The Most Important People In The Church

Tonight If I were to ask you who do you think the most valuable people in this church are, I’m sure we would have a vary of answers.

Some would say, the givers. Those who sacrifice and give financially so the work of God continues to go forward.

And I thank God for everyone who gives so faithfully in the offerings week after week.

Others would say, the most valuable people in this church are the workers, the teachers, the Children church leaders, and Kiddie church staff, Those are the most valuable.

And it is true that are important I can’t imagine preaching with all those extra kids in the service each week.

And I want to just take a moment and say a big thank you to all of you who work in one of those ministries.

But as I got to thinking about the growth of our church and all that God is doing for us. And as I evaluate the last several months. I want to tell you that the most valuable people in this church, are those who have covenanted together to pray for me as their pastor and this church.

I believe that one of the keys to what God is doing for us stems from the fact that many of you pray for me and this church daily.

Also, I believe that the group that meets here every Saturday night and prays for the services on Sunday and before we leave that group lays hands me and prays for God’s blessing and anointing on my ministry.

So, tonight, I submit to you that the most valuable people in this church are those who will commit themselves to praying for the pastor.

I want to talk to you tonight about the importance of praying for your pastor and this church.

I want to begin by looking at Exodus 17 and verse 8

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand."

10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

In these verses we find that Aaron and Hur stood beside Moses and held up the hands of their leader. As long as they held up his hands God moved and the enemy was defeated.

Now covenanting together in prayer with the pastor is nothing new. In fact in Acts chapters 1 & 2 we find that 120 people gathered in an upper room and prayed for 10 days.

At the end of those 10 days, Peter went out filled with the Holy Spirit, preached for 3 minutes and 3,000 souls were saved.

Today, we pray for 3 minutes, preach for 10 days and many times not even 3 souls get saved.

So lay people partnering in prayer with godly leaders is not a new concept.

Let me just share a few events with you:

The preacher was Charles Finney

The year was 1830

The place was Rochester, NY

The results was in one year 1,000 of the 10,000 population of Rochester came to know Christ.

Finney’s prayer partner was a man by the name of Abel Clarey.

Finney wrote, Mr. Clarey continued as long as I did and did not leave until after I had left. He never appeared ih public, but gave himself wholly to prayer.

I read of Charles Spurgeon, who saw great results in his ministry, thousands came every Sunday to hear him preach and the whole country side was effected by his ministry.

One day some one came and visited what was known as Spurgeon’s Tabernacle and ask Mr. Spurgeon, what is the secret of your great ministry?

Mr. Spurgeon replied, I can show you the secret, meet me at the Tabernacle early on Sunday morning.

That Sunday, the visitor met Mr. Spurgeon and he took him to a trap door behind the pulpit, as he lifted it, it opened into a room beneath the platform there over 100 people gathered and were praying for their pastor as he would preach that day. He said, that is the secret!