“Your Most Strategic Investment Why, How, and What to Pray for Your Spiritual Leaders

By Dr. Daniel Henderson

Sermon 1

Introduction

In the book Stories for the Journey, William R. White tells about a European seminary professor named Hans and his wife, Enid. World War II forced them to flee to America where he found a job teaching. He was warm, gentle, beloved by his students, and he brought Scripture to life for them.

Hans and Enid were very much in love. Nearly every day they took long walks together, holding hands, and they always sat close in church, until Enid died, overwhelming Hans with sorrow. Worried because he wouldn't eat nor take walks, the seminary president, along with three other friends, visited him regularly, but he remained lonely and depressed. Experiencing the dark night of the soul, Hans told his friends, "I am no longer able to pray to God. In fact, I am not certain I believe in God any more."

After a moment of silence the seminary president said, "Then we will believe for you. We will make your confession for you. We will pray for you." So the four men met daily for prayer, asking God to restore the gift of faith to their dear friend.

Many months later, as the four gathered with Hans, he smiled and said, "It is no longer necessary for you to pray for me. Today, I would like you to pray with me." The dark night of the soul had passed. Instead of carrying Hans to Jesus on a stretcher, they had carried him on their prayers.

Read scripture: 30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there,

32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.

33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ro 15:30–33.

(The Enemy’s Strategic Attack)

We are in a spiritual battle for the souls of men. Spiritual leaders are on the front line of this battle and face constant attacks.

(A Call to Counterattack)

God loves and responds to the prayers of His children. Over the next 4 weeks I am going to be preaching on the importance of prayer . I will be challenging you to pray like never before.

Paul knew that prayer was essential to spiritual victory.

He constantly prayed for his disciples; we see this in the following verses. (Rom. 1:9; Phil. 1:4; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 3:10; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:3; Philem. 4).

He also requested prayer for his life and ministry (2 Cor. 1:8–11; also Eph. 6:18, 19; Col. 4:2–4; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1).

In Romans 15 Paul wrote that he planned to deliver a love offering to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem as he completed his collections among the Gentile churches.

Afterward he hoped to visit the believers in Rome, in which he had never personally met,then travel to Spain to preach the gospel.

Paul urged the believers in Rome to pray for him, with specific instruction on why, how, and what they should pray as they engaged in their most strategic investment of focused intercession.

Why We Must Pray for Christian Leaders (v. 30)

We can do the right things for the wrong reasons.

Prayer is the right thing to do.

Paul gives us solid motives for our obedient intercession.

Paul gives us 3 points on why we must pray for our leaders.

POINT I

Our Duty to Pray

Romans 15:30

30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

NIV

Paul began this appeal by saying, “I urge you, brothers.” Urge is a very strong and powerful word.

He used the Greek term parakaleo, which means “to call to one’s side”

As he also did in 1 Timothy 2:1–3, Paul urges Christians to intercede for leaders; and Hebrews 13:7

Look at what he says in these verses.

1 Timothy 2:1-4

2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

NIV

Hebrews 13:7

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

NIV

Knowing this, it is our duty to do so, we should pray.

POINT II

Our Regard for Christ

Beyond duty, we must have an overarching desire for prayer.

This desire is rooted in our esteem and worship of Christ.

Paul compelled the Romans to pray “through the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:30).

Not only are we only able to pray by Christ’s provision (Heb. 7:25; 10:20–22), but also we are motivated to pray because of Christ’s person—His glory, His name, and His standing.

THis is what Hebrews says.

Hebrews 7:25

25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

NIV

Hebrews 10:20-22

20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

NIV

POINT III

Our Love for the Spirit

Paul also calls us to pray “through the love of the Spirit” (Rom. 15:30).

The most literal rendering for this is “by your love for the Holy Spirit.

Our love for the person and power of the Holy Spirit motivates us to pray for the demonstration of the Spirit in the lives and ministries of our spiritual leaders.

How We Must Pray for Christian Leaders (v. 30b)

Paul requested of the Roman believers, “Strive together with me in prayers to God for me.”

This reflects the intense nature of prayer due to the seriousness of the spiritual battle we face.

He called on his readers to contend with spiritual adversaries as they fought and strained on their knees. “ (See John 18:36; 1 Cor. 9:25; Col. 4:12; 1 Tim. 4:10; 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7)

What to Pray for Christian Leaders (vv. 31, 32)

Prayers for protection.

[Pray] that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe,”

Paul asked of his Roman followers (v. 31). He was referring to hostile Jews who hated him and wanted to murder him.

His journey back to Jerusalem was risky, as Paul would face “chains and tribulations” there (see Acts 20:22–24).

Acts 20:22-24

22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

NIV

Today our spiritual leaders may not face human persecution as Paul did, but the devil constantly bombards our leaders with dangers, toils, and snares.

Prayers for prosperity.

“[Pray] that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints” Paul continued in verse 31.

Knowing the divisions and distrust between Gentile and Jewish believers, he understood the risk that his gift might be rejected or his motives questioned.

Prayers for provision.

Paul’s third request was, “[Pray] that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you” (v. 32).

Knowing the trials and strain of his leadership assignment, he asked the believers to pray for his joy and refreshment in their midst once he arrived.

But for Those Prayers, We Should Have Failed

The sory goes. A clergyman from New York, during a call on President Lincoln at the White House said: "I have not come to ask any favors of you, Mr President; I have only come to say that the loyal people of the North are sustaining you and will continue to do so We are giving you all that we have, the lives of our sons as well as our confidence and our prayers You must know that no boy's father or mother ever kneels in prayer these days without asking God to give you strength and wisdom."

His eyes brimming with tears, Mr Lincoln replied:

"But for those prayers, I should have faltered and perhaps failed long ago Tell every father and mother you know to keep on praying, and I will keep on fighting, for I know God is on our side."

As the clergyman started to leave the room, Mr Lincoln held him by the hands and said: "I suppose I may consider this as sort of a pastoral call?" "Yes," replied the clergyman "Out in our country," replied Lincoln, "when a parson makes a pastoral call, it was always the custom for the folks to ask him to lead in prayer, and I should like to ask you to pray with me today Pray that I may have the strength and the wisdom."

The two men knelt side by side, and the clergyman offered the most fervent plea to Almighty God that ever fell from his lips As they arose, the President clasped his visitor's hand and remarked in a satisfied sort of way: "I feel better."

Conclusion:

The Outcome of Our Most Strategic Investment?

The results of these prayers for Paul are described in Acts 21:15—28:31.

God used the Roman government to protect Paul from the murderous plots of the Jewish opponents (Acts 21:30— 23:24).

God also protected Paul from shipwreck and snakebite as he traveled to Rome (Acts 27:1—28:16).

The Jewish believers in Jerusalem gladly accepted the love offering (Acts 21:17).

While under house arrest in Rome, many believers came to Paul and refreshed him, as is specifically stated of a man named Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 1:16).

The result for us is described “Now the God of peace be with you all” (Rom. 15:33).

As we earnestly pray for the needs and ministries of our spiritual leaders, we will come to know the God of peace and experience the peace of God in our hearts and in our midst (Phil. 4:6, 7).”

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

NIV

Excerpt From

Nelson's Preacher's Sourcebook

Thomas Nelson

https://books.apple.com/us/book/nelsons-preachers-sourcebook/id6443651804

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