“Pray For Your Church Leaders”

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

It occurred to me last week as I was studying my lesson for our "Kingdom Leaders" class that one of the most important elements of leadership in God's church is prayer. Leaders—especially shepherds & ministers—must be men of prayer (cf. Acts 6:4, 1 Tim. 4:13). They should be men who constantly seek help and favor from God in everything that they and the church strive to do together.

In addition, a church who wants to be all that Jesus calls us to be should pray for our leaders. Someone has said, "A church will get the leaders that they deserve." And while that isn't exactly a quote from Scripture, it does make us think: have we asked God for leaders who will truly care for our souls? Jesus spoke for the Father and said, "Ask, and it will be given to you," and this is one area where we can have every expectation that God will give us what we ask for.

In the same sentence where the Holy Spirit reminded us to pray for our national leaders, he said, "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people." (1 Tim. 2:1) That certainly applies to the leaders of the church.

• Pray especially for the shepherds, the preachers, and the deacons.
• Pray for the shepherds to care about each soul individually.
• Pray for the preachers to understand the word rightly and speak it plainly.
• Pray for the deacons to be godly servants and teachers.
• Pray for their families.
• Pray for their physical health.
• Pray for their mental health.
• Pray for their integrity.
• Pray for their work ethic not to wain.
• Pray for their peace in Jesus Christ.
• Pray for their salvation & holiness as you pray for your own.

I know that you will, and I thank you for that.

- Dan Lankford, minister

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