Pray for Your Pastor
Pastors and leaders need prayer. The weight of responsibility they carry is crushing at times, and the very nature of their roles makes them a constant target for the enemy.
The Apostle Paul often asked people to pray for him. He recognized the power of agreement in prayer, and knew he needed it!
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 ESV)
When you pray for pastors and spiritual leaders:
- Pray that the Word of God is clearly expressed and readily received. God’s word is the truth that sets people free. The gospel without the Word of truth can, at best, produce a superficial and temporary social justice. God’s word changes people from the inside out.
- Pray that spiritual leaders are delivered from satanically manipulated “people problems.” Not all people problems are satanic, but some certainly are. By far, most ministers love people and tend to defer to them in order to minister to them; but occasionally satan uses people to steal a minister’s joy, time, or peace. A minister needs discernment!
Pastor and leader- today I am praying for you. You are not alone. God is at work, even when you are at a dead end. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain, and your ministry matters! Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!
Believer- set a daily reminder to pray for your pastor and spiritual leaders. You will be blessed when they are strong and refreshed!
Men of Prayer
Men of God are men of prayer. You can’t be one without the other.
- Daniel had a routine of kneeling to pray three times every day.
- Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
- David prayed morning noon and night, and one passage says he prayed seven times a day.
I was reading this morning the stories of David’s mighty men in 2 Samuel 23, and the imagery of prayer seemed to be obvious in their stories.
It says of one man…
He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. (2 Samuel 23:10 ESV)
Although this story depicts his physical battle, it is picturesque of prayer:
- Prayer is how we confront and conquer the enemy.
- Prayer is most effective when we hold on tightly to the sword of the Spirit, declaring the word of God when we pray.
- Prayer invites God to fight and win your battles.
- Prayer must persist until breakthrough occurs. You may feel weary, but keep praying!
It’s God’s desire that every believer exercises the power of prayer, but I believe a specific challenge is issued to men of God to be men of prayer.
- Our families need men of prayer.
- Our churches need men of prayer.
- Our nation needs men of prayer.
- Our world needs men of prayer.
It’s time to rise up and pray!
Their Heart Is Far From Me
“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;” – Jesus (Mat. 15:8 ESV)
I can fool others, and I can even fool myself; but God always knows the true condition and motivation of my heart.
Submission Ain’t for Sissies
In a society whose esteemed virtues are things like individuality and independence, submission is viewed as weak and archaic.
Teenagers are expected – even encouraged – to rebel against their parents.
Employees often look with contempt at their employers.
To even mention that a wife should submit to her husband is viewed as arrogant and sexist.
In our myopic and egocentric view of life, we may have missed the fact that there are blessings and benefits that come to a person who walks in submission.
- Submission is not for the weak; only strong people do it.
- Submission is a result of humility and honor – characteristics that are always rewarded.
- Submission positions you to receive multiplied anointing in your life.
- Submission is a catalyst to promotion.
- Submission pleases God.
Jesus had an encounter with someone who knew the power of submission:
But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. (Matthew 8:8-10 ESV)
Jesus drew a connection between a man’s submission and his faith. Submission certainly requires faith! Submitting to a fallible person requires faith in an infallible God whose sovereignty is bigger than someone else’s humanity.
David learned the power of submission, even when his authority was clearly undeserving of honor. King Saul attempted to kill David on many occasions, but David would not harm or rebel against “God’s anointed.”
God rewarded David’s submission with promotion.
God rewarded the Centurion’s submission with a miracle.
Perhaps there is a blessing awaiting your submission today.
Pastor Dale Jenkins 