How to Pray for Your Congregation A Leader s Guide to Praying for Your Ministry I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers Philemon 4
How to Pray for Your Congregation ISBN 1-930285-09-4 Copyright 2002 by Terry L. Gooding Published by The Master Design in cooperation with Master Design Ministries, Inc. PO Box 17865 Memphis, TN 38187-0865 bookinfo@masterdesign.org www.masterdesign.org Additional copies of this book may be purchased from: Terry Gooding 11151 Sam Snead El Paso, TX 79936 pfpt@whc.net All rights reserved. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. The use of copying for personal or small group study is encouraged. Permission will be granted on request. Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Printed in the USA.
I would like to thank my pastor, Dr. Walter Mueller, for the years he has faithfully served at Vista Del Sol Baptist Church and for the godly influence he has been in my life.
Introduction This booklet is designed to help you, as a spiritual leader, pray for those to whom you minister. Your role as a pastor or spiritual leader has great influence in the life of your church and the people you serve. We see in Paul s life a faithfulness to pray for those he came to know through his ministry. Not only did he give his life for those he served, but he also poured out his heart in prayer on their behalf. We find a wonderful sample of Paul s faithful prayer for the church at Colossae in Colossians 1:9-12: For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. This passage gives great guidance to use in praying for those you are serving. Each section of this booklet uses a portion of this passage as topical direction for your prayers. I pray this booklet will be a guide to help you diligently intercede for your church or ministry. Terry Gooding June 2002
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding PRAYERS FOR MYSELF Help me to love this congregation with a sincere love and deeply from my heart. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22) May I remember that I have been called as a minister to this church to carry out the preaching of the Word of God. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God. (Colossians 1:25) Help me to be an example of good discipline and stability of faith in Christ to this congregation. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:5) Cause me to be faithful in leading my church to become a house of prayer. And He said to them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers den. (Matthew 21:13) Help me to teach the people how to be active in sharing their faith. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
Train me to be a person of prayer and to study the Word of God diligently. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11) Teach me to walk with discipline in all that I do. But I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27) I ask that You will be near to me and be my refuge in the times of despair and when I want to quit. But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge (Psalm 73:2,28) Help me to have the heart of a shepherd as I serve this flock of God. shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness. (1 Peter 5:2) Guide me to be a person of encouragement to the ministry leaders. Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Teach me to trust in the Lord and to fear no man. The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. (Proverbs 29:25) I pray that I will love and honor my fellow pastors and not be envious of their work. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:26) Grant the spirit of wisdom and revelation that I may know You more. The Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17)
Give me a forgiving heart toward those who criticize and speak harsh words against me. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. (Matthew 5:11) SIN I pray that those who are living in sin will acknowledge their sin and return to their Lord. Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19) Help the people to turn away from a love of the things of the world. Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. (1 John 2:15) Grant us a spirit of gentleness to correct and guide those who are living in sin. Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1) Help us to be free of condemnation toward those who have turned from a life of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) Give the people strength to avoid sin and to seek the things of God. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:16)
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord STAFF AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS I pray that those who teach will be diligent to study the Word of God and prepare faithfully for their classes. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) I pray that the staff and ministry leaders will regard others as more important and will serve in humility and not from selfishness. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. (Philippians 2:3) I pray You will give wisdom to the elders and deacons in this church and help them to be men and women of godly dignity. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. (1 Timothy 3:2) Help the leadership to walk upright and blameless in their service to other believers. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:10) I pray the people of this congregation will love and respect those who serve as their spiritual leaders. Obey your leaders, and submit to them. (Hebrews 13:17) May the leadership of this church be strong and courageous in all that they do. Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
Cause the staff to remember that all their work is to be done sincerely for the Lord and not for men. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. (Colossians 3:23) MEN I pray the men in this church will teach their families about Your faithfulness. A father tells his sons about Thy faithfulness. (Isaiah 38:19) Help the men to be spiritual leaders and a godly influence in their home and in this church. But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:3) I pray the men will treat their wives with consideration and respect so that nothing will hinder their prayers. You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way so that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7) WOMEN Help the women in this church to love and respect their husbands. In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives. (1 Peter 3:1) May the women be reverent in their behavior, kind, sensible and teachers to younger women. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children. (Titus 2:3-4) I pray the women will have an inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:4)
CHILDREN Help the children in this congregation to be obedient to their parents. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is wellpleasing to the Lord. (Colossians 3:20) I pray the children will be trained in the ways of the Lord. Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Cause our children to walk in truth. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. (2 John 1:4) Direct the hearts of the children to follow the godly teachings of their parents. My son, observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. (Proverbs 6:20) I pray the young people of this church will be used in a powerful way to impact the world for Jesus Christ. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:12) Help our children and youth to be sexually pure in their thoughts and deeds. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
to please Him in all respects OUR PRAYER LIFE Give the people a desire to be a house of prayer. My house shall be called a house of prayer. (Matthew 21:13) Guide us to pray faithfully for this city You have called us to minister in. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf for in its welfare you will have welfare. (Jeremiah 29:7) I pray there will be an openness in this congregation to confess our sins to each other and pray for one another. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed (James 5:16) May we be a people of persistent prayer. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. (Luke 18:1) Teach us to be children of God who pray in faith and believe without doubting. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6) GODLY QUALITIES Help the members of this church not to be conformed to the world but to renew their minds with the Word of God. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
