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La prioridad de la oración

El puritano Samuel Chadwick dice que Satanás solo le tiene pavor a la oración. Las actividades se pueden multiplicar hasta el punto en que la oración no tenga lugar, y las organizaciones crecen hasta no dejar sitio para ella. La única preocupación del diablo es impedir que los santos oren. Él no le teme a los estudios bíblicos en los que no se ora, ni a las obras en las que no cabe la oración, ni a la religión sin ruego. Él se ríe de nuestros esfuerzos y se burla de nuestra sabiduría, pero tiembla cuando oramos.

A la Iglesia se le ha dado la misión de la oración corporativa y el pastor, como aquel que pastorea a un rebaño, debe guiar al pueblo de Dios en la responsabilidad que le ha sido encomendada. Debemos convertir la oración corporativa en la prioridad de la Iglesia, de forma que esta cumpla con sus deberes en relación con su Maestro y Señor Jesucristo.

Consideremos algunas de las razones por las que la Iglesia se reunía para orar en el libro de los Hechos de los Apóstoles.

Recepción del don del apostolado:

En el capítulo uno vemos que la primera razón era para reconocer y recibir los dones del liderazgo que les llegaba de manos del Cristo exaltado. Vemos la recepción del don del apostolado en Hechos capítulo uno versículo catorce.

Todos éstos estaban unánimes, entregados de continuo a la oración junto con las mujeres, y con María la madre de Jesús, y con los hermanos de Él.

Durante diez días, la Iglesia perseveró en la oración, esperando que el Espíritu les ministrara, y fue después de este tiempo extenso de oración que se llenó el puesto de apóstol [dejado por Judas]. En el versículo veinticuatro leemos lo que oraron y dijeron,
Tú, Señor, que conoces el corazón de todos, muéstranos a cuál de estos dos has escogido para ocupar este ministerio y apostolado, del cual Judas se desvió para irse al lugar que le correspondía.

Fueron dirigidos a obedecer la Palabra de Dios a la hora de sustituir a Judas en el apostolado. Oraron. Recibieron dirección y eligieron a Matías según la provisión de Dios.

Institución del ministerio del diaconato:

En Hechos capítulo seis vemos la institución del ministerio del diaconato y el de un líder: el liderazgo que nace en el contexto de la oración. Y en Hechos seis, versículo seis, después de elegir a esos hombres, una vez más cualificados según las Escrituras, capacitados por el Espíritu para tener las cualidades especificadas en la Biblia y reconocidas por el pueblo [de Dios], versículo 6,

…los… presentaron ante los apóstoles, y después de orar, pusieron sus manos sobre ellos.

Como en Hechos capítulo uno, los apóstoles establecieron las cualificaciones necesarias que vemos en el versículo tres de dicho capítulo. La congregación estaba implicada en la responsabilidad de reconocer y escoger a los hombres cualificados según el versículo cinco. Luego, la congregación junto con los líderes oraron unánimes y recibieron los dones de los diáconos.

La función de anciano:

En Hechos capítulo catorce, tenemos lo mismo con respecto a la función de anciano. En Hechos catorce, versículo veintitrés Pablo ha vuelto a Listria, Listra, Iconio y Antioquía. Ha animado a los discípulos y en conjunto con este ministerio, versículo veintitrés,

Después que les designaron ancianos en cada iglesia, habiendo orado con ayunos, los encomendaron al Señor en quien habían creído.

¿Cuál era el contenido de su oración? No se nos dice. Se nos dice simplemente que los encomendaron al Señor.

Ahora bien; en el versículo diecinueve vemos que esa iglesia se veía inmersa en una situación de oposición y persecución. Pablo había sido apedreado. Se veían inmersos en la tribulación. Es lo que Pablo les había predicado en el versículo veintidós: entraremos en el reino por medio de la tribulación. Así pues, en esta ocasión, encomendar estos hombres al Dios en el que creían implicaba confiarlos a la protección del Señor, pidiendo a Dios que los cuidara y los usara.

En Hechos capítulo veinte se da la ocasión en la que el Apóstol habla a los ancianos de Éfeso que vienen a Mileto para encontrarse con él y vemos el mandamiento que les da en el versículo veintiocho. El les dice,

Tened cuidado de vosotros y de toda la grey, en medio de la cual el Espíritu Santo os ha hecho obispos para pastorear la iglesia de Dios, la cual El compró con su propia sangre. Sé que después de mi partida, vendrán lobos feroces entre vosotros que no perdonarán el rebaño, y que de entre vosotros mismos se levantarán algunos hablando cosas perversas para arrastrar a los discípulos tras ellos. Por tanto, estad alerta, recordando que por tres años, de noche y de día, no cesé de amonestar a cada uno con lágrimas. Ahora os encomiendo a Dios y a la palabra de su gracia, que es poderosa para edificaros y daros la herencia entre todos los santificados.

De modo que tenemos la petición del Apóstol. Encomienda a los ancianos al Señor como lo hizo anteriormente en Hechos catorce.

Observe el versículo treinta y seis:

Cuando hubo dicho estas cosas, se puso de rodillas, y oró con todos ellos.

Por ello, no podemos más que asumir que la oración consistía en llevar a cabo lo que había predicado, lo que les había encomendado, pidiendo por su protección; rogando que la gracia les fuese concedida para que pudiesen cuidarse de ellos mismos y velar por el rebaño; que fuesen conscientes de las estratagemas del maligno que pudieran surgir aun de entre ellos mismos; en resumen, encomendarles a la gracia de Dios de modo que pudieran ser edificados. Creo que estas cosas fueron las que Pablo oró con respecto al ministerio de los ancianos.

La Iglesia no solo oró para que los líderes fuesen reconocidos y recibidos sino que, en segundo lugar, pidió protección contra la oposición.

Volviendo al libro de los Hechos capítulo doce, leemos desde el versículo uno al cinco.

Por aquel tiempo el rey Herodes echó mano a algunos que pertenecían a la iglesia para maltratarlos. E hizo matar a espada a Jacobo, el hermano de Juan. Y viendo que esto agradaba a los judíos, hizo arrestar también a Pedro. Esto sucedió durante los días de los panes sin levadura. Y habiéndolo tomado preso, lo puso en la cárcel, entregándolo a cuatro piquetes de soldados para que lo guardaran, con la intención de llevarlo ante el pueblo después de la Pascua.

