Praying for Your Pastor - KJV

Praying for Your Pastors[1]

Text: Romans 15:30-32

Romans 15:30–32 (KJV)

30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Theme: We need to pray for our pastors.

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)

Romans 15:30a (KJV)

30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit

a. Your pastors need your prayers (“Now I beseech you,”).

i. “Beseech” is parakaleō (παρακαλεω), “I beg of you, please.” [2]

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

c. You both serve Christ (“for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake”)

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 (“and for the love of the Spirit”)

i. Romans 5:5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. [3]

II. How should you pray? (Romans 15:30b)

Romans 15:30b (KJV)

30b that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

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![4]

ii. Colossians 4:12 (KJV) 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. [5]

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.[6]

b. Deliberately

i. Take time.

ii. Make a list (Handout “Praying for Your Pastor”)

III. What should you pray for? (Romans 15:31)

Romans 15:31 (KJV)

31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of 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).[7]

ii. Adversaries

1. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (KJV) 9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. [8]

2. 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9]

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. [10]

ii. Rapid spread of God’s Word

1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (KJV) 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free coursea, and be glorified, even as it is with you: [11]

iii. Resolve to speak God’s Word boldly

1. Ephesians 6:18-20 (KJV) 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bondsc: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.[12]

iv. Right doors of opportunity

1. Colossians 4:2-4 (KJV) 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. [13]

IV. What are the results of answered prayer? (Romans 15:32)

Romans 15:32 (KJV)

32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

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).[14]

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

1. Hebrews 13:17 (KJV) 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for thatis unprofitable for you.[15]

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.”[16]

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.”[17]

Conclusion: During the month of October for pastor appreciation month, would you give your pastors the gift of prayer. In 31 days, you can pray through the list “Praying for Your Pastor.” As pastors at Morningside, we are blessed to have such great people to do ministry with. This month we request the gift of your prayers.

[1] *12/13/06 Morningside Baptist Church Wed. Prayer Meeting *07/03/07 MTT Ministries – New Zealand Boot Camp *07/22/07 Cornerstone Baptist Church, Brush Prairie, WA – Sunday AM *09/28/24 One Hope Church Acworth GA – Sunday AM *10/06/24 Morningside Baptist Church – Sunday PM [2]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 [3] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ro 5:5 [4]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Ro 15:25 [5] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 [6]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 [7]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 [8] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 [9] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 [10]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 a have...: Gr. run [11] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 c in bonds: or, in a chain [12] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 [13] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 [14]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 [15] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995 [16]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 NEB New English Bible JB Jerusalem Bible NAB New American Bible [17]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