DON’T FORGET TO PRAY FOR MINISTERS

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword… Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him – Acts 12:2,5

Ministers are satan’s target because as ringleaders, they’re his biggest threat. He therefore attacks them because he knows that if you smite the shepherd, the sheep will scatter. When the early church was depopulating the kingdom of darkness, satan attacked its leaders. Through Herod, he killed apostle James and imprisoned apostle Peter. In response, the church prayed earnestly.

That’s why we need to pray for our ministers today as well. Satan attacks them in many different ways. He attacks their marriages, their finances, their health, he attacks them with compromise, he tempts them with unbridled power, he tricks them with fame and fortune. He lures them with the love of money, sexual lust and stardom. He uses the same old tricks of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Why does he do it? Because of you, he ultimately wants to break up and destroy the congregation.

The next time you see a minister who’s embroiled in scandal, instead of taking to social media and criticising him or her, be discerning and understand that a shepherd in the body of Christ is under attack. And the aim is to scatter the flock. Instead of being critical, pray for that leader. Refuse to attack a fellow-soldier, rather deal with the real enemy, satan. Don’t be ignorant of the devil’s schemes. Take the matter to God in prayer and ask Him to free that one from satan’s trap.

PRAYER

Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for ministers of the gospel. Deliver them from evil. Free them from the fowler’s snare. Give them discernment. Help them to resist temptation. Cause them to stand for truth. Amen.