Vemos que Pedro fue encarcelado, pero la Iglesia de Dios oraba fervientemente por él. Aquí tenemos, pues, una circunstancia de oposición y persecución; el liderazgo de la Iglesia se ve atacado. Santiago había sido martirizado. Pedro está en prisión y la Iglesia hace una petición, empieza a serigrafiar camisetas con el eslogan de “¡liberad a Pedro!” y emprende una marcha alrededor de la cárcel con pancartas y gritos de protesta. ¡No, no! La Iglesia comienza a orar. La Iglesia se pone a orar y, como resultado, leemos que Pedro fue liberado de la prisión por medio de un ángel.

Luego, en el versículo doce, dándose cuenta de que había sido liberado, se dirigió a casa de María, la madre de Juan también conocido como Marcos, donde muchos estaban reunidos orando. La Iglesia está reunida para celebrar un culto de oración.

Ahora bien, ¿por qué oraban? Una vez más, Lucas no nos lo dice específicamente, ¿pero cuál era el motivo de esas oraciones? Sus enemigos les habían atacado. Santiago había sido decapitado. Pedro está en la cárcel. ¿Qué podían estar orando?

Su Maestro les había dicho:

Pero yo os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, bendecid a los que os maldicen, haced bien a los que os aborrecen, y orad por los que os ultrajan y os persiguen; para que seáis hijos de vuestro Padre que está en los cielos […] (Mt. 5:44-45).

Lucas no nos lo dice pero creo que tenemos suficientes razones para esperar, y pensar, que estaban orando por sus enemigos y que Dios oyó sus oraciones y liberó a Pedro de la cárcel.

Esa oración por los enemigos se ve en el primer martirio, el de Esteban, en Hechos capítulo siete y versículo sesenta; mientras le apedreaban hasta la muerte se nos dice que él oraba diciendo:

Señor, no les tomes en cuenta este pecado.

Oraron para reconocer y recibir líderes; pidieron protección de sus enemigos y para sus enemigos. En tercer lugar, la Iglesia se reunió para orar por la proclamación del Evangelio. En Hechos capítulo cuatro vemos que el Evangelio se estaba predicando en medio de una intensa oposición y, en medio de esa persecución, la Iglesia creció. La oposición y la persecución se convirtieron en el entorno de la oración corporativa.

En el capítulo cuatro de Hechos, leemos desde el versículo veintitrés,

Cuando quedaron en libertad

Aquí se está refiriendo a Juan y a Pedro con el Sanedrín.

…fueron a los suyos y les contaron todo lo que los principales sacerdotes y los ancianos les habían dicho.

Al oír ellos esto, unánimes alzaron la voz a Dios y dijeron: Oh, Señor, tú eres el que HICISTE EL CIELO Y LA TIERRA, EL MAR Y TODO LO QUE EN ELLOS HAY, el que por el Espíritu Santo, por boca de nuestro padre David, tu siervo, dijiste:

¿POR QUE SE ENFURECIERON LOS GENTILES,
Y LOS PUEBLOS TRAMARON COSAS VANAS?

SE PRESENTARON LOS REYES DE LA TIERRA,
Y LOS GOBERNANTES SE JUNTARON A UNA
CONTRA EL SEÑOR Y CONTRA SU CRISTO.

Porque en verdad, en esta ciudad se unieron tanto Herodes como Poncio Pilato, juntamente con los gentiles y los pueblos de Israel, contra tu santo siervo Jesús, a quien tú ungiste, para hacer cuanto tu mano y tu propósito habían predestinado que sucediera. Y ahora, Señor, considera sus amenazas, y permite que tus siervos hablen tu palabra con toda confianza, mientras extiendes tu mano para que se hagan curaciones, señales y prodigios mediante el nombre de tu santo siervo Jesús.

Después que oraron, el lugar donde estaban reunidos tembló, y todos fueron llenos del Espíritu Santo y hablaban la palabra de Dios con valor.

¿Os acordáis que Juan y Pedro habían sido llevados ante el Sanedrín a causa de la prioridad de predicar? Habían decidido predicar y se les dijo que no lo hicieran; pero ellos siguieron haciéndolo. Después de azotarlos fueron liberados y continuaron predicando, y fueron a la Iglesia y esta siguió y decidió perseverar en la oración.

En el versículo veinticuatro se dirigen a Dios como Creador suyo, citando las palabras del Salmo 146, versículo seis. Observad, hermanos, cómo este ejemplo de oración nos enseña la forma en la que deberíamos orar. Deberíamos orar nuestra Biblia.

Deberíamos utilizar nuestra Biblia como contenido y sustancia de nuestra oración. Ellos oraron las palabras del Salmo 146 versículo seis. Luego, desde el versículo veinticinco al veintiocho, oraron las palabras del Salmo 2. Este salmo es una profecía mesiánica que vio su cumplimiento en la crucifixión de Jesucristo.

Lo que hacen es buscar el lugar puntual de su Biblia en el que se encuentran. Buscan su lugar exacto en la historia de la redención; en su relación con Cristo; en relación con la obra de Dios y su plan de redención. Se sitúan en las Escrituras. Toman las Escrituras y las convierten en el contenido de sus oraciones. Confían en que están orando según la voluntad de Dios porque están orando la Palabra de Dios.

Oran situando el lugar puntual en el que se encuentran dentro de la Palabra de Dios. No se limitan a venir y derramar sus emociones sin forma, sin estructura y sin dirección de la Palabra de Dios. Oran según su situación en particular, versículos veintinueve y treinta.

Piden protección y valor para no descuidar la prioridad de la predicación, ese llamamiento que han recibido de Dios como iglesia; y para que sus portavoces, en particular, sean capacitados para hablar la Palabra de Dios. En el versículo treinta y uno eso es precisamente lo que hacen con valentía, coraje y con el poder y la manifestación del espíritu. Se reunieron para orar por la proclamación del Evangelio.

Hermanos, es necesario que oremos por las grandes preocupaciones del Reino, de manera que tengamos una vida tranquila. ¿Por qué? Para el crecimiento del Evangelio. Esto es bueno y aceptable a los ojos de Dios, nuestro Salvador, quien desea que todos los hombres sean salvos y lleguen al conocimiento de la verdad.

Tenemos que orar por nuestros líderes civiles para que Dios, en gracia común, los capacite para mantener la paz civil y que nosotros, el pueblo de Dios, podamos vivir tiempos de tranquilidad para concentrarnos en los asuntos del Reino.

El propósito no es amasar más comodidades terrenales, sino que podamos centrarnos en hacer crecer el Reino y en dar a conocer a todos los hombres las genuinas y sinceras invitaciones que Dios hace, en el Evangelio, para que se arrepientan y vengan al conocimiento de la verdad en Jesucristo. Esto solo lo pueden hacer por medio de la proclamación del Evangelio mientras la Iglesia permanece fiel en sus oraciones, y en la proclamación, para exponer el Evangelio ante los hombres.

