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I'm often surprised by well meaning congregants who
openly criticize their Shepard when they believe they've
done or said something wrong. We often unfortunately
idolize the men and women of God who lead us and are
surprised when our expectations are not met. Our leaders
are just people, trying to do what can be an overwhelmingly,
demanding job.
If
you are concerned that something may be wrong in the
life of your Pastor or any of your church leaders…your
job is to pray for them. The Old Testament story of
the battle at Rephidim helps us to understand our prayer
posture as intercessors for our church Pastor and leaders:
Then
came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And
Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out,
fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top
of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua
did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek:
and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the
hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand,
that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand,
Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they
took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon;
and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the
one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands
were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua
discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the
sword. Exodus 17:8-13
As
Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses, so we need
to stand behind and beside our Pastors and leaders in
prayer. The Bible says that when the arms of Moses where
upheld that the Israelites prevailed over Amalek. When
Moses arms got tired and weary because no one was holding
up his arms, Amalek prevailed. When we pray for our
Pastor/leaders, we are holding up their arms so they
don't become weary in well-doing.
If
you're not sure how to pray, here's a daily pray guide
that might help:
Sunday:
Pray that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon your
Pastor. Also pray that the Lord would bless him or her
with much wisdom and understanding. Ask that God would
enable them to provide Godly counsel and increase their
knowledge and reverence of Him.
Scripture
reference: Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge
and of the fear of the Lord.
Monday:
Pray that God would continue to make and mold your Pastor
into a vessel of righteousness - so that they might
wear the Lord's favor as a shield.
Scripture
reference: Psalm 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the
righteous; With favor You will surround him as with
a shield.
Tuesday:
Pray that your Pastor would speak as though God were
speaking through him or her. Pray that God would strengthen
them so that they might be able to perform their daily
tasks.
Scripture
reference: 1Peter 4:11 Are you called to be a speaker?
Then speak as though God himself were speaking through
you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the
strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will
be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All
glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday:
Pray that the anointing of the Holy Spirit would rest
upon your Pastor and flow through him.
Scripture
reference: John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the
scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water.
Thursday:
Pray for your Pastor's humility and also that God would
get the glory in every thing they do. Also pray that
your church's congregation would glorify God for the
work done through your Pastor and not lift him or her
up as one to be idolized.
Scripture
reference: 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us.
Friday:
Pray that God would protect your Pastor from the attacks
of the enemy so that no weapon formed against them would
prosper.
Scripture
reference: Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against
thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise
against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is
the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their
righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Saturday:
Pray that God Himself would divinely deal with those
who strive with your Pastor. The battle is the Lords.
Scripture
reference: Psalm 35:1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them
that strive with me: fight against them that fight against
me.
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