“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory”
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.” Every true servant of God leading the flock must have an understanding that the flock is not just a group of people but people purchased by the blood of Jesus, appointed by the Holy Spirit, and placed under their care to grow them in the way of the Lord. A pastor therefore has a spiritual responsibility to do whatever he/she will to nurture the flock. Only God that can reward the work done so pastors should be encouraged not be look forward to human reward.
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Pray that righteousness and not politics will rule the leadership of our churches.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Pray that our church leaders will never lean on themselves, be it title, education, position etc. but they will surrender under the grace and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them.
Isaiah 41:31 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
It can be challenging sometimes as church leaders especially new in the job. Pray that they will not fear but trust the God who has called them for guidance.
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint”.
Pray that our church leaders will wait on God for daily provision of strength.
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Pray that our church leaders will be men and women who call on God for their daily decisions.
Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Pray that our pastors shall depend on God and not man for their needs. For He who has called them is faithful.
1 Timothy 3: 2-3 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”
Pray that God will grant grace to our leaders to emulate these qualities.
Ephesians 4:11-15 “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, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Pray that God will grant grace as they embark in equipping the church.
Pray for self-control to build the body of Christ not tear it down with greed, arrogance, and pride.
Pray for the strength to teach the word of God to bring unity and knowledge of the revelation of Christ, so that the church will attain maturity.
Acts 14:23 “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Pray that the church leadership will go back to word of God and select leadership according to Act 14:23.
Exodus 18:21 “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”
Pray that the church leadership will be made up of people who fear God, trustworthy, and hate bride.
Mark 10: 45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus set the stage for what God expects from the leadership of the church; servant hood. Pray that our church leaders will understand this and walk in it.
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 our church leaders will do their best (also study God’s word) as stated by this bible verse.
Mathew 24:45-47 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.”
Pray that our pastors will be men and women moved by the Spirit of God to understand the word for the season.
Pray that they will be faithful in their service.
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
It can be difficult sometimes to deal with members of the church. Pray that God will help our church leaders not grow weary in doing what God has called them to do.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Pray that they will never lack anything physically and Spiritually.
Hebrews 13: 5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Pray that their minds will be protected from the lust for money knowing that God will never forsake them.
Pray this word over them. 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.”
Add as led by the Spirit of God for this is only a guide.
PrayerLine #: for T-Mobile & Metro PCS users, please dial 206-451-6010 then dial the conference number 605 475 3235# and access code 1053495#.
For all other users, dial 605 475 3235# directly and then access code 1053495#.
Time: 9pm to 11pm daily.
Blessings!!!