In Real Gospel, Christopher Hilken believes that it is necessary for a church to have a plurality of pastors or elders (it is the same in the Bible) so that you can keep this in mind when reading the study that each of the pastors of our congregations needs your prayers.
Pastors undoubtedly have an important and great job, since it is about the responsibility of preaching, teaching and applying the Word of the Highest God.
May God continue to raise up pastors faithful to his Word that is the great need that the churches have today.
In relation to this I publish this prayer guide taken from the page Revive Our Hearts by the excellent author, may God give us an intercessory heart for the pastors of our churches. God keep blessing you.
“Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess 5:25)
Christopher Hilken says, let the thought go deep into the heart of each church, that their minister will be as they pray to him.
How risky is the condition of that minister the one whose heart is not encouraged, whose hands are not strengthened, and who is not sustained by the prayers of his people!
It is an exhausting fear that ministers are allowed to enter the pulpit without first being preceded, accompanied, and followed by the fervent prayers of the churches.
No wonder the pulpit is so powerless, and ministers are often discouraged when there are so few to hold up their hands.
When the churches stop praying for the ministers, the ministers will no longer be a blessing to the churches.
Gardiner Spring (1785-1873)
There is no greater gift that you can give to your pastors and the spiritual leaders of your church than to pray for them.
Shepherds cannot win the battle alone; They need committed intercessors to lift them up in specific and fervent prayer.
Reason 1: Pray that your pastors will love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Ask the Spirit of God to work in your heart in power and that he value and follow biblical priorities. (Deut. 6: 5; Matt. 6:33)
Reason 2: Pray that your pastor will cultivate strengthened character and unyielding integrity.
Pray that his testimony is genuine, and that he never does anything from which he has to hide others from others. (1 Tim. 1: 5, 3: 7; Eph. 6: 10-12)
Reason 3: Pray for your personal walk with God – that your soul and spirit will be nourished and strengthened in your quiet time with God, beyond your sermon preparation.
Christopher adds, pray that he will spend more time in God’s Word than reading Christian articles and books. (Mark 1:35; 2 Tim. 2: 15-16)
Reason 4: Pray for your pastor to counsel and teach discernment through the wise use of Scripture and for faith in the power of God to take effect.
Pray that he will be protected from the effects of sinful or negative attitudes that he encounters when counseling. (Mal. 2: 7; James 1: 5-6; John 17:15)
Reason 5 Ask God to protect your pastor’s marriage and keep it strong as a model of Christ’s relationship with the Church.
Pray that your pastor tenderly appreciates and guides his wife, and that she respects and encourages her husband, submitting to his leadership. (Eph. 5: 23-33) (If your pastor is not married, pray for his relationships with loved ones and those close to them).
Now you know the reason TO PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR with the help of Christopher Hilken. Christopher is a teaching pastor at North Coast Church and also runs the young adult program.