PRAY FOR MINISTERS

Praying always…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, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak – Ephesian 6:18-20

As the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have to pray for His ministers. The biggest temptation for a minister of the gospel is not so much the love of money or sexual immorality. Those are mere symptoms of the real problem. A minister’s biggest temptation is to compromise the truth of the gospel because of the fear of man. It’s to water it down and make it acceptable to the hearer. It’s to strip it of its offence and make men and women comfortable with lies. It’s to be accepted and popular. It’s for our churches and ministries to be big so we may have the respect and approval of our peers.

Until you understand this about your minister, you won’t know how to pray effectively. The gospel of the kingdom is offensive, it leads with repentance, it warns of the coming wrath, it demands obedience, it invites persecution, it encourages Christians to lose their lives, it commands them to hate the world and the things of this world. It therefore takes boldness to say such uncomfortable and inconvenient things to people. That’s why apostle Paul asked the church to pray that he may open his mouth boldly and speak the word boldly as he ought to speak it.

Preaching the gospel is a spiritual enterprise, it’s not as simple as opening your mouth because you have one. A minister must first be given utterance before preaching and teaching. Preaching the gospel must be preceded by intense fasting, praying, watching and supplication. Ministers must preach the gospel of the kingdom, they must make disciples of all nations and teach them to obey all things whatsoever the Lord Jesus Christ commanded. To do that properly, they need to fear God rather than man. They need to be strong and courageous and boldly teach and preach what the Lord commanded. They need prayer.

PRAYER

Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for ministers of the gospel. I pray that you give them bold utterance that they may preach and teach the gospel boldly as they ought to. May they stop compromising the truth of the gospel. Deliver them from the fear of man. Amen.