Henderson Hills Baptist Church

Pray for Your Pastor, Please


Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.  Eph 6:18-20 (ESV)

This study may sound egotistical, self-centered, and even a bit narcissistic. That is why I have deleted this paragraph and have rewritten it about a half dozen times. The principle is true, in fact, it is vital. Yet, I am uncomfortable going where I need to go with this. So, if you are the suspicious or critical type, do us both a favor and do not read any further!

Now that you have chosen to move forward in this study, I can only assume that you are going to be open to hearing a truth that we pastors never feel comfortable talking about. Let me just come in the front door with it; I am asking you to pray for me every day! That’s right, I’m pleading for your consistent, faithful, and fervent prayers on my behalf. Now, I am in good company with this request. Paul asked the Ephesians to pray “also for me….” Don’t cut others out to pray for me just add me on the list!

It is interesting what Paul was asking for and why he asked them to pray in that way. Let’s first notice that his motive was not personal. He was in prison, perhaps the Mamertine Prison in Rome. His ankles were no doubt shackled. That would, of course rub the skin off the bone! He probably suffered from infected sores and had to beat the rats off his body. Imprisonment must be a terrible experience under the “best” conditions but among these bloodthirsty Romans, it must have been horrible. We can only speculate about the degree of suffering that Paul endured and pray that we never have the same experience! However, you will notice here that Paul didn’t pray that God would send another earthquake to release his shackles and open the prison doors. He had experienced that before (Acts 16:22-30), but that is not what he is asking the Ephesian believers to pray for now. Neither does he ask that they would pray for him to be spared from what seemed to be certain execution. I’d be praying for all of that help but Paul wasn’t. All he wanted was that these dear friends pray, “That words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”

Pastors need the prayers of church members. There are constant temptations that are associated with the ministry. These trials tend to fall into three categories, pressure, money, and moral failure. Just think back through your memory at the number of men who have succumbed to these enticements and troubles. Why does this happen? Are we just unusually weak people? Do we go into the ministry to get rich? Do we plan to take advantage of unsuspecting members of the opposite sex? Tragically, some may, but the vast majority of pastors that I know who have “fallen” were heartbroken by what they did. They didn’t plan for it to happen. Now, I’m not going to make a list of excuses for these broken souls but there are temptations and pressures related to the ministry that few people in other “professions” ever experience. Men who were very successful in business careers, medicine, and the law have told me that their subsequent work as pastors brought many surprises related to demands and temptations.

Let me step aside for just a moment and say, if you think that I am complaining I have failed to communicate my heart. Most pastors are just like me. They do what they do because they know it is a calling from God and they will serve to the very end no matter what. Therefore, this is not whining it is simply truth telling.

Consider what God expects of pastors. James says that a man who becomes a teacher, particularly a teaching pastor, will experience a stricter judgment. Paul told Timothy, the leading pastor of the Ephesian church, that he had to be sure to pay careful attention to his life and teaching because of the potential impact or consequences that may come from how he lived (1 Tim 4:12). The writer of Hebrews tell us that these spiritual leaders must “watch over the souls” of Christians under their charge because they will give account to God (Hebrews 10:14). Christian brothers and sisters, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Time demands, expectations, criticism, and disappointment can be a regular part of a pastor’s life.

How is it possible for pastors to live up to God’s calling, the church’s need, and the importance of the gospel? I would suggest that if the people do not pray for him all may be lost. According to 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, even the Apostle Paul came to the point in life that he was so overwhelmed that he wanted to die. What saved him? God did, through the praying of the people.

This may seem a bit melodramatic to you. I would understand that. If you have not faced the joys and challenges of shepherding people and preaching the Word, it must be hard to understand fully. Yet, I can tell you, I’ve understated the issues not overstated them. So, let me again plead for your prayers so that I might not fall but become effective with the gospel. Pray for your elders too. Do not forget the staff members of your church. While you are praying, pray for the pastors of other churches around you. Denomination does not matter as much as the gospel. So pray for the gospel to be made clear in lives and preaching. While you are at it, pray for your pastors’ families. They have their own unique challenges.

I have to close by saying how much I love being a pastor and how much I love pastoring Henderson Hills. It is my amazing privilege. Yet, even though I am overwhelming blessed, I am still overwhelmingly challenged. Pray! Please.

2 Peter 3:18

Dennis

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