Necesitamos que nuestras reuniones de oración se centren en el Reino. Estos cultos de oración deben ocuparse de las grandes cuestiones del Reino. No podemos consentir que nuestras reuniones de oración se conviertan en un tiempo de autoindulgencia que se centre en nosotros mismos. No pueden ser momentos en los que, como iglesia reunida, se ore por cosas que serían aceptables en el contexto del entorno familiar, o en nuestros devocionales privados.

No necesitamos movilizar todas las energías del ejército de Dios para orar por la tía Suzi que se ha golpeado el dedo del pie, o quizás por su salvación. Pero… verán ustedes, juntos somos un pueblo comprometido en una guerra spiritual. Debemos tomar todas las armas de la oración y comprometernos en el campo de batalla para el crecimiento del Reino de Dios; para dar prioridad a las grandes cuestiones de la Iglesia y del crecimiento del Evangelio en nuestros días; y para interceder de forma cierta por los temas específicos que afectan a la vida y al ministerio de la iglesia local. Sin embargo, debemos mantener una amplia visión de lo que la oración debería ser cuando el pueblo de Dios esté reunido como una congregación.

Pablo dice, en el versículo ocho, mientras define sus prioridades —recordemos que, en el capítulo tres y versículo quince, está escribiendo: “para que sepas cómo debe conducirse uno en la casa de Dios”— de modo que, en el versículo ocho del capítulo dos dice:

“Por consiguiente, quiero que en todo lugar los hombres oren levantando manos santas, sin ira ni discusiones”.

Ahora bien; algunos de nosotros aplican este versículo de forma práctica en nuestros cultos de oración, de forma que solo a los hombres se les da la responsabilidad de dirigir a la iglesia en oración. Ciertamente todos deben estar comprometidos en la oración; ¡sin embargo, en este texto el deber de orar recae específicamente sobre los hombres!

De muchas maneras, en lo que a las Escrituras se refiere, la oración es un compromiso masculino. Pablo, o más bien Pedro, se dirige a nosotros como maridos, en 1 Pedro 3:7, y nos dice de vivir con nuestras esposas de forma sabia y con gracia, advirtiéndonos que, de no hacerlo, ¿qué ocurrirá? Nuestras oraciones se verán estorbadas.

¿Has experimentado esto alguna vez? ¿Has tenido alguna vez una discusión con tu esposa? —¿eres lo suficientemente sincero para reconocer que tienes discusiones con tu esposa?—; quiero decir que algunas personas contestan de forma negativa diciendo: yo no discuto nunca con mi mujer… Pues yo sí. Ambos somos pecadores. ¿Has discutido alguna vez con tu esposa? Las cosas no están resueltas. Abre tu biblia por la mañana. Es hora de encontrarse con Dios; comienza a orar y es como si el Señor te tocara en el hombro y te dijera: “¿no tienes una esposa? ¿Qué haces aquí, hablando conmigo, cuando ella está por allí, todavía dolida? ¿No tienes algo que hacer antes? Y entonces te das cuenta de que hay algo que debes hacer, y es ponerte en paz con ella. Necesitas resolver este tema.

Necesitas vivir sabiamente, en gracia con tu esposa y después volver delante del Señor y sentir que ahora tus oraciones son bien acogidas. Mirad, la oración es algo que se nos asigna a nosotros, como hombres, en la iglesia. La oración no es para los niños. Es para los hombres.

“Estad alertas, permaneced firmes en la fe, portaos varonilmente, sed fuertes. Todas vuestras cosas sean hechas con amor” 1 Corintios 15, 16, más bien los versículos 13 y 14.

“Quiero que en todo lugar los hombres oren”. Actuad como hombres. ¿Qué hacéis como hombres? Quiero que seas un hombre de oración. Quiero que seas un hombre de oración. Cuando ores, toma tu posición de liderazgo en la casa: el esposo sobre la esposa; el padre sobre los hijos; el hombre en la comunidad del pueblo de Dios y, como líder, ora por los líderes. Ora por aquellos que tengan responsabilidad en el área civil; por los reyes y por los que estén en una posición de autoridad.

Hermanos, tenemos que ser conscientes de lo crucial y lo eficaz que es la oración. Pablo nos dice, en Romanos 8:26 al 28 que, aunque no sepamos cómo ni qué orar, el Espíritu Santo intercede por nosotros con gemidos indecibles, que suben hasta el oído de Dios nuestro Padre, y Él comprende aun los quejidos de nuestro corazón. Así como un padre comprende los gemidos y los llantos de un bebé en su cuna.

Aunque no articule palabras, se sabe cuando el niño llora porque su pañal está mojado, porque tiene sueño e intenta dormirse, o si solo tiene un arranque de llanto porque quiere salir de la cuna. Uno puede decir qué tipo de llanto es el que el bebé está expresando aunque no sepa decir ni una palabra.

Pues bien, de esa misma manera el Padre reconoce los gemidos de sus hijos. Tenemos que venir con una expectativa expresada, entendiendo confiadamente que nuestras oraciones intercedidas por el Espíritu Santo están en línea con los propósitos de Dios, quien escucha y conoce las respuestas y hace que todas las cosas ayuden para bien.

Santiago nos señala a Elías, el hombre que estamos estudiando en esta conferencia, y nos recuerda el poder que tenía en la oración. Era eficiente en su ministerio de oración: puso fin a aquel periodo de hambruna y nos recuerda que las oraciones de un hombre justo pueden lograr muchas cosas.

Recientemente hice un estudio muy interesante, mientras recordaba el martirio de nuestros amigos Arif y Kathy Khan, con ocasión del primer aniversario de su muerte. Dirigí un estudio, en nuestra iglesia, en el que analizamos las oraciones de los santos que se hallaban debajo del altar en el capítulo seis, versículo nueve de Apocalipsis. Vimos cómo aquellos que han partido antes que nosotros están comprometidos en la oración. En su estado incorpóreo están haciendo crecer el Reino por medio de la oración.

Luego, en un estudio posterior, consideramos cómo las oraciones que proceden del altar juegan un papel en la revelación de los juicios de Dios sobre la tierra. Es muy interesante ver que, junto con el resultado de las trompetas y las copas, Juan nos recuerda una que otra vez las voces que salen del altar y las respuestas que Dios da a los santos que han sido martirizados. El libro de Apocalipsis debe hacernos entender que el trato de Dios con los hombres en la historia es, en mayor medida, una respuesta a las oraciones de los mártires.

¡Entendamos lo crucial, lo importante y lo eficaz que es la oración!

