Pastors and Churches

Introduction

Thank you for having me here today. I appreciate the opportunity to come before you, to share the Word and to meet some more of Christ’s body. It’s always enjoyable to hear new testimonies of how God is working.

Normally, when I come to fill the pulpit, at least to any church I've never been to before, I give a gospel message, Because well you never know. However, I do feel I know you just a bit because I was able to meet your former pastor, Dennis, while we rubbed elbows a bit down in Hinckley where I met him. And Dennis assured me that he gave the gospel to you guys - at least once, and that if it ever changed, he'd be sure to let you know. And as it hasn’t changed, I feel like it will be OK to look at some other Biblical truths today.

As you are in the process of looking for a new pastor, I thought it might be appropriate to talk a little about what the Bible has to say about pastors. And as you are also a church, I also thought it appropriate to talk a little about the church. Therefore, I titled today’s sermon Pastors and Churches. DEEP, I know. But, please note it is Pastors and Churches, and not Pastors and Their Churches, nor Pastors Versus Churches, because if we ever need to go there, it’s already too late.

I want to begin with an illustration. So, bear with me for a few minutes here.

Have you ever heard any discussion about the about the largest living organism in the world? Perhaps you have heard of what are called clonal colonies. These are plants which all share a single parent, appearing to be many separate organisms, but are all bound together, usually by root structure. There is a colony of aspen trees in spanning between Colorado and Utah, known as the Pando colony and it is often considered the largest organism on earth. Its growth spans over 106 acres and weighs over 13 million pounds, making it the single largest organism by weight. Above ground it looks to be a forest of about 60,000 aspen, or popple trees. But below ground it shares single massive root system, making it all one giant plant.

Perhaps you have heard of the so-called “Humungous Fungus.” Located in Oregon, the Humongous Fungus is a singularly large mushroom, spanning over 2,385 acres, or about 3.7 square miles, making it the single largest organism by area.

With either of these giant organisms, whether you dissect them from one end, or another, the DNA is identical, because they each began with but a single root.

Without trying to be cute, I want to suggest, that neither the Humongous Fungus, nor the Pando colony come even close to the worlds, actual, largest organism,… which is the Church, capital C, of Christ. ---

I am not sying this is the case here, but many people think about the church as a building for worship. But nothing could be further from the truth. Obviously, we call the places we worship churches, but the biblical word for church is ekklesia, from which we get our English word ecclesiastical, as well as the word church. But in Greek, ekklesia,means “an assembly” or the “called-out ones.” In other words, what our Bibles translate as the word “church” has nothing to do with buildings, but everything to do with God’s people.

As Jeus had to remind the Sadducees, God Is not a God of the dead, he is a God of the Living. And while he has gifted us with many marvelous materials from which to build - brick, glass, wood, stone, these things are all inorganic, BUT his love is focused on the living, an in particular his called out ones, his Church. Christ’s church IS a living organism. This is why Biblical metaphor of the Church as an olive Tree, or as a grape vine are very appropriate. It is why Paul can refer to Jesus as the ROOT who supports the olive tree of his Church, and why we have passages like John 15. 1-2 where we read,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me (referring to the Church) that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit… Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:1–2, ESV)

We also have passages like Ephesians 1:22–23, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

We can all relate to what it means to have a living body, and The Church, capital C, is rooted in Christ, from which all Christians, and Christianity springs. From the outside, it appears as a myriad of different people, from different cultures, sporting different colors, and different languages and accents. But underneath, we all have one root, and spring form one Spirit, or from Christ’s body analogy, we are altogether but ONE body, of which Christ is the head.

Apart from Christ, we have no ability to do anything pleasing to God. Apart from Christ, we have no ability to produce good fruit. Only branches stemming from the one true vine are part of the true Church. Apart from Christ, we do not belong to his body. Apart from Christ, we do not share in the same spiritual DNA which makes up the very Godhead himself.

