I put in this page because I feel a Pastor plays a very important role in a Christians life.
Your Pastor and You
I. There are three gifts God gives us for us to be successful in living for Him.
A. The first is the His Spirit.
B. The second is His Word.
C. The third is His minister.
II. In this lesson, we will deal with the role our pastor has in our lives.
A. The word pastor literally means shepherd.
B. The guidance and spiritual help of a godly pastor is invaluable to us as we walk with God.
C. There are many things in our new life we may not understand. That is why God gave us the gift of a good pastor to give us
the direction and understanding we need at the right time.
D. We need to cultivate a desire to be led by our pastor.
E. If we won’t allow our pastor to help us, he can’t. If we do allow him to help us, he will do everything in his ability and God’
s grace to do so.
III. Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd.
A. Our pastor is an under shepherd.
B. As the under shepherd, our pastor needs to make sure we are being fed a well balanced diet of the Word of God.
C. Our pastor protects from the enemy.
D. Our pastor won’t allow anything in the fold that might harm us.
E. As our pastor, he is commanded to do three things.
1. Reprove = to expose things that are wrong for the purpose of improvement.
2. Rebuke = to admonish or charge.
3. Exhort = o console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort.
IV. There are times our pastor will preach and teach things as a warning. Remember, he must follow the leading of the Spirit of
God.
A. The pastor must give warnings for both his sake the sake of the people hearing him.
B. Even though the pastor will give an account to God for us, we are still the ones who will suffer if we disobey the spiritual
leadership God has given us as a gift.
V. Knowing God has given us such a great gift in the form of a great pastor, we need to endeavor to be able to comply with the
following statement:
Before God, I pledge myself to fully cooperate with my pastor and support him by joining together in spiritual activities and
labors for the advancement of the kingdom of God. I will fully cooperate with his ministry and comply with his teaching and
preaching and follow him as he follows Christ.
A. We should pray for our pastor every day. Remember, he is God’s gift to us.
B. We need to reverence our pastor as we would any good gift God gives us.
C. We need to thank God for ALL His gifts to us.
How to Pray for Your Pastor
Behind every great leader, there is someone who is willing to sacrifice for him. This is true of the heroes of the Bible; it is just as
true of today’s pastors. They need people who will intercede for them in powerful, consistent, specific prayer. An intercessor is
someone who bears another’s burdens. When Moses’ hands were tired, Aaron and Hur interceded by holding up his hands, and
the battle was won (Exodus 17:8-13). Likewise, we can hold up the hands of our pastors through prayer and see God win the
battle in our churches and cities!
Jesus called three of His disciples to go with Him into one of His brightest hours and one of His darkest hours. Each time the
assignment was the same: to pray for Him. Because they were willing to pray, they had the opportunity to minister to the One
who ministered to so many others. They saw Him during His struggle and they saw Him in His glory. If Jesus needed men to
pray for Him, how much does your pastor want and need your prayers?
If the truth were known, the hearts of pastors all over the world are echoing the cry of the apostle Paul:
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for
all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the
gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).
There are three reasons why you should pray for your pastor:
#1 Love: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). When you pray for your pastor, you
are helping him bear the burden of the ministry. You are showing your love for him, and thereby obeying the greatest
commandment—the law of love.
#2 Humility: Intercessory prayer focuses on his needs. This kind of prayer will break the chains of pride that keep so many
people from becoming what they could be in God. You will be submitting yourself to him in the true biblical sense, which
produces tremendous power.
#3 Unity: Praying for your pastor—his personal and ministerial needs—will bind your heart together with his. As you promote
the work of the kingdom and unite with your pastor in his vision for your church and city, you will become a vessel for the Spirit
to move through. It was this kind of unity that preceded the first revival of the New Testament church—the Day of Pentecost.
The burden of today’s ministers is a heavy one. But you can help your pastor fulfill his God-given call through intercessory
prayer. The greatest gift you can give your pastor is prayer.
Personal Prayer Needs
Humility: Pray that your pastor would walk humbly with His God, seeking His will and direction in all things (Micah 6:8). Pray
that his heart would be strong in the midst of trials and accusation and that he would commit himself into the hands of Him who
judges righteously (I Peter 2:23). Pray that he would learn and grow through every circumstance and that he would give God
glory for every victory. Pray that he would give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.
