Meeting with some fellow ministry leaders recently, one of them looked straight into the camera (it was one of those zoom meetings) and asked me a penetrating question. ‘Jeff, do you have people both sides of the Atlantic who are committed to pray for you, your family and your ministry’. There was a long pause, because I had to confess - that has not been a priority. Sharing about the conversation with a leader of a large church a few days later, he was able to respond more positively. ‘We do have a small team who pray fervently and regularly for us’, he said. ‘We’ve often wondered how many difficulties have been averted because of their faithfulness in intercession for us’.
The apostle Paul had experienced a stunning, supernatural encounter with Jesus, and had seen many miracles in his ministry, so he knew all about the power of the Holy Spirit. But he still urged others to pray for him. His few prayer requests can help us to pray thoughtfully and consistently, especially for Christian leaders, but indeed for all in authority.
Writing to the Corinthian believers, Paul says, ‘You must help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because of what will happen to us. They will thank God for his kindness to us in answer to the prayers of many’. (2 Co 1:11)
Not only is he expressing urgency here - ‘you must help us by praying for us’, but he also declares the value of a large number of people standing with him in prayer. Paul struggled with the lack of response to his needs in Corinth. He complains, ‘We are not holding back our love from you. But you are holding back your love from us (2 Co 6:12), and a primary way that the church there could express love and care was through standing with Paul in diligent prayer support. And this not just about Paul personally - as he talks about the thankfulness of many, the words he uses speak of upturned faces, glad and grateful. Rather than rejecting Paul for his weakness, the Corinthians should pray for him to be strengthened.
Paul felt more encouraged by the prayer support from the Philippians:
I know that you are praying for me. I also know that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will help me (Php 1:19).
Writing from imprisonment either in Rome or Ephesus, he saw prayer as vital in helping him to stand firm in the midst of his trials.
To the church in Rome, Paul sought prayers, once again, as a true expression of love. He needed protection, acceptance of his ministry, and ongoing open doors of opportunity for the gospel. Once again there is a sense of real urgency here - there’s nothing casual in his request - the phrasing he uses implies pleading or begging. And there’s an intensity in prayer that he calls for as he asks the Philippians to join him in his struggle. One commentator puts it like this: ‘Paul calls for prayers into which one puts his whole heart and soul as do the contestants in the arena’.(1)
Brothers and sisters, I am asking you through the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray for me with the love the Holy Spirit provides. Pray that I will be saved from those in Judea who do not believe. Pray that my work in Jerusalem will be accepted by God’s people there. Then, as God has planned, I will come to you with joy. Together we will be renewed. (Rom 15:30–32).
Turning to his letter to the church in Ephesus, we hear Paul the evangelist calling for inspiration and boldness.
Pray also for me. Pray that when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. 20Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord’s messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That’s what I should do. (Eph 6:19–20)
And then to the Thessalonians:
Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread quickly. Pray that others will honor it just as you did. And pray that we will be saved from sinful and evil people. Not everyone is a believer (2 Th 3:1–2)
Finally, the Colossians:
Pray for us too. Pray that God will open a door for our message. Then we can preach the mystery of Christ. Because I preached it, I am being held by chains. Pray that I will preach it clearly, as I should. (Col 4:3–4)
Let’s consistently pray for all women and men who teach and preach God’s word, either evangelistically or pastorally. They urgently need us to bathe them in prayer as they diligently research, pray, assemble their messages and then deliver them.
(1) Cottrell, J. (1996). Romans (Vol. 2, Ro 15:30). College Press Pub. Co.