But in Christ, we are all one. It is as Paul says, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4–5, ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 12:4–11, Paul goes on to say this -

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

Paul’s thinking here applies to both local congregations, like Hope, and other churches you may know of, but it also applies to the universal church, which is all believers and all true churches. And the Church, at this point in history, literally spans the entire globe.

BTW Being a Christian is not just a label, or a name, we carry. Being a Christian is an IDENTITY. And guess what, being the CHURCH is an identity as well. Just as our calling as individual Christians is rooted in our identity and relationship with Jesus, so too is our identity as the Church. To be called part of the Church of Christ, is AN INDENTITY we bear.

As it turns out, these two identities, are actually both one and the same, they are indivisible. If you take a Christian from Iceland, and another from Peru, and one from Vancouver, and another from Cape Town, all share the same root, the exact same spiritual DNA. Again, To bear the identity of a Christian, is to bear the identity of the Church.

It's why the idea of being a lone ranger Christian, or to say, I am a Christian, but I don’t need to belong to a local congregation, stands in opposition to the Gospel. Jesus did die for you as an individual, but he also died for you to bring you into something greater than yourself, he died to unite you to him, in his body, the Church. We are saved out of sin, to be placed into his Church. And Jesus LOVES his church, it is to be his eternal bride. He died on behalf of his betrothed, to make us a spotless bride on his behalf. If Jesus loves his church, then it is incumbent upon those who claim to be his followers to also love his Church as well. Not to do so, means that we are not being faithful followers of Jesus.

Now, all that is by way of introduction, from here on I will be preaching. Are we ready.

No doubt all of us are familiar with how Christ so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whomsoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.

In the same way, Jesus so loved his Church that -

“When Christ(he) ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men… And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ephesians 4:8–13

Today, we want to think about these shepherds and teachers Christ has given to his church. These are those who Jesus raises up for the specific purpose to assist him in in preparing his bride for the coming wedding feast of the Lamb. Now, many of us could give us a definition for what constitutes an apostle or an evangelist, but ask 4 different people to define what constitutes a shepherd, or what the role of a shepherd should be, and you will, most likely, get 4 different answers.

Today, I hope to help us answer four questions about shepherds, or as we more commonly call them today pastors. Here are the four questions What should be:

1. The Desire of a pastor. 1 Tim 3:1, Math 20:25

2. The Heart of a pastor. John 21:15–19, Acts 6:4

3. The Response to a pastor. 1 Thes. 5:12-13, Heb. 13.17-18, 1 Timothy 5:19-20

4. The Care for a pastor. 1 Thessalonians 5:25, 2 Tim 2:1-2, Gal. 6:6-10

With the first two questions we’ll look at the responsibility a pastor has for the Church. With last two we’ll look at the responsibility a congregation has for it’s pastors.

The Desire of a pastor. 1 Tim 3.1. “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy 3:1, ESV) This is a great passage. Paul goes on to list the qualifications necessary to become a pastor, almost all of which are based upon having good moral character, and being above reproach. To the character requirements are added the ability to manage people, - with consideration for their character, as well as to be able to teach.

But to begin with, and what we are going to focus on now, an overseer first needs to want to aspire to such a role. And Paul says it is admirable to desire to become an overseer. Why is this important? It is important because what he is talking about is a desire to care for others. That is what a Biblical overseer is, a caretaker. This word we have here as overseer, but Biblically speaking, Pastors, elders, overseers, shepherds are all equal roles.

W

hat Paul is saying, is the desire to be a pastor is to be rooted in a desire to care for others. It is not to be a desire for position or rank. It is not to be a desire for authority or power. It is not to be a desire to be recognized, or boast in. It IS to be a desire to care for others.

It is not even to have a desire to preach and teach, although the ability to teach God’s word MUST supplement, and support his desire to care for others. Otherwise, he will have nothing to give which will accomplish the care required of God’s people. At root of a man’s desire to become a pastor, must be a desire to care for others. The heart of a pastor is as a care giver. Of course, the greatest example is Jesus himself, who then warned those he was calling to be overseers, to guard against making ministry about themselves.