Relationships: Personal contact is a powerful force in our lives, either for good or for evil (I Corinthians 15:33). Pray that your
pastor would not be corrupted by the necessary contact with a sinful world and that his heart would withstand the influences of
his wordly acquaintances. More importantly, pray that he would influence every person he meets for good and that he would be
a shining witness in his personal life for the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially pray for peace in his dealings with people—his family,
friends, business associates, and church members, for disharmony can produce a great deal of unnecessary stress.
Balance: “If you go too far to one extreme or the other, you’ll wind up in a ditch.” Pray that your pastor would maintain a
steady, consistent walk, and that he would not be swayed by dangerous extremes. Pray that his course would be steadfast and
unwavering. Pray that his character would combine the strength and gentleness of the Lord—the Lion and the Lamb.
Family Prayer Needs
Relationships: A pastor’s family is usually overworked, under-appreciated, and misunderstood. There is a lot of pressure in
being the family of a full-time minister. Late night phone calls, early morning trips to the airport, staying all night with a sick
church member—all of these take a toll on a family. Pray for the peace of God to cover and protect the fabric of your pastor’s
family. Pray that God’s anointing would ease the friction and produce a loving atmosphere. Pray that your pastor would be a
godly leader of his home, giving his family the love and attention they need to grow. Pray that your pastor’s income would meet
the needs and realistic desires of his family.
Protection: Satan has targeted your pastor, and that means his family is under the gun. The enemy will try to get at him through
his family. Pray a covering of God’s protection over the family of your pastor. Pray against negative pressures and
distractions. Pray that as your pastor abides in the presence of God that no destructive force would touch his home and that
God’s angels would keep his family (Psalm 91:9-11).
*Spiritual Prayer Needs
Power: Pray that your pastor would be energized by the Holy Ghost for his daily pastorial duties. Pastoring means so much
more than preaching, and your pastor needs spiritual vitality to help meet the needs of others day in and day out. Bless him with
all the strength and power that he needs. Pray that he would be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and that he would
be prepared to do all things through Christ who strengthens him (Philippians 4:13).
Holiness: Pray for a hedge of purity around your pastor. Cover his eyes, his mind, his steps, and his heart with holiness that he
would not fall into temptation or the snares of the devil. Pray for his words to be seasoned with grace and for his mind to be
stayed on the Lord. Pray that he would be well pleasing in all things to God.
Accountability: God’s ministers must be accountable. Many of the attacks of the enemy can be warded off or avoided
completely if the man of God is protected by being transparent with another strong man of God. Pray that God would bring
such a man into your pastor’s life and that God would continue to cultivate that relationship. Pray that your pastor will remain
open to such a friendship.
Warfare: Jesus said, “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (Mark 14:27). Satan knows that if he can bring
down the man of God, the work of God will be severely hindered in your city. Pray the armor of God over your pastor
(Ephesians 6:10-18). Quote Scriptures for his protection (Psalm 91; Luke 19:10; etc.). Pray that no weapon formed against him
would prosper (Isaiah 54:17), that he would not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices, and that the enemy would not gain
advantage over him (II Corinthians 2:11).
Leadership and Church Work Prayer Needs
In the City: Pray that God’s people would be called forth from every corner of the city and even from without the city and be
gathered together to your pastor. Pray that every one that God has ordained to ministry will come and submit themselves to him
(Psalm 18:44). Pray that he would be anointed to be a leader in your community.
Pulpit Ministry: Pray for God’s anointing to rest heavily upon your pastor and that God would be prepare him for that anointing.
Pray that the Word of God would come alive as he preaches. Pray for a burning conviction to grip the hearts of everyone—saint
and sinner alike—that is not right with God. Pray that his study of preparation time would be protected so that he can receive
from God the message He has for your church. Pray that his preaching would magnify Christ in all things and that as Christ is
lifted up He would draw all men unto Himself.
Vision: Pray that your pastor would receive God’s direction and vision for your church. Pray that he would be sensitive to the
needs of the congregation as he leads and that he would feed the flock that which they need of.
Counseling: Pray that God’s wisdom would flow through your pastor as he deals with the problems of people. Pray that he
would be protected from the pressure of sinful, negative, and antagonistic spirits that he may encounter during counseling. Pray
that he would be anointed to give beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness for those that mourn (Isaiah 61:3).
Finances: Pray for wisdom in handling the church finances and for strength to bear the pressure of financial responsibilities.
Pray for God’s blessings on your church that you might be the head and not the tail. Pray that the church’s stewardship over
money would glorify God and help establish the work of God in your city.
Be assured that praying for your pastor is both necessary and biblical. It is also a source of blessing in your own life, if you
labor and faint not. God Himself will reward your labor of love as you follow the biblical mandate to support leadership.
