PRAY FOR YOUR MINISTERS.
By S. N. Haskell
THERE are many reasons why you should do this. Your ministers have trials, and are subject to temptations, diseases, and afflictions, as other men, yet there is virtue and help in prayer. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Prayer stopped the windows of Heaven, so that it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months; then Elias prayed again, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Prayer preserved the three worthies in the fiery furnace; it preserved Daniel in a lion’s den; it opened the prison doors for Peter, and brought him to the house where the disciples were praying for him; it brought an angel from Heaven to instruct Cornelius where to send for Peter to come and teach him and his household more perfectly in the things of God; and it was in answer to the prayers of a few Sabbath-keeping women at Philippi that an angel was sent to direct Paul to that place. Blessings are made conditional of prayer; “Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full;” “Pray one for another that ye may be healed.” The apostle writes to the Thessalonians, “Brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable men.” Prayer unites hearts in God’s work. It gives the minister courage to know that his brethren are remembering him in their prayers. Paul again exhorts the Ephesians to pray for him, that utterance might be given him that he might open his mouth and speak boldly in making known the mystery of the gospel; Eph. 6:19. To the Colossians he writes, “Withal praying for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ.” If the apostle Paul needed the prayers of his brethren that he might have utterance, and that a door might be opened before him, that he might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, then most certainly the ministers of this age need the prayers of God’s people. Pray that those laboring in new fields may have freedom, and be glorified. Pray that they may be saved from the power of disease, and from discouragement. Pray that they may not be left to themselves, and make such moves that God cannot bless, and thus they be deprived of his favor. In short, pray that God may sustain them and guide them by his counsel. Above all, pray for the prosperity of the cause of God. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.” “Prayer is intended to convey
The blessings God designs to give;
Long as they live should Christians pray,
For only while they pray, they live.”
It not only unites hearts in the service of God, but it interests our souls in the work of Christ, and makes this work more of a reality to us. We think about it; we feel for its prosperity when we continue to pray for it. It cultivates a warmth of feeling, a tenderness of heart. Our minds become more susceptible to that which interests our Saviour, and it thus connects us with God. Christ left the royal courts and came to this world to suffer and die that man might be saved. Every work, even the setting of type from which to print that which will spread the knowledge of his dying love, is a means of grace. Those that realize that God takes cognizance of all these things, and pray for his blessing to accompany every such act, are connecting themselves with Christ and his cause. They partake of his nature, their souls become elevated, and worldly interests recede from their view. There is a demand for more prayer; and there should be more of a spirit of prayer throughout the entire camp of Israel, that the cause may prosper in the hands of God’s chosen servants. Some ministers know how to appreciate the prayers of others in their behalf, in the blessings received, which cannot be easily forgotten. We therefore repeat, pray for your ministers, and also pray for the work of Christ at large.