's gift: Ephesians 4.8,11. What Christ gives to build his church is not methods but men. Always begin your prayer for your pastor by thanking God for him.
2. God's servant: 1 Corinthians 4.1. God himself will serve you through your pastor if you ask him to. If you don't pray, you are to blame if you receive nothing from him.
3. Your servant: 2 Corinthians 4.5. In Christ's book 'greatness' lies in service, of which he is the example - Mark 10.45. Pray your pastor will seek not to be powerful and famous but to serve you.

B. Because of what he does - this serving is 'hard work', 1 Thessalonians 5.12.

4. He 'admonishes' you: verse 11. He has to give counsel which is appropriate for each one, not a slick formula for all. This requires understanding of each one.
5. He 'keeps watch over you': Hebrews 13.17, to keep out the crop-destroyers and the sheep-stealers. He is responsible to the Lord of the harvest and the Chief Shepherd.
6. He keeps the church united. By loving and serving each equally he is the focus of unity. All relate well to each other by relating well to him.
7. He is making you 'perfect': Colossians 1.26. He wants you never to stop growing in knowledge and grace - individually and as a church. Pray for this.

C. Because of what he is - not an angel or a superman, but

8. Human: 2 Corinthians 4.7. He has to do a divine work with human weaknesses.
9. Subject to temptation: 1 Timothy 3.7. The devil seeks to bring down pastors to destroy their congregations.
10. Limited: verse 12. His authority 'over you' is 'in the Lord' - spiritual and unenforceable, and accepted voluntarily by you. Pray you will feel Christ's authority.

D. Because of how this praying will affect you.

11. It will make you value him. You may not always agree with him, but the more you pray for him the less critical you will be.
12. It will strengthen your trust in him.
Pastoral ministry only works on the basis of trust. There is no detailed contract or job specification.
13. It will show him to you as a man of God. As the woman of Shunem found (2 Kings 4.9) there is no greater blessing than having a 'man of God' among you.
14. It will give you a share in his work. 1 Thessalonians 5.14-15 shows you can do similar things to him, and therefore pray with as well as for him.
15. It will make you feel the power of the word: 1 Thessalonians 1.5. To be effective the word must come not just in truth but in power - evoked by prayer.

E. Because of who you are.

16. A kingdom of priests: Revelation 1.6. You have power with God to bring down his blessing. Paul sought the prayers of all the churches he wrote to. How much more the ordinary pastor! 'The preacher must pray and the preacher must be prayed for'.

Eric Lane, Yateley