Your Pastor and You
I. There are three gifts God gives us for us to be successful in living for Him.
A. The first is the His Spirit.
B. The second is His Word.
C. The third is His minister.
II. In this lesson, we will deal with the role our pastor has in our lives.
A. The word pastor literally means shepherd.
B. The guidance and spiritual help of a godly pastor is invaluable to us as we walk with God.
C. There are many things in our new life we may not understand. That is why God gave us the gift of a good pastor to give us
the direction and understanding we need at the right time.
D. We need to cultivate a desire to be led by our pastor.
E. If we won’t allow our pastor to help us, he can’t. If we do allow him to help us, he will do everything in his ability and God’
s grace to do so.
III. Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd.
A. Our pastor is an under shepherd.
B. As the under shepherd, our pastor needs to make sure we are being fed a well balanced diet of the Word of God.
C. Our pastor protects from the enemy.
D. Our pastor won’t allow anything in the fold that might harm us.
E. As our pastor, he is commanded to do three things.
1. Reprove = to expose things that are wrong for the purpose of improvement.
2. Rebuke = to admonish or charge.
3. Exhort = o console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort.
IV. There are times our pastor will preach and teach things as a warning. Remember, he must follow the leading of the Spirit of
God.
A. The pastor must give warnings for both his sake the sake of the people hearing him.
B. Even though the pastor will give an account to God for us, we are still the ones who will suffer if we disobey the spiritual
leadership God has given us as a gift.
V. Knowing God has given us such a great gift in the form of a great pastor, we need to endeavor to be able to comply with the
following statement:
Before God, I pledge myself to fully cooperate with my pastor and support him by joining together in spiritual activities and
labors for the advancement of the kingdom of God. I will fully cooperate with his ministry and comply with his teaching and
preaching and follow him as he follows Christ.
A. We should pray for our pastor every day. Remember, he is God’s gift to us.
B. We need to reverence our pastor as we would any good gift God gives us.
C. We need to thank God for ALL His gifts to us.
How to Pray for Your Pastor
Behind every great leader, there is someone who is willing to sacrifice for him. This is true of the heroes of the Bible; it is just as
true of today’s pastors. They need people who will intercede for them in powerful, consistent, specific prayer. An intercessor is
someone who bears another’s burdens. When Moses’ hands were tired, Aaron and Hur interceded by holding up his hands, and
the battle was won (Exodus 17:8-13). Likewise, we can hold up the hands of our pastors through prayer and see God win the
battle in our churches and cities!
Jesus called three of His disciples to go with Him into one of His brightest hours and one of His darkest hours. Each time the
assignment was the same: to pray for Him. Because they were willing to pray, they had the opportunity to minister to the One
who ministered to so many others. They saw Him during His struggle and they saw Him in His glory. If Jesus needed men to
pray for Him, how much does your pastor want and need your prayers?
If the truth were known, the hearts of pastors all over the world are echoing the cry of the apostle Paul:
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for
all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the
gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).
There are three reasons why you should pray for your pastor:
#1 Love: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). When you pray for your pastor, you
are helping him bear the burden of the ministry. You are showing your love for him, and thereby obeying the greatest
commandment—the law of love.
#2 Humility: Intercessory prayer focuses on his needs. This kind of prayer will break the chains of pride that keep so many
people from becoming what they could be in God. You will be submitting yourself to him in the true biblical sense, which
produces tremendous power.
#3 Unity: Praying for your pastor—his personal and ministerial needs—will bind your heart together with his. As you promote
the work of the kingdom and unite with your pastor in his vision for your church and city, you will become a vessel for the Spirit
to move through. It was this kind of unity that preceded the first revival of the New Testament church—the Day of Pentecost.
The burden of today’s ministers is a heavy one. But you can help your pastor fulfill his God-given call through intercessory
prayer. The greatest gift you can give your pastor is prayer.
Personal Prayer Needs
Humility: Pray that your pastor would walk humbly with His God, seeking His will and direction in all things (Micah 6:8). Pray
that his heart would be strong in the midst of trials and accusation and that he would commit himself into the hands of Him who
judges righteously (I Peter 2:23). Pray that he would learn and grow through every circumstance and that he would give God
glory for every victory. Pray that he would give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.
Relationships: Personal contact is a powerful force in our lives, either for good or for evil (I Corinthians 15:33). Pray that your
pastor would not be corrupted by the necessary contact with a sinful world and that his heart would withstand the influences of
his wordly acquaintances. More importantly, pray that he would influence every person he meets for good and that he would be
a shining witness in his personal life for the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially pray for peace in his dealings with people—his family,
friends, business associates, and church members, for disharmony can produce a great deal of unnecessary stress.
