2 Biblical Reasons Why You Must Pray For Your Pastor

Every Pastor needs prayers. Pastors need our prayers to succeed in the ministry by grace and not by their own strength. The only way they can be faithful to the cause of Christ is when believers pray for them. The Scriptures command us to pray for all men in authority. (1 Timothy 2:2)

In Ephesians 6:18‭-‬20 (NKJV) Paul wrote that,

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

The book of Ephesians is a glorious epistle that reveals the mysteries of salvation (Ephesians 1-3) and how we ought to live to please God (Ephesians 4-6).

In chapter 6, Paul is concluding with his important teaching on spiritual warfare. He urged the saints to stand strong in God through putting on their spiritual armour. Part of the armours to fight evil is praying in the Spirit (being filled with the Holy Spirit to pray according to the will of God). He then encouraged them to pray for all the saints’ and for him. 

As the Apostle who had gone on missions, planted churches, raised leaders, and wrote epistles, why did he need their prayers? Paul is only telling us that all Pastors need prayers. They are not superman.

Here are two reasons why Paul wanted them to pray for him:

#1. WHAT TO SAY

“that utterance may be given to me”

The first reason why Paul needed the prayers of the saints was that he desperately wanted to know what to say from God. In the book of Jeremiah, when the prophet complained to God that he cannot speak, God touched his mouth to give him His words to speak. He then went and preached to the rebellious house of Israel. (Jeremiah 1)

Our Pastors need our prayers to serve as oracles of God. They need to know what to say by the Holy Spirit taking them back to the Bible to study, interpret and prepare a message from the Lord to share with His people. Paul teaches us that when we pray, God will grant our Pastors utterance to speak.

#2. HOW TO SAY IT

“that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”

Secondly, Paul requested for the saints in Ephesus to pray for him because he wanted to preach with boldness and not timidity. Two times, the apostle said that they should pray so that he will speak ‘boldly’. When the disciples of Jesus were threatened not to preach Christ again, they went to their own and prayed to God for boldness to preach. They didn’t pray for their enemies to die but for boldness to speak the gospel. (Acts 4:23-31)

In the times we live in, I have realized many Pastors will rather go by popular messages that will entertain people than preach the whole counsel of God. If you are interceding for your Pastor, pray that he will preach with boldness in season and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2)

We need to cultivate this habit of praying for Pastors in our local church and around the world to preach Christ and boldly do so. If we fail to do so, they will preach another gospel (which is no gospel) and incur the curses of God (Galatians 1).

May the Lord make us intercessors to pray for Pastors so that they will be faithful to the call of God.

How important is praying for your Pastor valuable to you? Share with us.