Your Pastor - Your Prayer
Posted by Matt Postiff December 3, 2015 on Matt Postiff's Blog under Church Bible Texts
A pastor friend gave me a copy of the following article that he had in his files from October 1, 1981. I do not know what publication it was in, but it looks like it was on page (597) 21. The author is Robert B. Mignard, who I believe is the late former pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Mount Joy, PA. Here is the article:
A young preacher had taken his first pastorate in Philadelphia. One evening one of his members said rather bluntly, "You are not a strong preacher. In the usual order of things, you will fail here, but a little group of us has agreed to gather every Sunday morning to pray for you." The group soon grew to over a thousand people, praying weekly for their pastor. That young man was J. Wilbur Chapman, who became one of America's mighty preachers.
Charles Spurgeon was approached by a delegation of American pastors who inquired of him his reasons for success. In response to their questions, Spurgeon led the pastors to the basement of his church and quietly opened the door. The visits saw more than three hundred people praying for God's blessing to rest upon their pastor, who would be preaching the Word of God that night. "There, gentlemen," said Spurgeon, "is the reason for my success."
In Romans 15:30-32 and Ephesians 6:18-20, Paul asks for the prayers of the church. Who would have thought that Paul needed the prayers of the Roman and Ephesians Christians? After all, he was a man of prayer himself, filled with the Holy Spirit and widely used of God. Yet here is his ardent request: "I beseech you, brethren, ... that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" (Rom. 15:30).
Stand behind your pastor in prayers and supplications as he proclaims the Word. Pray for him during the week as he studies, prays, counsels, visits, and administers the affairs of the church. A prayerless church inevitably leads to a powerless preacher.
You may entertain your pastor lavishly, raise and praise him, but only through earnest prayer can you ever help him to be an effective instrument in the hands of almighty God. You can do nothing greater for your pastor.