“But Jesus called the disciples to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Matthew 20:25–28, ESV)

Let’s look now at the heart of a pastor as laid out by Jesus in John’s Gospel. Read with me if you will, John 21:15–19.

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”” (John 21:15–19, ESV)

Many of us have heard how there is a bit of a play here on the differing terms used for our word love here, wholehearted God love, versus brotherly love. But I want us to focus on the differing terms used when Jesus tells Peter to feed his sheep, or to tend his sheep, because those are two different words. And depending on the Bible version you have, you may read, take care, or shepherd my sheep, and the order may even be reversed. The important thing to understand is Jesus has a couple of things in mind when speaking with Peter.

First off, however, I want to note that here we see Peter in the deepest need of God’s grace that, perhaps, ever a man has needed. Everybody knows about Peter’s failure. But we should also remember, it was not just Peter who had failed. Matthew 26:35, “Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.” All the disciples had agreed with Peter that they would not leave Jesus, and then ALL the disciples, who had been in the garden with him, fled and left him alone to die on the cross, just as Peter had. They all failed.

Nevertheless, it is to these very same men whom Jesus now commits his beloved church. So, first off, Pastors are men in need of the deepest grace of God. There are no exceptions, and no overseer can accomplish their work apart from their faith and trust in God alone. BTW – Have you ever thought about the fact that when Peter failed, he was alone, surrounded only by strangers and enemies? Nobody can stand alone, and not fail, the exception being Jesus. So, just as Pastors need God’s grace, they need the grace of the body as well, just like everyone else.

Now, At the point where Jesus instructs Peter to feed his lambs, in both the first and third instance he uses a term specific to livestock. It has a general sense of simply providing the sheep with food. The application for pastoring is the charge to faithfully bring the word of God to his people, for man does not live by bread alone, but by the very word which proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

It is God’s word which feeds his sheep. It is a pastor’s job to see to it that they have a steady diet. Moreover, it is a pastor’s job to see that that they are growing. The author of Hebrews talks about this as the need for a congregation to have solid food, not just the milk of the Word. Faithful pastors see to it that the sheep have a well-balanced diet. It also means they have a responsibility to make sure the storehouse is full, so the sheep do jot run out of food. The best way for pastors to keep the storehouse full is to make sure they, themselves, are constantly in God’s word. Pastors who do have a healthy appetite for God’s word, are not going to have the discernment necessary to properly care for the sheep.

This brings us the second instance of Christ’s instruction to Peter, sometimes rendered as TEND my sheep. The term Jesus used here has the added connotation of caring for each lamb with what is appropriate for the individual sheep. All the sheep are to be fed, but care is to be taken to feed each lamb according to their particular needs.

If we think about any herd of animals, we know they will run from newborns to the elderly. It’s the shepherd’s responsibility to care for each one according to their specific need. This means they need to be students of their flock. It requires knowledge, both general and specific, about the nature of sheep. If one of the sheep is sick, it’s the shepherd’s job to nurse it back to health. If one of the sheep gets lost, they’re the ones who are supposed to track it down.

This verse also speaks to both the rod and the staff which shepherds would carry. The staff was used to point and guide the sheep along, while the rod was used to whack em if they persisted in going the wrong way. And a large part of shepherding, certainly in Jesus day, revolved around the protection of the sheep from thieves and predators. Shepherds are to be vigilant guardsman over their flocks. Think about how zealously you protect you most prized possessions, or the extent you would go to save your child, that’s the kind of heart which shepherds are to watch over the sheep.

As important as that kind of care is, in Christ’s third admonition to Peter, he returns his focus to once again feeding the sheep as at the first. In doing so, we should not be surprised the double emphasis on giving the word goes hand in hand with Peter’s admonition for elders’ main focus to be prayer and the ministry of the word, as he says in Acts 6.4. “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The context of Peter saying so, is very important because these words came amidst the first crisis of the early church. It was a crisis which had seen the neglect of some widows in the rapidly expanding new church. The crisis was averted with the appointment of the first deacons, who were to serve the widows, leaving the elders their time for the ministry of prayer and the word. So, think about that for a minute – during a crisis, Pastors don’t rush off and start doing things differently, instead we double down in the word and prayer. When the early church did so, God led them to the practical solutions they needed.

