Monday Morning Manna: Prayed-Up Pastors and Interceding People

When your Pastor stands to proclaim God’s Word is there the appearance of being “prayed up?” You may or may not be able to discern this, but don’t assume that this is the case. Vance Havner borrowed an anonymous quote to describe the possibility that a pastor may not be up to date in his prayer life. “The devil is in constant conspiracy against a preacher who really prays, for it has been said that what a minister is in his prayer closet is what he is, no more, no less.” Granted, it is difficult for a pastor to cover all the ministerial bases each week and may not even know how to pray effectively. After all, the subject of prayer is taught in very few Bible Colleges and Seminaries. Leonard Ravenhill said, “To stand before men on behalf of God is one thing. To stand before God on behalf of men is something entirely different.” An experience early in my ministry shaped my practice of always knelling before God, before standing before people on behalf of God. A pastor should never speak to people about God until speaking with God about the people. But, again, rather than assume your pastor is “prayed-up,” take it upon yourself to be the intercessor. After all, Paul requested of his readers to be “Praying always . . . for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:18-19). If the pastor is “prayed-up” and the church members have done their intercessory work, it might be amazing to see what God would do.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.