Praying for your staff
Exodus 17:8-13
Now Amalek came
and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua,
“Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the
top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did
as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up
to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his
hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But
Moses’ hands became heavy; so
they took a stone and put it
under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one
side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the
going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people
with the edge of the sword.
The future promises great things for our
church and if we begin to consistently and specifically pray for the church
staff, our church would take off and never look back. Here’s the one thing I
want you to learn, I want you to learn to pray for your staff. The greatest thing you can do for your
pastor, ministerial staff and your church as a whole is to learn how to pray
for your staff.
I absolutely cannot emphasize enough the
importance of praying for the church staff. Please understand the attack Satan
puts on ministers.
A great illustration of someone praying
for their leader is found in Exodus 17:8-13. Aaron and Hur serve as an example of
supporting their spiritual leader. As
Moses needed their physical support, ministers need your prayer support.
Looking at this passage we see that there are several
reasons to pray for you pastor/church leader. Aaron and Hur serve as our
example.
1. Godly leaders come under attack (vs 8)
The story opens with Moses and the children of Israel
under attack by Amalek and the Amalekites. I’ve learned this in the ministry …
that Godly leaders, Godly movements and churches doing the will of God come
under attack.
Satan watches for just the "right time" to
attack Christian leaders. Usually he attacks after victory or when the
leader is tired.
In this story both had happened.
In vs 1 we see the need for water and then in vs 6 we
find God working a miracle by providing water from a rock. So after the
miracle, the victory, in vs 8 we see that Israel was attacked. What happens
many times after great spiritual victories? The enemy attacks.
Think about the things that would make a pastor tired?
Look at what Moses as a leader had to put up with? Back in vs 1 we find that
the people had been complaining for the lack of water. Then in vs 2-3 people
began to complain and grumble, in fact in vs 4 Moses thought they were going to
kill him. I am sure Moses was tired … physically, emotionally and perhaps even
spiritually. Then the attack came. When did Amalek attack, when did the
enemy attack? It was after a tough time.
Many times the attack comes after a great victory. Godly
leaders come under attack.
2. Godly men cannot win the battle alone (vs 9)
Pastors cannot do what needs to be done by themselves.
It's a team effort. I need you and you need me. The church is described as a
body.
We also need God's help. What kind of church would we be
if we didn't have God's help? I heard a long time ago someone saying, "You
don't need God's help to grow a church." The more I pastor the more I
realize that's true. But we do need God's help to become the church that
glorifies God!
Moses had Joshua, Aaron and Hur. He needed their help and
would not have succeeded without their help. Your staff needs an Aaron, a
Joshua, in our lives, because leaders often come under attack and we can’t win
the battle all by ourselves.
3. Godly men are able to inspire people (vs 9-10)
Pastors and ministers are high visible people. When the
pastor is successful then everyone is inspired to be successful. Opposite is
true. When the leader fails, everyone fails. Moses climbed to the top of the
hill in order that ... for two reasons
1.
He could see the people: insight
(Overview of the battle)
One of the major tasks of a Pastor is to be able to see
the big picture, that’s insight.
2.
The people could see him: inspiration
The people saw Moses, he was with them, he was part of
them, and he inspired them. Moses could have done his job in the tent, but he
couldn’t see the big picture and he couldn’t inspire the people
As you pray for your staff, pray that we can see the big
picture so that we can give insight and inspire others.
4. Godly leaders influence the lives of their
people (vs 11)
Leadership is really influence. A leader is responsible
for three things ...
I do many things as a pastor. Sometimes I am a counselor, a teacher, a
preacher, an administrator and so on. But I realize I can only do 2 things that
can influence everyone in the church. (1) Preach and (2) Pray. Pray for my
prayer life and pray for the prayer life of your staff. If prayer is one of the
greatest things you can do for your staff, then prayer is one of the greatest
things your staff can do for you.
This is what Arron and Her are doing. They are showing
the Israelites the importance of calling on God.
3. Lead them to victory
When you pray you know where the victory comes from.
That’s why I want prayer to be at the very center of everything we do here at
FBC Howe. As our church grows, we ought to grow on our knees.
5. Godly leaders are human (vs 12a)
Moses was very human, his hands got heavy. Moses wanted
to keep his arms stretched toward heaven, but he couldn't. Preachers and
ministers are very human. Sometimes people
tend to think that the pastor cannot sin or does not sin. So remember, your
staff is human, pray for us.
6. Godly leaders plus prayer equals victory ( vs 12-13)
This is the only way the pastor/leader will have victory
and the only way the church will have victory. If you do not pray for your
staff there will be no victory… in your life or in the church.
Notice, nowhere in these verses do we see Moses asking
for help. They just did it. Don't wait to be asked to do something and don't
wait to start praying for your staff.
As the saying goes, the future is as bright as the
promises of God. Our future is bright and God promises to answer prayer. All I
need now is your help. Can I count on you?
Counting FT and PT staff, we have five on our staff. I’ve
asked each for five requests. I’m asking you to pray for these five things
every week. You can pray one for each of us each day, or one staff member a
day. Just pray.
Pray for these
ROGER
1.
True humility
The opposite of humility is pride and the Bible says that
pride goes before a fall. To me true humility is a total dependence upon God.
2. Divine guidance
I don’t want any agenda bur God’s agenda, no plans but
God’s plans.
3.
Strength
I’m easily fatigued and worn out, both physically,
mentally and spiritually.
4.
A burning desire for God and His word
5.
The be a Godly husband/father
WES
1.
That I would relentlessly pursue holiness.
2. That
I would lead a ministry that truly exists to make disciples.
3. That
I would seek God's wisdom in leading a ministry that challenges and empowers others
to share the Gospel without fear.
4. That
I would love Elisha and my kids the way that Jesus loves the church.
5. That
I would be obsessed with the glory of the Lord and unhindered by the opinions
of man
JONATHAN
1. Pray to guard my family
from the enemy and that I will lead my family in a lifestyle of obedience to
God.
2. Pray
that I would be obedient to God's leadership of His church.
3. Pray
that I would not fall into the temptation to please man versus pleasing God.
4. Pray
for our forthcoming baby, that he would continue to be healthy, for a smooth
pregnancy, and a smooth delivery.
5. Pray
that I would not worry about tomorrow, but that I would continually trust in
Matthew 6:26.
ANGELA
1. That God will give me the ability to
equip children to be passionate followers of Christ as they come to know Him as
their personal savior, making their faith their own.
2. Wisdom and Discernment: on how to move
the children's ministry forward and to learn from past mistakes
3. Endurance and Patience: to wait on
The Lord when I have to go through various trials
4. My family: Protection of our minds,
bodies, and emotions from any kind of evil or harm.
5. Continuous growing of our faith:
From God's Word being planted in my family's hearts so that our faith
will grow daily and direct our lives.
ELISHA
1. Continued
passion/excitement
2. Sensitivity
to the Holy Spirit and courage to follow through with action
3. Tendency
towards discouragement
4. Protection
against enemy attack
5. A
humble spirit
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