Permitidme alentaros a que dirijáis a vuestra congregación para que tenga momentos de oración corporativa. Haced reuniones que solo sean para la oración, reuniones regulares de oración. Organizad espacios de tiempo dedicados a extensos momentos de oración. Que sean tiempos, en la vida de la congregación, donde haya una preocupación: ¡vamos a tener un día de ayuno y oración! ¡Tengamos un tiempo durante el cual busquemos el rostro de Dios! ¡Saturad las reuniones corporativas con la oración!

Haced que los visitantes que vengan a vuestra iglesia —y que puedan estar acostumbrados a ver todo tipo de cosas: que todo se mueve, que todo relampaguea, que hay colores, humos y todas esas cosas— vengan a vuestra iglesia y queden impresionados con palabras; esas palabras que Dios habla a los hombres y aquellas que estos eleven hacia Él. Que sean palabras; personas saturadas de palabras que escuchan la Palabra de Dios y que dirigen palabras a Dios.

Orad por vuestros gobernantes pidiendo a Dios que conceda la paz social para que el Evangelio pueda prosperar en medio de vosotros. Orad por vuestras iglesias hermanas en las que se proclama la Palabra de Dios.

Orad los unos por los otros, como creyentes, pero sobre todo por el crecimiento del Reino en la vida de cada uno. Orad por un crecimiento en santidad; por un mayor entendimiento de la Palabra de Dios; por vuestros esfuerzos a la hora de evangelizar, llevando las cargas los uno de los otros y cumpliendo así la ley de Cristo.

Yo creo que es sabio asignar a los hombres la responsabilidad de orar; entrenarlos para que se levanten, hablen y hagan oír su voz y que todos puedan decir “amen” una vez oído y entendido lo que se ha orado. Recordemos el principio regulador de Pablo en 1 Corintios 14:40: “Que todo se haga decentemente y con orden”.

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Brethren, let’s begin together with a word of prayer.

Our glorious and loving Father, You have welcomed us into Your presence in union with Jesus Christ, and for the sake of our Saviour You have determined to do us good. We come today as Your sons and ask that You would give us Your spirit, this spirit of supplication and of prayer. That we would be among those who call upon the name of the Lord. That we would be among those who are members of Your house, that house which is to be a house of prayer for the nations. That we would gladly take our place today as a royal priesthood who come into Your presence offering spiritual sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. That we would come and lay our petitions before You, casting our cares upon You, knowing that You care for us. That we would come confessing our sin, our constant need of that mercy that You give to us in full supply, through Christ Jesus. That we would come and petition, our Father, for the glory of Your name, in the midst of Your people, for the power of Your Word to go forth victoriously, to conquer, and to build, establish, and bring praise to Christ.

Our God, we pray today that in this hour we would be challenged to be men who are men of prayer, that we would labor to see Your Church be a house of prayer, and that in our ministries, as pastors to Your people, that we would know what it is to stand in the gap and to intercede and to plead for the glory of Your name to be manifest in the transformed lives of Your people. So, our God, we thank you and ask for Your Spirit in this hour, that we might be challenged and encouraged and emboldened to be more faithful and constant in the glorious privilege that You’ve given to us, as sons, to come before You in prayer. We ask these mercies in Christ’s name. Amen.

The Puritan Samuel Chadwick says Satan dreads nothing but prayer. Activities are multiplied that prayer may be ousted, and organizations are increased that prayer may have no chance. The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.

We’ve looked in our last hour at our priority of preaching. In this hour I want to survey the priority of prayer, considering both congregational prayer, as well as pastoral intercessory prayer.

1) The priority of congregational prayer.

Now, it traditionally has been the practice of evangelical churches in the United States to meet on Wednesday nights for prayer. That’s our practice in our church in Flemington. But sadly we are seeing a day when many American churches are discontinuing this practice, and no longer having a midweek meeting that is devoted solely to prayer. Now, I’m not saying that a church has to meet on a Wednesday night. I’m even willing to say that a church does not have to have a meeting specifically for prayer, although there is biblical precedent for that, and good reason for that, and biblical reason for that. But I am saying that the Church is given the assignment of corporate prayer, and the Pastor, as shepherd of the flock, must guide the people of God into this assigned responsibility. We must make corporate prayer a priority of the church so that the Church accomplishes her duties in relation to her Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s consider some reasons why the Church met for prayer in the book of Acts.

1- The Church prayed to recognize and receive the gifts of leadership from Christ.

As we turn to Acts chapter 1, we see that the first reason was so that the Church would recognize and receive the gifts of leadership from Christ. The Church met to pray to recognize and receive the gifts of leadership given to them by the exalted Christ. We see the reception of the gift of apostle in Acts chapter 1, verse 14.

“These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

For ten days the Church labored in prayer, waiting for the ministry of the Spirit, and in conjunction with that extended prayer time the office of apostle was filled out. We read in verse 24,

“And they prayed and said, ‘Lord, You know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’”

They were directed to be obedient in the Word of God in the replacement of Judas to the apostleship. They prayed, they were directed, and it was Matthias that was chosen in accordance with God’s provision.

In Acts chapter 6 we see the institution of the ministry of the deacon, and again, it is leadership that is borne in the context of prayer. In Acts 6:6, after having selected these men, qualified, again, by the Scriptures, enabled of the Spirit to meet biblical qualifications recognized by the people.

Verse 6, “And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.”

As in Acts chapter 1, the apostles laid out the necessary qualifications that we see there in verse 3. The congregation was involved in the responsibility of recognizing and then selecting the men that were qualified, in verse 5. The congregation then, in union with the leaders, praying together, recognizing and receiving the gifts of deacons.

In Acts chapter 14, the same thing relevant to the office of elder. Acts 14:23. Paul now has returned to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch. He’s encouraged the disciples, and in conjunction with that ministry, verse 23,

“When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Now, what would they have been praying? We’re not told. We’re simply told that “they commended them to the Lord.”

Now, we know, in verse 19, that this church was in a context of opposition and persecution. Paul had been stoned. They were in the midst of tribulation. That’s what Paul had preached to them in verse 22: “Through tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God.” So, certainly to commend these men to the Lord in whom they had believed, on this occasion would involve entrusting them to the Lord’s protection, asking God to keep them and preserved them and use them.

In Acts chapter 20 we have an occasion of the Apostle speaking to the elders of Ephesus who come to Miletus to meet with the Apostle, and we read of his commending them here in verse 28. He tells them,

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

So here is a commending of the Apostle. He commends the elders to the Lord, as he did there earlier in Acts 14.

Notice in verse 36,

“When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.”

So we can but assume that what he prayed was a further driving home the things that he had preached, the things that he has commended to them, asking for their protection; asking for the grace to be granted them that they might guard themselves and watch the flock and be aware of the devices of the Evil One rising even from among them; that there would be a commending to the grace of God that is able to build them up. These things, I believe, were things that Paul prayed in conjunction with the ministry of the elders.