Balance: “If you go too far to one extreme or the other, you’ll wind up in a ditch.” Pray that your pastor would maintain a
steady, consistent walk, and that he would not be swayed by dangerous extremes. Pray that his course would be steadfast and
unwavering. Pray that his character would combine the strength and gentleness of the Lord—the Lion and the Lamb.
Family Prayer Needs
Relationships: A pastor’s family is usually overworked, under-appreciated, and misunderstood. There is a lot of pressure in
being the family of a full-time minister. Late night phone calls, early morning trips to the airport, staying all night with a sick
church member—all of these take a toll on a family. Pray for the peace of God to cover and protect the fabric of your pastor’s
family. Pray that God’s anointing would ease the friction and produce a loving atmosphere. Pray that your pastor would be a
godly leader of his home, giving his family the love and attention they need to grow. Pray that your pastor’s income would meet
the needs and realistic desires of his family.
Protection: Satan has targeted your pastor, and that means his family is under the gun. The enemy will try to get at him through
his family. Pray a covering of God’s protection over the family of your pastor. Pray against negative pressures and
distractions. Pray that as your pastor abides in the presence of God that no destructive force would touch his home and that
God’s angels would keep his family (Psalm 91:9-11).
*Spiritual Prayer Needs
Power: Pray that your pastor would be energized by the Holy Ghost for his daily pastorial duties. Pastoring means so much
more than preaching, and your pastor needs spiritual vitality to help meet the needs of others day in and day out. Bless him with
all the strength and power that he needs. Pray that he would be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and that he would
be prepared to do all things through Christ who strengthens him (Philippians 4:13).
Holiness: Pray for a hedge of purity around your pastor. Cover his eyes, his mind, his steps, and his heart with holiness that he
would not fall into temptation or the snares of the devil. Pray for his words to be seasoned with grace and for his mind to be
stayed on the Lord. Pray that he would be well pleasing in all things to God.
Accountability: God’s ministers must be accountable. Many of the attacks of the enemy can be warded off or avoided
completely if the man of God is protected by being transparent with another strong man of God. Pray that God would bring
such a man into your pastor’s life and that God would continue to cultivate that relationship. Pray that your pastor will remain
open to such a friendship.
Warfare: Jesus said, “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (Mark 14:27). Satan knows that if he can bring
down the man of God, the work of God will be severely hindered in your city. Pray the armor of God over your pastor
(Ephesians 6:10-18). Quote Scriptures for his protection (Psalm 91; Luke 19:10; etc.). Pray that no weapon formed against him
would prosper (Isaiah 54:17), that he would not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices, and that the enemy would not gain
advantage over him (II Corinthians 2:11).
Leadership and Church Work Prayer Needs
In the City: Pray that God’s people would be called forth from every corner of the city and even from without the city and be
gathered together to your pastor. Pray that every one that God has ordained to ministry will come and submit themselves to him
(Psalm 18:44). Pray that he would be anointed to be a leader in your community.
Pulpit Ministry: Pray for God’s anointing to rest heavily upon your pastor and that God would be prepare him for that anointing.
Pray that the Word of God would come alive as he preaches. Pray for a burning conviction to grip the hearts of everyone—saint
and sinner alike—that is not right with God. Pray that his study of preparation time would be protected so that he can receive
from God the message He has for your church. Pray that his preaching would magnify Christ in all things and that as Christ is
lifted up He would draw all men unto Himself.
Vision: Pray that your pastor would receive God’s direction and vision for your church. Pray that he would be sensitive to the
needs of the congregation as he leads and that he would feed the flock that which they need of.
Counseling: Pray that God’s wisdom would flow through your pastor as he deals with the problems of people. Pray that he
would be protected from the pressure of sinful, negative, and antagonistic spirits that he may encounter during counseling. Pray
that he would be anointed to give beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness for those that mourn (Isaiah 61:3).
Finances: Pray for wisdom in handling the church finances and for strength to bear the pressure of financial responsibilities.
Pray for God’s blessings on your church that you might be the head and not the tail. Pray that the church’s stewardship over
money would glorify God and help establish the work of God in your city.
Be assured that praying for your pastor is both necessary and biblical. It is also a source of blessing in your own life, if you
labor and faint not. God Himself will reward your labor of love as you follow the biblical mandate to support leadership.
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