Praying for Your Pastor - ESV

Praying for Your Pastor

Text: Romans 15:30-32

Romans 15:30–32 ESV

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

Theme: We need to pray for our pastor.

Introduction: Lady who prayed for D. L. Moody

(Illustration: https://thecripplegate.com/the-prayers-of-one-faithful-lady-availeth-much/; accessed 9/24/24; [HT: The main source for this story A Passion For Souls,  Lyle Dorsett])

May 17, 2016 The Prayers of One Faithful Lady Availeth Much by Jordan Standridge

It was 1872, and D. L. Moody decided to go to England for a time of learning from the great English preachers of that day. He had decided to merely sit and listen, and not do any ministry of his own.

One pastor named John Lessey, upon hearing that Moody was in town, begged him to preach in his pulpit on both Sunday morning and Sunday night. Reluctantly, Moody accepted the request of this pastor of a medium-sized congregation in London.

The morning sermon did not go well.

The people were not responsive. They were bored and didn’t want to be there.

Moody, although disinclined to preach in the evening because of the incredible apathy he witnessed in the morning, decided to go ahead and keep his word. This time it was a whole different story. He said that when he began to preach for the evening service there was a different vibe entirely. People were on the edge of their seats. They were listening carefully, and some were even getting emotional.

At the end of the service he decided to ask those who wanted to commit their lives to Christ and to join the Church to stand up so he could pray for them. Many stood up. Shocked, and confused, Moody told them to sit back down. He started preaching the Gospel again thinking that the first time he must have kept something out. Boldly, he called them to repentance and trust in Christ and Him alone, with more clarity than before. So again he asked for anyone interested. Stunningly, even more than before stood up.

Moody, still incredulous, based on the fact that these same people seemed to want to throw tomatoes at him only hours earlier, closed the service and told the crowd that if anyone wanted to come to Christ, he and the pastor would meet them in a different room after the service.

When he walked in, the room was full. After asking the people to sit he went on to preach for a few minutes, explaining the Gospel yet again. He closed out the time by telling them that the pastor would hold a prayer meeting the next night, and if they wanted to join the Church to return the next day.

Moody left London to get on a boat to go to Ireland, and on the Tuesday he arrived he was given an urgent telegram. In it Pastor Lessey told Moody that several more people showed up to the prayer meeting and urged him to return to London. After 10 days of incredible ministry in London where upwards of 400 people joined the church in membership, Moody was convinced that something unusual happened there.

He started to play detective, convinced that someone had prayed for him, and began trying to find out what happened that Sunday.

His investigation led him to a little hospital where Marianne Adlard was staying. She was a member of the Church where Moody had preached. She had missed that Sunday morning because of her condition and one of her fellow members was visiting her in the hospital. While the lady was telling her about the service, she mentioned that Moody had preached that morning.

Marianne had known about Moody for a couple of years. She had read about his incredible work with children in Chicago. So, she started praying for him. In fact, she had often prayed that one day he would come to preach in London.

After finding out that he had preached in her church, instead of eating her lunch she fasted and prayed all afternoon that the Lord would use Moody that evening in her old place of worship. The Lord listened to the faithful prayers of a young, sick lady, and answered in a big way.

Moody went on to preach to millions of people and the Lord used him mightily to save and add many to the church. But his confidence in ministry only grew through that experience as he had a perseverant, little lady who had vowed to continue praying for him until the day one of them died.

It’s easy to go through ministry without thinking about prayer, and the way God uses it to accomplish His will. Sometimes we preach several times a month, sharing the gospel with dozens of people and yet we do it on our own strength without people praying for us.

I pray that this story would serve as a reminder that it doesn’t matter how famous or how talented a preacher may be unless the Lord works.

I pray that if you feel insignificant, or not respected, that you would like Marianne, have an audience of One, and that you would pray fervently, expecting the Lord to use your prayers to bring many to the Lord.

And I encourage you to not only be praying fervently for yourself to be used by God, but for your pastor, who works hard to preach the truth, but who is powerless unless the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of those to whom he ministers.

