Ephesians 4:11-13 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
The purpose for which God has called minsters of the Gospel to the church is to equip, build, unite, teach the knowledge of God, promote spiritual growth and maturity in order that every believer becomes more like Christ and thus show forth the glory of God.
1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
Most elders are not worthy to preach and teach the word of God because they have been self-appointed. Worthy implies the elder presents with the spiritual qualification to teach the word. Only God can qualify a teacher of his Word. 1 Timothy 2:7 “For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” Paul was appointed by God. Additionally, not everybody is called to teach the word according to James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Today we find all kinds of people with different titles and names only because they want to be noticed. Such people with titles knows fully well that it is not supposed to be about them according to 2 Corinthians 4:5 “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.”
Acts 20:28 “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
Paying attention to the flock is one of the numerous duties of the minister. This is not the case in so many churches today. Pray that the Lord will turn the hearts of his ministers back to the original assignment: “take care and pay attention to the flock”.
Romans 12:3- 8 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
A prideful heart always puts self before others but a humble heart put others first. Pray that God will humble ministers, as they operate in the gifts, they will do so only by grace and nothing for them to boast about.
1 Corinthians 3:10- 15 “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
Pray that ministers will go back to the foundation that was laid by the apostles, the Word was not sugar coated to fit any particular group, the apostles presented the plain gospel of truth.
1 Peter 4:10-11 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
The call of God is by grace, as well as serving God, so Pray that ministers will use the gifts given to them by grace to serve rather then been served for its not their strength but that which God has given them by grace.
Pray that they will speak as one who speaks the word of God
Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Many believers lack spiritual guidance because of poor leadership in their local church. Pray that the Lord will raise ministers after His heart rather than ministers for themselves. Ministers who are anointed to teach the knowledge of God’s Word so that it is understood by the church.
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Pray for a visitation of the Holy Spirit upon the ministers of the gospel so that they may be true witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Pray that ministers of the gospel will invest time in studying the word of God so that they are well equipped with spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to rightly divide the Word of God to the church.
Acts 20:24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Paul took a position of humility here, knowing that what is important is completing the work of the ministry rather then anything valuable about him. Pray the ministers will emulate the life of Paul as their carry out their assignment in spreading the word of God.
2 Corinthians 8:23 “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.”
Pray for unity and support among ministers rather then the spirit of rivalry and competition.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Ministers of the Gospel cannot teach the word appropriately if they are not held to the same standards of obeying the same word they teach. Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will convict their hearts to obey the word of God as well.
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Pray that as ambassadors the Lord will grant grace to ministers to truthfully represent the exact nature of God in every aspect of their daily living both at home and in public.
1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Pray that the grace be granted to every minster of the gospel to speak only as God’s oracle and to serve only by the strength of Lord, so that in all they do God will be glorified.
Malachi 2:7 “For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”
Pray that God will sanctify the lips of every minister so that when they speak, they will speak words that will transform the church.
Colossians 1:24-25 “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God.”
Pray that God will open the eyes of ministers to understand that they are called to suffer for the well being of the church as well as serve as servants, for Jesus exemplified this when he washed the feet of his disciples.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Pray that ministers of the Gospel will preach Jesus alone and Him crucified not any form of smooth talk
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Pray that they will only boast in the fact that Christ’s care is seen in every aspect of their ministries.
1 Peter 5:2 “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.”
Pray for a willing heart to do the work of God not out of gain but for God’s glory.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Declare this blessing over every true minister of God
2 Kings 4:8-10 “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So, whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”
Pray that God will open a door for provision unto the ministers of the Gospel who are in need.
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Pray for the protection of the ministers of the Gospel of Christ.
Thank the Lord for hearing us for this list can never be exhorted.
Ennette Heggans