I pray the people will be careful not to turn to psychics, horoscopes or occult material. Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. (Leviticus 19:31) Help us to be a congregation that is sincere and blameless in all of our conduct. so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:10) May we be a people who are self-controlled, watchful, and learning to resist the enemy. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) I pray this Body of Believers will have the qualities of pure and upright children of God and be above reproach. that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among who you appear as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:15) I pray the God of all grace will help this congregation to be strong, firm and stable. the God of all grace will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
bearing fruit in every good work TEACHING AND PREACHING THE WORD I ask that as the Word of God is taught and preached that it will accomplish Your perfect will in the life of each one who hears. So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty. (Isaiah 55:11) I pray that Jesus Christ will be lifted up and exalted in all that we do. but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20) Cause us to be faithful to preach the gospel in all areas of this church. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15) I ask that the Word of God will grow and will prevail in this church. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. (Acts 19:20) I pray You will keep us from selfish ambition and impure motives as we preach the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives (Philippians 1:17) UNBELIEVERS I pray for those in our church who are unbelievers, that they will know You are the one true God and there is no Savior besides You. I, even I, am the LORD; and there is no savior besides Me. (Isaiah 43:11)
May we be a church that lives in a godly manner among unbelievers with deeds that glorify You. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12) Keep us from becoming a church that is concerned only for our own interests and give us a concern for the welfare of others. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4) As the Word of God is taught, may it be received in faith by those who need to know Jesus as their Savior. but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:2)
increasing in the knowledge of God LOVE FOR GOD AND EACH OTHER Thank You Lord Jesus, that You are the One who sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for this church. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Romans 8:34) I pray You will give each member of this church a love for You that fills his or her heart and soul. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5) Help us to be a congregation with loving hearts so that there will be unity among us. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Colossians 3:14) May we be children of God who love You and obey Your commands. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. (1 John 5:2) Help us to remember that even though we are many members we are one body, the Body of Christ. Now you are Christ s body, and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) May we be a people who are standing firm in one spirit with one mind and working together for the faith of the gospel. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27)
I pray there will not be jealousy and selfish ambition in this body of believers. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. (James 3:14) May we be a congregation that loves one another so that each of us is willing to lay down his life for the other. we should love one another. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:11,16) Give us a sincere and godly love for each other. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35) WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Help us to be a people who live and walk by the Spirit. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to the hearts of the people so they may have the assurance they are children of God. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16) I ask that the Holy Spirit will guide this body of believers into all truth so that Jesus will be glorified. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. (John 16:13) May the Holy Spirit water the dry places in this church. For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground (Isaiah 44:3) May we give honor and respect to the Holy Spirit. blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. (Matthew 12:31)
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might PROTECTION Keep us safe from false prophets and the spirit of antichrist and enable us to recognize the Spirit of Truth. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist (1 John 4:1,3) *Help us to remember that we have the armor of God to stand strong against the plans of the enemy. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11) I pray that this church and the work that is done will be protected by the power of God. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5) Give us a heart that knows You are with us so we will not be afraid of the world s persecution. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, who you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand. (Jeremiah 42:11) I ask that You will protect this congregation from evil. The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. (Psalm 121:7)
for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience DIFFICULTIES AND SUFFERING Through our difficult times, I pray the people will not fear but will see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf. But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today. (Exodus 14:13) Help those in this church who are suffering to realize that You cause all things to work together for good for those who love You. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) In our trials, help us not to fear but to realize You are our God and will give us strength and help. Do not fear, for I am with you I will strengthen you, surely I will help you (Isaiah 41:10) Help this church to know that the sufferings of this life will not separate them from Your love. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35) Give the people a heart of joy whenever they face trials and tribulations. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. (James 1:2) Help us to remember that You love Your children and will discipline those who are called by Your name. For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines (Hebrews 12:6)
joyously giving thanks to the Father OUR FUTURE We commit our plans and our future unto you, O Lord. Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3) Thank you that You have a plan and a purpose for this church. For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) In all that we do as a church, may it be done for the glory of God. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light FINANCES I pray the people will be obedient with their tithes and offerings. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house (Malachi 3:10) Help us to conduct the financial business of the church with wisdom and accountability. Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God. (Ezra 7:18)
I ask a blessing in the lives of those who are faithful to give of their time and resources. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) I pray provision for the needs of this church according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) Guide the people to walk in obedience so they may know the prosperity of the Lord. And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today. Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand. (Deuteronomy 30:8-9) Help us to remember that our resources belong to You and must be used for kingdom work. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:8) ST ST ST ST ST k ST ST ST ST ST far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you I Samuel 12:23 May the Lord bless you in your service to the Body of Christ and give you wisdom in praying for your congregation.