I. Why should you pray?

Romans 15:30a ESV

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

a. Your pastors need your prayers (“I appeal to you”).

i. “appeal” is parakaleō (παρακαλεω), “I beg of you, please.” [1]

b. You are brothers in Christ (“brothers”)

c. You both serve Christ (“by our Lord Jesus Christ”)

i. “i.e., out of regard to the Lord Jesus; ‘whatever regard you have for him, and whatever desire to see his cause prosper, in which I am engaged, let it induce you to pray for me.” (Charles Hodge – Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.)

d. You have been given Holy Spirit love for your pastors (“by the love of the Spirit”)

i. Romans 5:5

Romans 5:5 ESV

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

II. How should you pray?

Romans 15:30b (ESV)

30 to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

a. Earnestly

i. The words “strive together” in Romans 15:30 suggest an athlete giving his best in the contest. Perhaps the words “wrestling together” better express the idea. This same term is used of the praying of Epaphras in Colossians 4:12. This verse does not mean that we must fight with God to get what we need. Rather, it means our praying must not be a casual experience that has no heart or earnestness. We should put as much fervor into our praying as a wrestler does into his wrestling![2]

ii. Colossians 4:12

Colossians 4:12 ESV

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

iii. “Strive together” is sunagonizomai (συναγονιζομαι). This word was used in classical Greek as an athletic term, describing the concerted action of a team of athletes in the Greek games. It meant “to contend along with, to share in a contest.” Paul asks the Roman saints to contend with him in prayer against the opposition of the hosts of wickedness, contending with him as athletes would do with one another, with intensity of purpose and in perfect cooperation.[3]

b. Deliberately

i. Take time.

ii. Make a list (Illustration “Praying for Our Pastor”)

III. What should you pray for?

Romans 15:31 ESV

31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

a. Ministry opposition to be removed.

i. Anxieties

1. Paul knows of the Jewish hostility towards his bold and public stand in favour of admitting Gentiles into the people of God without imposing on them circumcision or the law of Moses. Many of the more radical Jews in his day (and they were growing in number at this time) would have considered such a stand as nothing less than treason. That Paul’s fears on this score were warranted is proved by the fact that this trip to Jerusalem resulted in his being imprisoned by the Roman authorities at the instigation of the Jews (Acts 21:27–36).[4]

ii. Adversaries

1. 1 Corinthians 16:9

1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV

9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

2. 1 Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

iii. Appeals to the flesh

1. Discouragement

2. Self-dependence

3. Immorality

4. Covetousness

b. Ministry opportunities to be received.

i. Receptive Saints

1. Certainly, Paul also had valid reason to fear that some of the Jewish Christians might still be so suspicious of him and so concerned to maintain relations with their fellow-Jews that they would spurn his efforts by refusing to accept the money from him and the Gentile Christians. [5]

ii. Rapid spread of God’s Word

1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1

2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,

iii. Resolve to speak God’s Word boldly

1. Ephesians 6:18-20

Ephesians 6:18–20 ESV

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

iv. Right doors of opportunity

1. Colossians 4:2-4

Colossians 4:2–4 ESV

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

IV. What are the results of answered prayer?

Romans 15:32 ESV

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

a. Ministry accomplishments cause rejoicing.

i. Pastors should rejoice in a job well done.

1. Paul asks the Roman Christians to join with him in praying …, so that he might be able to continue on to Rome with joy and a sense of positive accomplishment (32).[6]

ii. Pastor’s should have joy in ministering to you.

1. Hebrews 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 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.

b. Ministry believers provide refreshment.

i. Paul was looking forward to getting to Rome to get refreshed by the believers there.

ii. Denney says, “Paul looks forward to a time of joy and rest beyond these anxieties and dangers, as the ultimate end to be secured by their prayers.”[7]

iii. The verb enjoy a refreshing visit implies both rest (NEB “enjoy a time of rest”; JB “enjoy a period of rest”) and refreshing of one’s spirit (NAB “and be refreshed in spirit”). Enjoy a refreshing visit with you may be rendered as “be happy and rested because of my visit with you” or “and my visit with you will cause me to be happy and to become rested.”[8]

Conclusion: As you go to your discussion groups consider the following 4 things:

1. What did the Holy Spirit teach you from today’s message?

2. Why does your pastor and his family need your prayers?

3. How can you specifically pray for your pastor and his family?

4. Take time now to use the Praying for Your Pastor pamphlet and each person pray for the prayer request that goes along with the day of the month that you were born.

Endnotes:

[1]Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. Ro 15:30 [2]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ro 15:25 [3]Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. Ro 15:30 [4]Carson, D. A.: New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA : Inter-Varsity Press, 1994, S. Ro 15:14 [5]Carson, D. A.: New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA : Inter-Varsity Press, 1994, S. Ro 15:14 [6]Carson, D. A.: New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA : Inter-Varsity Press, 1994, S. Ro 15:14 [7]Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. Ro 15:30 [8]Newman, Barclay Moon ; Nida, Eugene Albert: A Handbook on Paul's Letter to the Romans. New York : United Bible Societies, 1994 (UBS Handbook Series; Helps for Translators), S. 289