2- The Church prayed for protection from opposition.

Not only did the Church pray for the recognition and reception of leaders, but secondly the Church prayed for protection from opposition.

Let me turn back to chapter 12 in the book of Acts, we read from verse 1 to verse 5.

“Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”

Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being fervently made by the Church to God. Here as an occasion of opposition, persecution; the leadership of the Church is being attacked. James has been martyred, Peter is in prison, and the Church takes a petition, starts printing up t-shirts “free Peter!” and began to march around the prison, with signs, shouting in protests. No, no! The Church went to prayer. The Church went to prayer, and as a result of that we read that Peter, by the hand of an angel, was delivered from the prison.

Then in verse 12, realizing that he has been delivered he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. The Church is assembled for a prayer meeting!

Now, what were they praying? Again, Luke doesn’t tell us specifically, but what is the occasion? Their enemies have attacked them! James has been beheaded! Peter is in prison! What would they pray?

Their Master told them,

“I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Luke doesn’t tell us, but I believe we have every reason to hope and think that they were praying for their enemies, and God heard their prayers and delivered Peter from prison.

This prayer for enemies is seen in the first martyr of Stephen in Acts chapter 7, verse 60; while being stoned to death we’re told he prayed and said:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

They prayed to recognize and receive leaders; they prayed for protection from their enemies and for their enemies; thirdly, the Church met to pray for the proclamation of the gospel.

3- The Church prayed for the proclamation of the gospel.

In Acts chapter 4 the gospel was being preaching in the midst of intense opposition, and it is in this persecution that the Church grew. Opposition and persecution became the setting of corporate prayer.

In chapter 4 of Acts, reading from verse 23,

When they had been released…

That is, John and Peter from the Sanhedrin.

…they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise futile things?
‘The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

You remember that John and Peter had been brought before the Sanhedrin because of the priority of preaching? They resolved to preach, and they were told not to preach, and they resolved to continue to preach. Having been beaten they were released and they continued to preach, and they went to the Church and the Church was continued and resolved to pray.

In verse 24 they address God as their Creator, quoting the words of Psalm 146, and verse 6. Notice, brethren, the example of the prayer. It gives to us instruction as to what we should pray. We should pray our Bibles. We should use our Bible as the content and substance of our prayer. They prayed from Psalm 146, verse 6. Then in verse 25 through 28 they prayed from Psalm 2. This Psalm is a Messianic prophecy that came to fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

What they do is they locate where they are in their Bibles. They find where they are in redemptive history in relation to Christ: in relation to the work of God and His plan of redemption. They situate themselves in Scripture. They take the Scripture and make that the content of their prayers. They’re confident that they’re praying according to the will of God, because they’re praying the Word of God.

They’re praying where they are in the Word of God. They’re not simply coming and pouring out emotions without any form or structure or direction from the Word of God. They do pray concerning their particular situation.

(Verse 29 and 30.) A petition for protection and a request for boldness, that they not slack back from their priority of preaching, from that calling that God has given to them as a Church, and to their spokesman in particular, that they would be enabled to speak the Word of God. In verse 31, that’s precisely what they did, and they did so with courage and with boldness and with the power and demonstration of the Spirit. They met to pray for the advancement of the Kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel.

4- The Church prayed for their civil leaders.

Fourthly, Paul tells us in 1 Timothy chapter 2 further instruction as to what we ought to pray.

We are to pray for our civil leaders. Again, so that the Church might live in peace and be enabled to advance the Kingdom of God. Our concerns are for the Kingdom of God. 1 Timothy 2:1-2,

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

We need to pray, brethren, for large Kingdom concerns so that we would have undisturbed lives. Why? For the advancement of the gospel. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

We need to pray for our civil leaders so that God in common grace would enable them to maintain civil peace so that we the people of God can live in times of tranquility to be about the business of the Kingdom. Not for the amassing of more earthly comforts, but so that we might be about the business of advancing the Kingdom and making it known to all men of God’s genuine, sincere summons in the gospel: that men would repent, that men would come to a knowledge of the truth in Jesus Christ. They can only do that through the proclamation of the gospel as the church is faithful in her praying and proclaiming to get the gospel before men.

We need to make our prayer meetings Kingdom-focused. We need to make our prayer meetings concerned with the large issues of the Kingdom. We cannot allow our prayer meetings to become times of self indulgence and self focus where we’re praying as a gathered church for things that would be satisfactory to pray in the context of a family setting or one’s own private devotions.

We all don’t need to marshal the energies of the army of God in prayer to pray for Aunt Susie’s stubbed toe, or Aunt Susie’s salvation, maybe. But you see, we’re together as a people engaged in spiritual warfare. We’re to take the weapons of all-prayer and engage in the battlefield for the advancement of the kingdom of God and to give priority to the large issues of the church and of the advancement of the gospel in our day and to intercede certainly for crucial issues of personal concern, certainly for specific issues that affect the life and ministry of the local church, but to maintain a large vision of what the prayer ought to be by the assembled gathered people of God.

Paul says in verse 8 as he maps out his priorities—remember he’s writing here, chapter 3, and verse 15, so that you will know how to conduct yourself in the household of God.

So he says in verse 8 of chapter 2, “I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.”

Now some of us apply this verse in practical ways at our church prayer meetings so that only the men are given the responsibility of leading the church in prayer. Certainly all are to be engaged in prayer, but the duty of prayer in this text falls specifically upon the shoulders of the men! That prayer in many ways biblically is a masculine engagement. Peter tells us as husbands to live with our wives with wisdom and with grace in 1 Peter 3:7, warning that if we don’t, what will happen? Our prayers will be hindered.

Have you ever experienced that? Had an argument with your wife—are you honest enough to say you have arguments with your wife? I mean, I some people say they don’t–I never argue with my wife. …I do. We’re both sinners. Ever have an argument with your wife? Things are not resolved. Come in the morning, open your Bible. It’s time to meet with God, begin to pray and it’s though the Lord taps you on the shoulder and says, “Don’t you have a wife? What’re you doing here talking to Me when she’s over there still hurting? Don’t you have some business to do first?” You realize, “Yes, I need to make peace. I need to resolve. I need to live with my wife with wisdom and with grace and then come back before the Lord and have a sense of my prayers now being welcomed.” You see prayer is something that is assigned to us as men in the church. Prayer is not for boys. It’s for men.

“Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men and let, and be strong and let all you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14.)

“I would that the men in every place pray.” (1 Timothy 2:8.)