In this discussion of feeding the sheep we should also note that Christ’s flock also consists of those who are not yet known to be within it- the lost. So, the charge to feed his sheep also points to a call for evangelism.

That Jesus closes this discussion with Peter talking about the manner of his death, and by saying “follow me,” shows his expectation that shepherds are to be willing to lay down their lives, on behalf of the sheep, according to Jesus’ own example.

If there are any more sobering words concerning the desire, and calling, of pastoring I am not sure what they are. It is a very seriousness matter to be called into the ministry of overseeing the Church. … Amen?

Now, just as we learn, from Scripture, what a pastor’s responsibility to their congregation is, we also learn from Scripture what the responsibility a congregation is to their pastors. SO, let’s talk now about the ways congregations are supposed to respond to their pastors; and then how congregations are supposed to care for their pastors?

Before we go here, may I please add that these are never easy passages to preach on. Some pastors have been accused of using some of these verses for their own gratification, and I am sure some have. Nevertheless, we have been given them for our edification and our blessing, and we should never forget they come from the same Spirt of Christ as all the rest of Scripture. So, here we go. Let’s begin with 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”

I think the place to begin here is to note how Paul’s request is not rooted in the person, or we might say the personality of a leader, but it is rooted in the work they have been called to perform. In the past, we used to say that it was important to respect the office, regardless of the person holding it. We here that in regards to the Presidency, another would be with the police.

Isn’t it funny, how quickly the atmosphere changes as soon as those red lights appear in your mirror? I am speaking from a PURELY hypothetical basis, of course. (OK, so, it’s not hypothetical – you got me!) What happens though, whether you were enjoying listening to some music, or had been arguing with one of your passengers, what happens? Everything immediately gets very somber. - If you had been speeding, is it OK to pray to God for mercy? If you hadn’t been speeding, why is your gut still turning?

The point is, we know whenever we are pulled over, whatever the reason, we are coming under the scrutiny of the law, and an officer has the authority to either give us a pass, give us a ticket, or even take us off to jail. It’s only natural to give such interactions a little more consideration than we would, say to, talking with your hair stylist.

What Paul is asking is to give the same sober type of consideration to those who are leaders in your church body. This admonition, btw, is not just for pastors, but it most certainly includes them. Children do this kind of thing all the time. They instinctively know who loves them and cares about them. As a parent hopefully they will express their love for you, but you might see their affection when they gush over a Sunday School teacher, or maybe their sports coach.

Now, we all know how quickly children can become jaded these days, but in general, they also have a sense of wanting to please those who care for them. That’s why they draw us pictures, and bring in flowers to their momma’s, or want to show us things they have done.

Paul is saying, it is not only appropriate to care for your leaders with the same kind of heart, but it is, in fact, an expectation for those in Christ to treat our leaders with care and respect. Again, the admonition is based on the work they are doing on behalf of the body, not because they happen to be winsome, or charismatic.

The author of Hebrews expands upon Paul in Hebrews 13:17, saying “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

What this does not mean, is to put your leaders up on a pedestal, and blindly follow along. Doing so serves nobody well. Thinking too highly of leaders almost always leads to an eventual letdown where somebody, if not everybody, is going to get hurt. One of the most amazing things about Jesus, is that he died for us while we were yet sinners. Despite being judicially cleared of all our sin at justification, we are all, nevertheless, prone to sin as long as we walk in our fleshly bodies. It is no secret that flattering a person can be a path leading to thinking you are somehow more special than others.

Being a pastor, or other sort of leader, is a role distinction, not a value distinction. God does not love pastors any more than others in his body. A person who enters the ministry does not gain extra love points from God simply because they become a pastor. If anything, they bear greater scrutiny, and will be held to a higher standard.

