I Need Your Ear...Seriously!

I want you to lend me your year. I pray it will hear well.

There are a few observations I have made about your pastor(s) who is charged with the watch, care and maturity of your soul (Colossians 1:28, Hebrews 13:17), your church which is called to display the glory of Christ (I Corinthians 10:31) and be salt and light to this tasteless and dark world (Matthew 5:13-16) and you who are called to delight yourself much in the author of salvation (Matthew 22:37-40; Ephesians 2:8-10; I Corinthians 1:30-31).

One, your pastor will one day stand a stricter judgment from God because of his position (James 3:1). The day he answered the call upon his life and the day a local congregation affirmed that he possessed the qualifications for service in ministry (I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), he placed himself in a position to be highly scrutinized by the king of glory. I believe the Lord wants your pastor to be very aware of the weightiness of his job. The heavenly Father, in his graciousness, calls fallible men, empowered by the Spirit, to do a holy and precious work. Your Father knows they are not perfect and because of it, they need to be driven to a deep dependence upon him and prone to have less and less confidence in themselves (John 3:30; Philippians 3:4-11). One day, your pastor will give an account for how he has taught and led the flock. This seems to be the reason James tells men not to be too quick in desiring such a position and responsibility.

Two, the enemy of your soul and the soul of your pastor is committed to do everything to either destroy or render ineffective your life, the life of the one chosen for the care of your soul and the ministry of your congregation. He does this by making everything—even good things—more important than the only real essential thing. Do you know what it is? A wise pastor will tell you it is the Gospel and it alone. (To be clear, when I say Gospel, I mean salvation by Christ alone through faith alone and all its implications for all of life both individually and corporately.) It can not be compromised or diluted and yet, the enemy will tempt your church, you and your pastor to do just that. If he can not get you to dilute the Gospel, he will then work to distract you, your church and your pastor from it. He is a thief (John 10:10). He is a lion (I Peter 5:8). He is the Father of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). He parades with a glorious costume of light (II Corinthians 11:14). Before you know it, your church will be chasing after a myriad of things that focus more on the priority of personalities of people in the church than on the character of the Christ. Ask yourself. Is the condition and environment of my church, my life and my pastor promoting a more glorious display of the Gospel and bringing great joy and fame to the King of Heaven? If not, who do you think is glad? Think that guy across the aisle is the enemy? Think again (Ephesians 6:12). Remember, the throngs of Satan were defeated by the conquering Savior on the cross (Colossians 2:14-15; I John 3:8). He is under the Sovereignty of God (Job 1:7-12) and yet, works his wiles and schemes against the glorious bride of Christ (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13, 16). What is your position and evaluation of what is happening spiritually in your church? What is now consuming your life, your pastor and your congregation? Who is getting glory? May much prayer and obedience to God be our most outstanding characteristics.

So how do we pray in light of this reality? Let me suggest, in this article, a few ways you can pray for your pastor(s). (Next week will be your church and the next, your own life.) I promise you, he is desperate for your intercession. An effective way I have found to pray is seeing and seeking Scripture and praying through what is there. In light of my previous thoughts, let me suggest Acts 20:17-38 for your time of intercession for your pastor. (Praying the characteristics of I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 are very good, however, I believe the Acts 20 passage is particularly helpful!)

Paul is quickly moving toward Jerusalem. On his way, he stops at the port city of Miletus and calls for the Ephesian elders. He knew going to Ephesus would slow him and surely he was thinking about the riot that broke out because of him and the Gospel a mere three months before (Acts 19:21-41). At this seaport, Paul shares some very important information to these men charged with pastoring the church. He shares, first, his example of serving among them—qualities for which you should pray for your pastor. And second, he reveals how they need to respond in light of future threats—again, more qualities to pray for your pastor. This is a moving and powerful scene between a man who has been committed to the Gospel and seeing the church established and those he has trained—directly and indirectly—to carry out that work.

So how do you pray for your pastor(s)? Pray he embrace and exhibit the Spirit-given characteristics powerfully displayed in the life of Paul in Acts 20:17-38.

(v. 19) Pray your pastor(s) serve with humility and tears (i.e. passion, concern for unbelievers to become converted and believers to be established in faith). Pray your pastor(s) serve in spite of “plots” from enemies. In the case of Paul, it was Jews who were non-believers, these threats can be/are very real in your church.

(v. 20) Pray your pastor(s) will courageously declare and teach what is profitable both publicly and privately. (v. 21) Namely, that people must repent to God and that he will know that which is most profitable is Christ and the faith he graciously gives.

(v. 22) Pray your pastor(s) will be committed to Christ and serve the church even in light of the promise of trouble and affliction. (Note what the Holy Spirit promised Paul in v. 23! I recognize this promise was specific to Paul, but your pastor will face his own.)

(v. 24) Pray your pastor(s) will count his life precious only for the task of completing the course and ministry he has been given by the Lord. Any other view of his life is the enemy of humility and to God being glorified in him. Pray he testifies to the Gospel.

(v. 26) Pray your pastor(s) will be innocent in regards to the lives of people—this only comes by him courageously preaching the whole counsel of God (v. 27), pray he do that as well. Pray he will be a good watchman on the wall (Ezekiel 33:7-9).

(v. 28) Pray your pastor(s) pays careful attention to caring for his life (I Timothy 4:16—even your pastor(s) has “blindspots!” ) and to the lives of the people that make up the church. Pray your pastor will not forget the preciousness of the church—that it belongs to God and was purchased through the death of his son.

(v. 29) Pray your pastor(s) will protect the church from false teachers that wish to destroy the church. (Paul states he knows this will happen!)

(v. 30) Pray your pastor(s) will protect your church from those within the church who speak distorted things for the purpose of drawing people after themselves. (Paul states he knows this will happen as well!)

(v. 31) Pray your pastor(s) will be alert!

(v. 32) Pray your pastor(s) has an unflinching commitment to God and the Word since it is the only thing that will build up you, your pastor and your church and provide the only lasting inheritance.

(v. 33) Pray your pastor(s) will not be greedy for money.

(v. 34-35) Pray your pastor(s) will work hard and be more committed to giving than receiving. That he will show a deep concern for the weak (both spiritual and physical).

(v. 36) Pray your pastor(s) will be a man of prayer and will gladly pray with others. That passion and love would grow among your congregation that was demonstrated there at the seaport.

May God use the prayers of his people and the Spirit of Christ to raise up deeply courageous and committed pastors that serve local congregations well for the glory of our King Jesus! May you be the one raised up to pray!