Act like men. What do you do to act like men? I want you to be a man of prayer. I want you to be a man of prayer. When you pray take your position of leadership in the home, husband to wife, father to children, a man in the community of God’s people and as a leader pray for the leaders. Pray for those who have responsibility in the civil arena for kings and for those who are in authority.

Brethren, we need to realize how crucial and effective prayer is. Paul tells us in Romans 8:26-28 that although we do not know how or what to pray the Holy Spirit yet intercedes for us and brings genuine heart yearnings into the ear of God our Father, and He understands even the groanings of our hearts.

In the same way that a parent understands the groanings and cries of an infant in its crib. They’re not articulating words, but you can tell when a child is crying whether it’s diaper is wet, whether it’s just sleepy and he’s crying himself to sleep, or whether he’s in there having an, a temper fit because he wants to get out of the crib and you can tell what kind of cry is being expressed by the child who doesn’t even speak words.

Well so, too, the Father recognizes the groans of His children. We need to come with an expressed anticipation, with a confident understanding that our prayers interceded by the Holy Spirit are being with aligned with the purposes of God who hears and knows and answers and causes all things to work together for good.

James points us to Elijah, the man we’re studying in this very conference, and reminds us of how powerful he was in prayer. He was effective in his prayer ministry, bringing an end to that period of famine and reminds us that the prayers of a righteous man accomplish much.

It’s a very interesting study I recently did in conjunction with remembering the martyrdom of our friends Arif and Kathy Khan. In the occasion of the first anniversary of their death I conducted a study in our church where we analyzed the prayers of the saints beneath the altar in Revelation chapter 6, verse 9 through 11 and we saw how those who’ve gone before us are engaged in praying. They are advancing the kingdom in their disembodied state by prayer.

And then, in a subsequent study we looked at how the prayers that come from the altar play a role in the unfolding of God’s judgments upon the earth. Very interesting that in conjunction with the sequel of trumpets and bowls John will occasionally remind us of the voices coming from the altar and the answers of prayer that God gives to the saints who’ve been martyred. We’re to understand from the book of the Revelation that God’s dealings with men in history is in large measure an answer to the prayers of the martyrs.

Understand how crucial, important and effective prayer is!

Let me encourage you to lead your congregation into times of corporate prayer. Have meetings that are just for prayer, regular prayer meetings. Have times that are devoted to extended times of prayer. Times in the congregation life where there’s a concern: we’re going to have a day of fasting and prayer; we’re going to have a time where we’re going to seek the face of God. Make your corporate meetings saturated with prayer.

Let the visitors who come to your church who may be used to seeing all kinds of things and everything moving and everything flashing and colors and smoke and all of the — let them come to your church and be impressed with words—words: the words that are spoken from God to men and the words that are spoken from man to God—words, word-saturated people, hearing the Word from God and speaking words to God.

Pray for your civil leaders asking God for social peace that the gospel may prosper among you. Pray for your sister churches and for ministries that you know where the Word of God is being proclaimed.

Pray for one another as believers, but particularly for the advancement of the kingdom in each other’s life. Pray for growth in holiness; for greater understanding of the Word of God; for your efforts to evangelize; carrying one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

It’s wise, I believe to assign men the responsibility of praying and to train them to stand and speak and make their voice heard so that everyone can say the ‘Amen’ having heard and understood what is being prayed. Remember Paul’s regulating principal in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.”

2) The priority of pastoral intercessory prayer.

Not only is the pastor to make priority of prayer for the congregation, but he must make prayer a priority in his own pastoral ministry.

To the degree that the pastor realizes his dependence upon God, to that degree he will value intercessory prayer.

1- The intercessor pleads on behalf of the people.
He will pray for his people because he knows that only Christ can change them. He’ll pray for his people because he knows that only the Holy Spirit can sanctify them; only the Holy Spirit can cause them to grow; only the Holy Spirit can enable them to use their gifts so as to advance the Kingdom.

To the degree that he understands his utter dependence upon God, to that degree he’ll pray for his people, instead of complaining about them to his wife or to his fellow elders. He’ll pray for them, because he understands that his wife and elders can’t change them, but God can. They’re God’s people. They bear God’s name. Christ has died for them. Christ has given them His Spirit. Christ has given them His Word. God has given them a mandate. They’re Christ’s people. Take them to Christ; entrust them to Christ.

In Acts chapter 6, reading verse 2:

So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Now the demand that the widows were making upon the church was a legitimate demand. It was a need that had to be met. The injustice, the inequity of the distribution of the food was something of a gospel concern. It had to be addressed, and the apostles addressed how that need is going to be fulfilled, and servants are recognized and take their place in the ministry of the Church.

But they also recognized that this legitimate need posed a threat that would distract them from their primary responsibility of the ministry of the Word. So they resolve to devote themselves, that is to give constant attention and persevere in focused endeavor, to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Now, notice that the overall concern is the Word. Verse 2, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the Word.” So in order to maintain that priority of the Word, they devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. The both of those are together. To be devoted to the Word requires devotion to prayer and study and ministry of the Word of God. Devotion to the Word of God is devotion to prayer which is devotion to the Word of God—the both are found together, not separately. The both are found together.

You see, before the pastor stands before his people to speak to men on behalf of God, he must have first stood before God and spoke to God on behalf of men. Before he preaches to men he must first have prayed for them, and while he’s preaching to them he needs to be praying for them. Do you do that?

There are occasions when I know in my notes that where I am in my passage that I am going to say something now that I’ve had in my heart and I’ve prayed before the Lord in my study, that this particular individual would hear what I’m going to say now, because this piece of food that’s coming from the pulpit is to be put right on that person’s plate. Nobody else knows it and that individual might not know it, but I know it because I’m feeding them!

I know that when I am in the Word and I am preparing a message and I come to a point and I am impressed, “Lord, this is something that needs to speak to brother so-and-so. He needs to hear this.” So as I say, “Brethren, take your Bibles and turn to such-and-such a passage,” and while the Bibles are turning, I’m saying, “Lord, open brother so-and-so’s ears. I’m about to be Your mouthpiece to this man’s conscience. Open his ears.” You intercede while you’re preaching. While you’re preaching you’re praying for them!

When the ministry is done and you’re in the back room and you see them talking and everyone is moving about, you say, “Lord, give me an opportunity. When this man comes by and I shake his hand, let me get his eye, let me say something that is going to confirm the Word. Let me get some sense that something has happened, that You’ve done something, because I’ve prayed for them. I’ve prayed for them.”

