Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #2

Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #2

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.
Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you.

Pray for Your Pastor (Ephesians 6:18-20)

Ephesians 6:18-20, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

As a minister, I must pray daily for the church and for believers. Paul's prayer is a good pattern to use and to pray through. This is probably the second most important prayer in all the Bible, ranking second only to the Lord's model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

As a minister of Christ, I must walk in three things every day of my life.
First, in Christ.
Second, in the Scriptures.
Third, in prayer.
These three things are absolute essentials as I live and minister for Christ in the midst of a broken and hurting world. Every person needs prayer. Every person needs the Lord; His salvation, His care, His direction, His approval, and His acceptance.

How to Pray for Your Pastor:
Quite often, the people in church let me know they are praying for me, and I am genuinely grateful. I’m very thankful for the intercessory prayer of our people. James 5:16 promises, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”! There are many things you can do that will encourage and help your pastor and the work of your church, but there are none more important than prayer. Pastors really face a spiritual battle, and because of this, we long for your prayers.

Let me to encourage you to pray for your pastor.
You can pray for the following:

1. Pray for his studying: So that he might perceive and preach.
2. Pray for his sermons: The inline is more important than the outline.
3. Pray for his shepherding: So that he might follow and feed.
4. Pray for his service: So that he might learn and lead.
5. Pray for anointing. So that every message is be birthed in, bathed in, and brought in prayer.
6. Pray for appointments. So that his encounter with others will be Spirit lead and filled.
7. Pray for accomplishment. So that any achievement will be pleasing unto the Lord.
8. Pray for his passion. For his relationship with the Lord, his family, and his church.
9. Pray for his protection. From Satan, his snares, and sin.
10. Pray for Him physically and spiritually. So that God will guard him from burnout and depression.

Remember your pastor in prayer:
Personal life. His walk with God, family, and wisdom.
Administration. His counseling, leadership, and vision.
Study. His study time and message preparation.
Trials. For grace, growth, and perseverance.
Oversight. His church ministries and his care for the flock.
Resources. For his strength, wisdom, and building projects.

Note that four kinds of prayer are mentioned. This also stresses the importance of praying for all men.

1. There is "supplication". This refers to the prayers that focus upon special needs, or deep and intense needs. When you see special needs in the lives of people, you are to supplicate for them. That is, you are to be carrying the need before God with a great sense of urgency. You are to plead and beg for the person or persons. The idea is that of intense and deep brokenness before God on behalf of others, that God would help and save the person.
   
2. There are "prayers". This refers to the special times of prayer throughout the day that you set aside for devotion and worship. You are to have set times for prayer, times that you set aside to worship God and when you pray for all.
   
3. There are "intercessions". This refers to bold praying; to standing before God on behalf of another person. Christ is our Intercessor, the One who stands between God and you on your behalf. But you are also to intercede for others, to carry their names and lives before God. You are to boldly approach God and pray for them, expecting God to hear and answer, all in the name of Christ. You are to intercede for all others, to stand in the gap between them and God, boldly praying and asking God to be merciful and gracious in salvation and in deliverance.
   
4. There is "thanksgiving". This means that you thank God for hearing and answering. Thank Him for what He has done and is going to do for all men.

Just think what a different world this would be, what a different community we would have, if we really took the names and needs of people before God and pleaded for them in an intense brokenness and tears. Just think how many more loved ones would be saved and helped. How many more within our community, state, country, and world would be saved and helped. How fewer problems would exist within society.

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