I need you
This other time my pastor asked the congregation who had prayed for him that day. Less than five hands went up out of a crowd of above fifty. It made me feel sad. I was reminded of this as we read Ephesians 6 in our Bible Study tonight.
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (verse 19-20)
The general perception is that if you’re called to do something then you’re good to go. You don’t really need assistance cause that’s what you’ve been created to do. But this is not the idea that Paul gives us here. This guy was highly anointed, gifted in many ways, and powerfully used by God to pen down the greater half of the New Testament. This great guy needed the prayers of those he ministered to in order to be successful in what he was called to do, great as he was.
This is part of the mystery of how God designed the body of Christ. He made us to need each other. Each part of the body is naturally interdependent on another. 1 Corinthians 12:21 explains this connection so beautifully.
Remember that Kirk Franklin track?
“I need you, you need me; we’re all a part of God’s body. Stand with me, agree with, we’re all a part of God’s body. It is his will that every need be supplied, you are important to me, I need you to survive.”
Beautiful isn’t it? It goes on to say:
“I pray for you, you pray for me; I love you, I need you to survive. I won’t harm you with words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive.”
If only we understood this as the body of Christ, we would criticize each other less and pray more for each other. If I understood that I need to pray for those who stand before me, I’d say less when I hear of their mistakes. Instead, I’d ask myself if I’ve ever mentioned their name in prayer, if I prayed for them yesterday as much as I am judging them today.
In the previous verse of this passage in Ephesians, Paul instructed the brothers to pray for all the saints. ALL the saints. The weak and the strong, the ones you like and the ones you don’t, the ones you know need it and the ones you think can handle their struggles. Nobody is too blessed, too great, too anointed for your prayers. In fact, if we understood that to the one whom much is given, much is required, we’d spend more time praying for them.
Heard Sarah Jakes say:
“How can we learn about grace every Sunday, but when the teacher needs it, we send them away? Surely if doctors can catch colds and lawyers can be sued, ministers must find themselves needing grace. Just because you help others doesn’t mean you never need help yourself.”
So, have you prayed for your pastor today?
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (verse 19-20)
The general perception is that if you’re called to do something then you’re good to go. You don’t really need assistance cause that’s what you’ve been created to do. But this is not the idea that Paul gives us here. This guy was highly anointed, gifted in many ways, and powerfully used by God to pen down the greater half of the New Testament. This great guy needed the prayers of those he ministered to in order to be successful in what he was called to do, great as he was.
This is part of the mystery of how God designed the body of Christ. He made us to need each other. Each part of the body is naturally interdependent on another. 1 Corinthians 12:21 explains this connection so beautifully.
Remember that Kirk Franklin track?
“I need you, you need me; we’re all a part of God’s body. Stand with me, agree with, we’re all a part of God’s body. It is his will that every need be supplied, you are important to me, I need you to survive.”
Beautiful isn’t it? It goes on to say:
“I pray for you, you pray for me; I love you, I need you to survive. I won’t harm you with words from my mouth, I love you, I need you to survive.”
If only we understood this as the body of Christ, we would criticize each other less and pray more for each other. If I understood that I need to pray for those who stand before me, I’d say less when I hear of their mistakes. Instead, I’d ask myself if I’ve ever mentioned their name in prayer, if I prayed for them yesterday as much as I am judging them today.
In the previous verse of this passage in Ephesians, Paul instructed the brothers to pray for all the saints. ALL the saints. The weak and the strong, the ones you like and the ones you don’t, the ones you know need it and the ones you think can handle their struggles. Nobody is too blessed, too great, too anointed for your prayers. In fact, if we understood that to the one whom much is given, much is required, we’d spend more time praying for them.
Heard Sarah Jakes say:
“How can we learn about grace every Sunday, but when the teacher needs it, we send them away? Surely if doctors can catch colds and lawyers can be sued, ministers must find themselves needing grace. Just because you help others doesn’t mean you never need help yourself.”
So, have you prayed for your pastor today?
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