Spiritual leadership involves this ministry of intercessory prayer, of standing in the gap. In Genesis chapter 18, Abraham prays for Lot. Yes, he was interceding for the entire city of Sodom, “If there’s fifty righteous, forty, thirty…” he comes down to ten. And when you study the story you realize that Lot and his wife and his children..there could’ve been ten righteous in Lot’s household, and Abraham is hoping that Lot has been righteous, has kept the faith. He’s interceding for him. In Genesis 19:29, when Lot was delivered from Sodom, Moses tells us the reason: God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow. Lot was rescued because Abraham interceded for him!

When Israel sinned with the worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32, Moses interceded for them.

When God judged the people in Numbers 11 and Numbers 21 for the sin of murmuring Moses interceded for the people.

After Israel was defeated at the battle of Ai in Joshua 7, Joshua intercedes for the people and is told to search through the camp and God will direct them to the traitor, and Achan surfaces.

In 1 Samuel 12, a passage I’m sure that you’re familiar with, 1 Samuel 12, it’s a text that we would do well to take to heart, verse 23. 1 Samuel 12, verse 23,

“Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah by ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. “

It’s what the apostles did. It’s what we are to do: devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. “I’ll never stop praying for you while I endeavor to instruct you in the way of God.”

In Daniel chapter 9, Daniel realizing that the seventy years of exile prophesied by Jeremiah has now come to pass, that time has now been completed, what does Daniel do? He gives himself to a ministry of intercessory prayer. In Daniel chapter 9, verse 3,

So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day.”

And Daniel goes on and he prays confessing sin, acknowledging that they rightly deserve God’s discipline that has come upon them in the exile, but God has promised that He would restore them and the time has come in keeping with God’s own words and timetable. Daniel mounts the promises of God and pleads, “God, vindicate Your Word, not because we’re such a great and deserving people, we’re not, but because You are the God who is true to Yourself and to Your promises, so listen to my prayer.”

In Ezekiel chapter 22 and verse 23, once again you have an example of intercessory prayer by the prophet of God: Ezekiel,

“The Word of the Lord came to me.”

In Ezekiel 22 there’s conspiracy. They’ve devoured the people, the priests have gone and done violence. Verse 27, the princes are like wolves; verse 28, the prophets are speaking lies; the people themselves are committing robbery and doing injustice, and God says in verse 30,

I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord.

The people of God are in moral confusion. The priests, the princes, the prophets, the leaders are in neglect and failing to lead, and God says, “In the midst of these people who are asking for My wrath, I’m looking for someone to intercede but I find no one so their way will come upon them.”

Now, that’s instructive to us, because it tells us two things about intercessory prayer, and it’s very interesting. The man who would be an intercessor assumes a very dangerous place.

When you watch Abraham, in Genesis 18, inching closer and closer to God to make intercession, there’s a sense in which you say, “This man is taking great risk,” getting closer and closer to this God who is standing on the brink of destroying Sodom! He’s on His way to pour fire and brimstone on Sodom, and here is Abraham coming closer and closer to Him and interceding in behalf of a people who deserve wrath and damnation. Abraham is in a very dangerous place. God has come in wrath. God has come to destroy, and Abraham’s standing in the middle of that between a people who deserve that wrath and the God who is righteous and holy in exercising that wrath. That’s the place of the intercessor. The same as this instance here in Ezekiel where God says, “These people deserve My wrath. I’m looking for someone to intercede, someone to stand in the gap between the wrath that rightly should fall on them and the heart of the God who yearns to be gracious.”

You see, the interceder taps into the heart of God because although justice must be served, wrath must be vented. The heart of God is such that He delights in mercy, and when Abraham came and interceded for a people deserving wrath and plead for God’s patience, plead for God’s mercy, plead for God’s salvation, God liked that. He looked at Abraham and you know what He called him?

“My friend. This is My friend. This is someone who understands the seriousness of My holiness. He understands the seriousness of sin. He understands the justice and the righteousness of My wrath, but there’s something about My friend, Abraham, that resonates with My own heart, because he puts himself at risk and stands under the shadow of impending wrath in order to plead for the salvation and the deliverance of undeserving sinners. I like that. That is My friend.”

The interceder takes a very risky place because he stands between those who deserve the wrath of God and the God who is righteous in the exercise of that wrath, and yet He pleads for something that is even more deep and profound in the heart of God and that is His desire to to be gracious, to be merciful, to have His wrath propitiated.

2- The intercessor pleads on the basis of God’s name.

The second thing that we learn about this intercessor is that he pleads on the basis of God’s name. He pleads for the sake of God. He doesn’t plead for the sake of the people, he pleads for the sake of God.

Now, he pleads on behalf of the people, but not on the basis of the people. He pleads on behalf of the people on the basis of the name of God; on the basis of the character of God; on the basis of the covenant promises of God.

Have your children ever done that with you? Years ago we moved into our house that we’re living in now, and sometime prior to that I had made the stupid mistake of telling my kids that when we got to our new house we’d get a dog. To this day I am living with this animal. Jake the Beast. He is a 120 pound, yellow lab. He’s got epilepsy. He’s really ugly. Why do I have this animal in my house? Because my children, when they were very young, about ten years ago, at the dinner table the subject came up,

“Dad, when are we getting the dog?”

“What dog?”

“Remember the dog that you promised we could get when we came to our house?”

And you know what? They were right. I had promised them that we would get a dog. So, in order to be true to my promise we got the dog.

You know, we can come to our Father like that and say to Him, “You’ve promised. You’ve promised. You’ve committed yourself. Your name is at stake. Your reputation is at stake. You’ve promised.”

And take to God His own words, take to Him His promises, not because we deserve it, not on the basis of what we are or what we deserve. If we pray on that line, we’re in trouble! But because of who God is, because of His character, because of His promises, because He’s committed to us in the person of His Son, because of who Jesus Christ is, because He is our Mediator, because He’s given us His Spirit, because we bear His Name among men.

“For the sake of Your Name, for the sake of Your Word, for the sake of Christ look upon us in mercy and magnify Your grace. We know we’re sinners. We do not deserve anything but Your discipline, but glorify Your grace because You’ve promised. That is Your intent in having saved us. You’ve saved us for grace. You’ve saved us for the glory of Your Name.”

Let me recommend that you buy and use in your church the book by Donald Carson entitled A Call to Spiritual Reformation. It’s a study of the prayers of the apostle Paul–very helpful. If you find yourself thinking, “You know, we gather for prayer and we’re all over the map, we’re praying about this, we’re praying about that. We need to learn what to pray about.” Well this book is very helpful because it’s a study of the content of Paul’s prayers teaching us to pray for the things that Paul prayed for.

For example, in Ephesians chapter 1, looking at verse 15, Paul says there in verse 16 that he does not,

“Cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”

Here’s what he prays,

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

Paul says here’s what you should pray for each other. Here’s what I’m praying for you. That God would give you wisdom, that God would instruct your heart that you might know and experience real hope, solid hope.

