Intercessory Prayers Series 2

INTERCEDING FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL

(Not Excluding Other Local Church Pastoral/Spiritual Leadership Teams)

TEXT: Zechariah 3:1-8, Acts 14:19-20, Deuteronomy 3:23-28; Colossians 4:17

INTRODUCTION: Amongst all the children of God, Ministers are the most vulnerable to attacks by the enemy because they occupy a very precious position. Except by the discerning of Spirits and revelation gifts of the Holy Spirit, one might not accurately know what problems, fears tears, and wears a minister has to grasps with, as their problems are many and varied. It is in this respect that the great Apostle Paul, who spoke in tongues more than all the Christians in Corinth, who heard the voice of God audibly and saw the visions of God, who went to the third heaven bodily, and had an angelic visitation, who could deliver an erring believer to the devil for torment, and who stood in the five ministerial offices and manifested all nine gifts, requested for personal prayers almost all the Churches he visited. Romans 15:30-32; Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonian 5:25; Heb. 13:18.

The Lord Jesus Christ while on earth as son of man also requested prayer help from His disciples who slept off instead of praying – Matthew 26:36-46. So, if the Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry and also Apostle Paul needed prayers then we conclude that no minister can perform effectively to the optimum without a steady prayer support. God is likely to hold the church responsible for the sins, errors and the fall and failures of her ministries just as He will also hold the ministers responsible for the lives of their members – Proverbs 27:23.

“When Israel sin against God, Moses interceded for them, but when Moses has his offence of sin against God, there was no intercessor to take a stand on his behalf” – Exodus 32:30-32; 33:12-23; 17:8-16; 12:13; and Deuteronomy 32:48-52; Numbers 20:7-13.

A. MINISTER’S CONFLICTS:

1. Ministers have personal crisis and strivings which at some points or times cannot be shared with mortal man except God alone – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.

2. Ministers may be bold externally but they may also have their personal fears and uncertainties. 1 Kings 19:1-14. “Smite the Shepherd and the Sheep’s will scatter”.

3. Ministers are specifically targeted for certain vicious attacks by the gates of hell :  2 Samuel 11:1-27; 2 Kings 4:1-7 etc

• Seducing spirits
• Attacks on the spirit man by demonic forces with intent to hindering a minister fellowship with God
• Family attacks (domestic burdens)
• Pride, arrogance and self esteem
• . . . And many others etc

4. Ministers often have plans and programmes of divine approval which may be frustrated by the devil. 1 Thessalonian 2:18.

5. Sometimes they find themselves in a very tight and embarrassing financial crisis which they had not bargained for. 2 Corinthians 11:22-27, Philippians 4:10-13.

6. Many times they wonder whether they were actually called of God due to Satan’s assault on their assurance and faith. This often happens when there is fierce opposition within and without and the ministry isn’t making any remarkable progress. Matthew 11:1-6, 2 Timothy 4:13-18.

7. Often there are certain inexplicable health hazards which may ultimately affect the work of the ministry. 1Timothy 5:23.

8. Often-times the devil inundates the minister with unending programmes and activities, so as to choke up his personal fellowship with the Lord. Ministers must work with the Lord and not only for the Lord. Mark 3:14-15.

9. There is also the temptation to be crowded and miracle-oriented without being people-oriented. Jesus had time for anxious inquirers.

10. We must pray that God’s minister will be men of vision so as to: 

i. See what the Lord sees.

ii. See only what the Lord sees.

iii. See as far as the Lord sees.

iv. See as clearly as the Lord sees.

(see Jeremiah 1:11-19; Isaiah 6:1-9; Genesis 13:14-18)

B. DIVINE RECIPE FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRY: 1 Tim. 1:1-2, 2 Tim. 2:1

• GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ Expense, i.e. unmerited favour, divine capacity for doing       work. 1 Cor. 15:9-10.
• MERCY – Divine kindness that offsets divine judgement for obvious and non-obvious faults     and mistakes in the ministry. 2 Cor. 4:1.
• PEACE – Understanding of mind and spirit in spite of surrounding turmoil’s. John 14:27,        John 16:33, 2 Tim. 2:6.

NOTE: No minister can function without fail, if these three elements of divine reimbursement are not present on a constant basis. As intercessors we need to ask the Lord to multiply these divine favours unto them.

C. SAMPLE PRAYERS FOR MINISTERS:

(Marks of the ministry: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10).

Lord of heaven and Earth I come in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, your first begotten son to intercede and pray for Revd Chukie & Mrs. Faith MORSI, ministers of the gospel, whose local church is named REDEMPTION LIFE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH. I pray that you will grant them your grace, peace and mercy, so that they could make their calling and election sure; I pray that they would approve themselves as ministers and that they put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that their ministry will not be discredited.  Rather, as servants of God they commend themselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;  in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;  in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;  in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;  through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;  known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;  sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything as in 2 Corinthians 6:1-10. I pray that your loving kindness will envelope them. Kindly bless them and grant them open doors of favour, an effectual and effective ministry. I pray that all the resources they might need to make their ministry what you want it to become be made available unto them. Kindly bless them in every way. Thank you Lord in Jesus name, amen.

(You can use these other passages to enhance prayers – Psalms 104:4; 134:1-3; 135:1-3; 92:10-15 etc.)

Compiled by Rev. Chukie MORSI

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