Pastors, being held to a higher standard is the very reason we are called to love, esteem them, because such demands almost always means a higher level of sacrifice is required from them. By helping them along the way with their particular burden we can help make their work a joy. Just as important, buy helping them along the way, we are actually acting for our own benefit in doing so.

Here is the rub - Helping them along the way is supposed to work by obeying and submitting to their leadership, and the last time I checked those were not very popular past times. But all of us are called to work together, and that means some must lead, and for some to follow. All require discipline, all require humility, and all require the work of the HS within us.

And this brings up a really important question for any congregation that is looking for new pastor. Something that really needs consideration. Here it is -

Do you really want a pastor, or do you just want a preacher? I’ll ask it again. Do you really want a pastor, or do you just want a preacher? These are not necessarily the same thing. A man can be a fabulous preacher, but a lousy pastor. Or he may be a fabulous pastor, and a lousy preacher.

BUT for churches, the question needs to be asked. Are you looking for someone just to fill a pulpit, or are you looking for someone to fill an office? Do you just want a preacher and someone who turns the building lights on and off? Or do you want a preacher, AND someone who will be allowed to shine God’s light onto your own heart? There is a HUGE difference.

If all you want is a preacher, then you are actually guilty of only wanting to have your ears tickled, even if it is with faithful preaching. But if you want pastor, then what you are also saying is you are willing to submit yourselves to the care of the Lord, through his revealed will to his body. Pastors are charged with looking into our hearts and souls. If you want more than a preacher, if you want a pastor, then you are demonstrating a heart of humility necessary for the proper worship of God.

There is no shame, btw, in saying that we are in need of help. We are all in need of help, soemtimes every day. God has gifted his body with pastors and leaders for this very purpose.

If we come back to the idea of feeding and tending the sheep, this is what Jesus has in mind; A shepherd who watches over the flock. Daily he feeds them and gives protection, on occasion he needs to nurse them back to health or set a broken bone, and every so often shear them as well. And that means getting close and personal.

If you take your pet to a veterinarian, generally the first thing they do is take your pet’s temperature. They are trying to determine what might be wrong. A temperature means there is some kind of infection, and something needs to be done.

Pastors are charged with taking the spiritual temperatures of both the collective body as well as the individuals that make up that body. But if we are not willing to allow them into our personal lives then we are actively thwarting the work of God he has ordained as part of their work God has given to them.

Unironically, it is for the same reason, the authority given to pastors to pry into their congregation’s lives, that they are also given an extra measure of protection when they come under the scrutiny of the body. “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” (1 Timothy 5:19–20, ESV) It is not that elders are not to be subject to discipline. Should it be necessary, they are to be rebuked in the presence of all.

But given the nature of sin, we know that people get offended, and often defensive, when confronted with our own sin. Since it is one particular duty of elders to call out sin, and sickness, in others, they are not to bear the brunt of accusation simply because someone got miffed, or offended, at them for doing their job. And just to be clear, it is the responsibility of all believers to hold one another accountable, not just elders. But Just like the police, God affords leaders extra authority, and protection, for their roles in ministry. Pastor carry a badge, and are expected to use their authority for the good of the body.

I love how someone once said, “God is more concerned with our holiness, than with our comfort.” Or as Spurgeon said, “Christ offends men, because his Gospel is intolerant of sin.” Elders are to be about the work of exposing and rooting out sin within the Church. This is not to be done in any form of self-righteousness, or without regard for others. It is to be done as an expression of love for one another.

I forget who said it, but someone once expressed the idea that the most mature Christians realize, with each passing day, just how much we are to be TOTALLY dependent upon God. The mark of a mature Christian is not becoming independent of our need for the Gospel. It is becomingmore and more convinced of our utter dependence on the Gospel, and our moment by moment need to bathe in Spirit of the Lord. While every Christian is called to be building up, and edifying, our brothers and sisters in Christ, elders have the added responsibility to work with an eye to both the individual as well as to the larger body.

Let’s look now at how a church is called to care for their pastors or elders.