Again in chapter 3, verse 14, another record of His prayer.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Paul says, “Here’s what I’m praying for you, here’s what I am interceding for in regard to you the church at Ephesus, that you would be given strength by the Spirit in the inner man; so that you would know the presence of Christ in your assembly; so that you would grow in faith that you would experience being loved by Jesus; that You would be complete; and that You would come with me into this place of praise and end with this doxology, ‘To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever.’”

In Philippians 1:9-11, the same thing. He prays for increased love. He prays for knowledge. He prays for discernment. He prays that we would be enabled to choose the things that are excellent and to arrive before Christ in judgment having lived holy lives and bearing an abundance of fruit. Here’s what we should pray for! Here’s what we should teach our people to pray for!

There are other places where Paul tells us what he prays for in the church. Paul’s example challenges the way we often pray. We ask for material things. We ask that our situation would change. Paul would say, “Look, don’t worry about changing your situation, worry about YOU changing. Worry about God changing you, not changing your situation. He wants you to be holy in whatever situation you’re in.”

Yes, you can pray for your health and your job and your situations—“Casting all our cares upon Him because He cares for you”—but pray these things submitted to the Kingdom priorities: holiness, sanctification, discernment, growth in faith, growth in grace.

Sometimes we pray for people’s situations to change and we don’t stop to think maybe God doesn’t want their situation to change. Maybe He wants them to change in that situation. He’s brought them into that situation to teach them patience, to teach them faith, to teach them endurance.

We need to be encouraged by the example of a man like Epaphras in Colossians chapter 4, verse 12 and 13.

Epaphras who is one of your number a bondslave of Jesus Christ sends you his greetings always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.”

It’s thought that Epaphras planted the church in Colossae, but Paul doesn’t mention his preaching ministry. He mentions his intercessory prayer ministry and he says, it’s very, very arduous, it’s very, very difficult. He’s laboring earnestly. The Greek word is ‘agonizing.’ It’s like a picture of the athlete who is straining to cross the finish line with his jugular veins bulging and his sweat pouring out and his muscles straining. It’s work involved. He’s laboring earnestly. He does this always, constantly, continually, in a disciplined, regular manner. Why? So that you may stand perfect, fully assured in the will of God for your growth in grace.

Our best example in this ministry, of course, is Christ Jesus Himself in Luke chapter 22 where Jesus there speaks to Peter in verse 31,

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

While Satan sifts our people we need to intercede for them, praying that their faith will not fail.

Again in John, chapter 17, Jesus’ high priestly prayer. John 17, verse 9,

“I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours”

Jesus prays on behalf of His apostles. They are with Him that night before His crucifixion, then verse 20,

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.”

He prays for you. He’s praying for me. He’s praying for us who believe. Paul tells us in Romans 8:34, He is at the right hand of God making intercession for us.

In Hebrews 7:25, “He always lives making intercession for us.” The work of Christ right now is the work of the intercessor. It’s the work He calls us to, as pastors, to come into the privileged place of intercessory prayer. It’s the thing that Christ Himself is doing! If Christ is doing that, ought not we to be doing that?

Well, quickly let me summarize this last head of practical counsel for the pastoral prayer ministry. I’ve listed to you several passages and commend them to you, but let me ask and attempt to answer the question, what we should pray for our people?

In Colossians 4, verse 2-4, I believe that we’re taught that we should pray for the Holy Spirit to be given to our people in the ministry of the Word of God.

We should pray for our people, secondly, that they might endure temptation even as Christ prayed for Peter being tempted, sifted by Satan. We should pray for each member according to their needs as you know them.

Paul says in Romans 10:1 that he prays for his kindred, he prays for his family. In Luke 11:13, again praying that Christ by the Spirit would be present in the meetings of the church and in Colossians 1:9-12 that the people’s faith, love and fruitful service to Christ would grow.

Pray for Kingdom concerns, brethren. Pray for Kingdom concerns.

How should you pray? You need to schedule time to do this. This should be a part of your disciplined, scheduled labor before Christ. You’ll not pray as an interceder by accident. You’ll do it on purpose. You’ll do it by planning to do it. You do it in a systematic way, perhaps in conjunction with your morning devotions to take two or three of the folk who are on your membership list and pray regularly through the list of members.

When you gather for your elders meetings, devote a large chart of that time for praying for the particular sheep in your flock and intercede for them.

Carry your people in your heart when you’re working in the Word of God. You’ve got your people there and there’ll be a realization. This passage will meet this need. “I’ve gotta call this person up and encourage them from this word,” or drop to your knees there on that occasion and pray for them. Pray for them spontaneously. Pray for them in a disciplined way. Study Christ. Learn His heart. He is the intercessor and He will teach us to be interceders. Ask for the Spirit of Christ that you might look upon your people with the compassion of Christ and He cannot look at us, but He doesn’t intercede for us.

Here are two main priorities for our study this year: the priority of preaching and the priority of prayer–the priority of prayer and the priority of preaching.

We can’t separate them. You’re not going to be an effectual preacher if you’re not a man of prayer and the more you become a man of prayer the more you become a better preacher. The two of them are devoted together.

May God make us mighty in the pulpit when we speak to men on behalf of God and may God make us mighty on our knees when we speak to God in behalf of men.

Let’s pray.

Our Father, we do ask for Your Spirit. We confess that we do not pray as we ought to pray, we do not pray as constantly and as consistently as we should. We do not pray for the things that we should pray for. How often our prayers are misguided. How often we seek to spend our prayers upon ourselves, seeking to advance our own name and our own agenda. Father, we confess that we are unworthy servants. We ask that You would give us Your Spirit and instruct us in the way of intercessory prayer, that we would be men who are bold in Your presence, courageous to stand between You and the wrath that is rightfully deserving of our people that we know, our God, our people are weak, our people are often disobedient and negligent.

Lord, we pray for the heart of Jesus Christ, that we might stand between You and them and plead that You would vindicate Your gospel purposes in them, that You would magnify the name of Christ among them, that You would cause Your grace and love to triumph in and through them. Father, we pray that praying for them would make us better preachers to them, that we would carry them in our hearts, and that we would speak to them from hearts of yearning compassionate love that we’ve learned from Christ by praying for them. Lord, we pray that You would teach us how to be a people of prayer, that as churches we would be house of prayer for all the nations, praying for the good of Your people, for the establishment of leaders, for the protection that the people of God need so that the work of the Kingdom would go forth through the proclamation of the gospel.

Lord, we pray, teach us to pray. Give to us a spirit of prayer and magnify Your grace in us and glorify Your Name through us. These things we petition in Jesus Christ. Amen.

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