What a privilege we have to be able to assemble freely to praise, worship and glorify our God! And by those same freedoms we are granted, we have the freedom to assemble together to lift each other up before the throne of our Father in Heaven.
One of the focuses of our monthly prayer time is to specifically lift up the ministry in and of our body. While we have many areas of ministry, it covers all who are involved in any teaching aspect, from the Nursery Sunday School through the adult classes, to Children’s Church, to AWANA, to the times of study during the week. Perhaps first and foremost, though, is our need to lift up our shepherd whom God has given us, as it is no easy task to feed and encourage such a group of sheep who need help in so many different ways. And that is not to say we are unique, for any body of believers will suffer from these same needs, and should be equally thankful for the gift of a good shepherd.
Our shepherd needs our prayers. Paul asked for prayers specifically to strengthen him for his God-called task, as recorded for us 2 Corinthians 1:11: You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Charles Spurgeon wrote of this need also. The text below has only been slightly edited and shows the need is common to all who would preach the Word of God and shepherd a flock toward maturity in Christ:
The most conspicuous person in the church is the one who has, from week to week, to preach the Gospel to the great assembly; and he may, therefore, as the apostle does in this case, plead for himself. Oh, dear friends, do pray for all who preach the Gospel, whether to many or to few! They all need your sympathy and help; but I make a specially earnest, personal appeal for my own self. I crave, beyond all things, your constant prayers; for I think a burden is laid upon me more than is borne by any other man. Many of the works are carried on by others, and I can take small personal part in them; and yet, somehow, I have to take the most difficult part, that, of helping in every time of need, mending up any weak places when they are discovered, and keeping all things in good order. A great care comes upon me, and not for this church only. I have to deal with all sorts of difficult cases. Things that try the mind, and exercise the judgment, and sometimes fret the heart; and therefore I must have your prayers.
Now, there are some of you who cannot do anything in the way of preaching; I do not want that you should try, and there are other agencies to which you could not put your hand; to you especially I may say, “You also must help us by prayer.” Here is a way in which you can really help, substantially help, wonderfully help; and this you can do even if you should become bed-ridden, you could even then lie still, and invoke a blessing from God upon our ministry. You can do this also if you are not gifted so far as public speaking is concerned; you can, in the silence of your spirit, lay hold upon the Angel of the covenant, and wrestle and prevail. Amazing possibilities lie within the reach of the believing man. “All things are possible for one who believes.”
Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Steve
Filed under: Prayer Notes, Uncategorized