And now I hesitate, but with a humble heart we need to recognizing the importance in honoring the Biblical guidance we have been given in providing financial care for our pastors.

“Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:6–10, ESV)

Elsewhere Jesus says that the workman is worthy of his wages, and Paul will go onto say “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” (1 Timothy 5:17, ESV)

Paul is not giving an imperative. He is simply saying that there is great value to being blessed with faithful pastors. His comment is along the same line as the merchant who found a pearl of great price and sold all he had to posses it. Or, the farmer who found a treasure of great value in a field, and sold all he had so he could possess it.

Good pastors are worth the support they should find in the bodies they serve.

Having said that - I don’t think it can be emphasized enough that the single greatest way of caring for your pastors is by lifting them up in prayer.

Perhaps the must poignant reminder of our need to pray for those who care for us comes in 1 Thessalonians 5:25, where Paul simply pleads, “Brothers, pray for us.” Paul says this in the very same section of Scripture we have already read verses 5.11-12 “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Listen, If we are called to offer “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings to be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way,” as Paul says in 2 Tim 2.1-2, then how much more so should we be praying for those whom God has given to us for the very care of our souls?

2 Thessalonians 3:1: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel." Hebrews 13:18: "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you." Scripture is full of such requests on behalf of those who are ministering the Gospel. It is essential, because we know the enemy is actively working against us all the time.

Do you remember the account from the book of Daniel? Daniel has seen an angle in a vision, “Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,” (Daniel 10:12–13, ESV)

Spiritual warfare is very real. If the prayers of Daniel can be thwarted by minions of the enemy, do we have any right to think that our prayers cannot also be hindered? There is strength in numbers. As we come together in prayer, for our churches and our pastors we are joining in the fight in the heavenlies. Even if we can do nothing else, we can always pray. And praying for our leaders is a very loving way to help and assist those whom God has given to us as leaders.

Honestly, If you are alive, then you can pray, and sometimes that is all that is required.

This is the invitation given by Paul, in Phil 1.6. “I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”

Sometimes we may wonder if we are doing any good in God’s Kingdom. Especially when we are in busy seasons of life, it may seem life in general, as well as our spiritual life is passing us by. But we always have, daily have, moment by moment have, the opportunity to help advance God’s kingdom in prayer. Listen, if you don’t know what your ministry should be, grab onto someone else's coat tails and join them. And if you are part of a church, why would you not want your pastors and leaders to succeed? Know this, your pastors and leaders can always use your help in prayer.

When we share in the burden of prayer we share in the burden of ministry.

It may be there are tangible ways to help in the ministry, but we always have the opportunity to help through prayer.

How about James 1.5? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” How many times have we criticized our leaders, instead of praying for them? I remember being part of one church where the sermons in general were filled will some excellent exposition, but rarely, if ever, was there any application given to go along with it. Without saying a word to the preacher, Karen and I began to pray that he would begin to include applications. Well, surprise, surprise – the very next sermon, there it was. That continued on for a little while. And then we forgot about praying and the applications stopped coming. But when we prayed again for application… you guessed it, the very next Sunday we were given an application again.

So, not only does prayer help your leaders, it is a help to us as well.

Let me close with this. On the one hand it is not an enviable position to be without a staff pastor and needing to fill such a critical office. I was speaking with Chad, and he mentioned it is a scary thing to contemplate, precisely because there so much riding with such a decision. On the other hand, what an opportunity for blessing, as you need to stretch your faith, and truly put your trust in the Lord.

Here is the thing. There is no such person as a perfect pastor, just as there is no such thing as the perfect church. But we do serve a perfect God. A God who will not leave us, nor forsake us. He puts us in positions to test us, and when we faithfully submit ourselves before him, and unto him, he draws us nearer – transforming us more and more into his likeness.

You have a unique opportunity at this time to both learn and grow. The more seriously the search is taken, and submitted to God in prayer the better the search will go. So pray for your body, pray for you search committee, and pray for you future pastor now, encourage and support them all that it may go well with you.

Largest organism