Do you pray for your pastor? You should!
After Wilburn Chapman’s first sermon at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, a man said, “You’re pretty young to be pastor of this great church. We’ve always had older men. I’m afraid you won’t succeed, but since you preach the Gospel, I’m going to help you all I can.” Chapman thought, “What a crank” But the man continued, “I’m going to pray for you, and a few others have covenanted to join me.”
Later Chapman wrote, “I didn’t feel so bad when I learned that they were going to pray for me. Soon the three became fifty, and the fifty became two hundred who met before every service to pray for me. In another room eighteen elders knelt so closely that I could put out my hand and touch them. I always went into my pulpit confident that I would have God’s anointing in answer to the prayers of those people. It was easy and a real joy to preach. Over the next three years eleven hundred people were saved and joined the church and six hundred of them were men.”
It was the work of the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer.
Church members have much more to do than go to church as curious, idle spectators to be amused and entertained. It is their sacred business to pray mightily that the Holy Spirit will clothe the preacher with power and make his words like dynamite!
In my life as a pastor, I know the difference it makes to know the church is praying for God to anoint me with fresh oil; that my eyes see, and my ears hear what the Spirit of God wants to say and do through me with boldness and authority. (Ps 92:10-11)
Then I can quote with boldness Isaiah 50:4, “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned. That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.”
Here’s what to pray:
- Pray for their marriage and family, their health, and their financial prosperity.
- Pray that God would guard their mind and heart, enabling them to walk in purity and holiness.
- Pray that God would grant them fresh revelation and understanding of the Word.
- Pray that they would have an ear to hear the voice of God and be easily led by it.
- Pray that they would receive clear vision and great wisdom for godly leadership.
When Aaron and Hur lifted Moses hands in the wilderness, the battle swung in their favor and all Israel benefitted. When we pray for our pastor, the whole church benefits as God pours out victory from on high!
Yours for the Right word, at the Right time, for the Right people!
Dr. George Hill
President and Founder, Victory Churches International
www.victoryint.org