Thoughts for Life: #55 Fear (of pastors)

C. Peter Wagner gives us the third
reason why personal intercession is
underutilized is fear.

"There is some justification for the fear some pastors have of personal intercession.

They may not have thought it through in detail, but intuitively pastors realize that when they begin to relate to personal intercessors they move into a deeper level of vulnerability and accountability than before.

This not just imagination; it is a fact. Personal prayer partners make your life become much more of an open book.

I have mentioned that John Maxwell of Skyline Wesleyan church has a team of 100 men who are committed to intercede for him and his ministry.

I have visited the church several times and know some of his prayer partners personally.

One of them is Dick Hausam who has received a special assignment from God to focus his prayers on John's moral life.

John is on the road about as much as an NBA basketball player. He is no more exempt from temptation as any other man in his 40s.

But almost every Sunday, Dick will approach John and say, 'How did it go this week?' John replies, 'It went real well, but I don't know how it would have gone if you hadn't prayed for me.'

This is what I mean by vulnerability and accountability. I realize that not every pastor is up to this, and fortunately such a degree of transparency is not a prerequisite for relating to personal prayer partners.

Most prayer partner relationship start with much less personal accessibility. Some grow into it and some do not. But even those that do not are much better than no prayer partners at all.

Another justification for fear emerges from a characteristic of prayer partners, particularly those with the gift of intercession. They frequently receive information directly from the Lord about the pastor or leader.

Experienced and discerning intercessors can be expected to know things about the pastor's life that the pastor supposes are secret.

Fortunately, God does not entrust such information to intercessors unless He is sure their level of maturity and wisdom can handle it.

My own prayer partners and others I know who pray for other leaders tell me that God shows them things they are not at liberty to share with the pastors they are praying for.

We really should not be afraid of this because the intercessors have been given the information not to harm us personally or to harm our ministry, but just the opposite.

Through their prayers, obstacles to the productivity of our ministry and to our personal fulfillment in Christ are removed, and we are more liberated than we have been."

Today’s post -#55 Fear, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines.(pgs. 110, 111)

Prayer for pastors: “Pray that God will bring godly friends and encouragers to your pastor and his family to strengthen them for the ministry and provide meaningful fellowship and times of rest.” www.LifeAction.org Phil. 2:19-25

Today’s Bible verse: 2 Chron. 19:9 "And he charged them saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart."

Today’s quote: Billy Graham - "Jesus was at peace in the
midst of that storm, (on the sea with His disciples), because
He and his Heavenly Father had a relationship that gave Him
peace. It is that type of relationship that God wants to have
with us.

Are storms in your life making you afraid? You can have peace despite the storms. Stay close to Jesus Christ. Read God's Word. Pray."

Our prayer today by Billy- "Our Father and our God, I come to You with these frustrations and stresses on my life. I pray earnestly for your peace to calm my aching soul and soothe my troubled heart. Remind me of Your power to overcome the world and its stresses. In the name of the One who brings peace. Amen."

(Taken from 1/8/14 of Billy Graham's UNTO THE HILLS, a daily devotional.)

Some thoughts today: It's our own sin we'll sense in God's Presence. When "our rights" overtake us, or responsibility is not considered.

- If we are receiving some discipline as to how to handle our responsibilities, we will be helped in future choices we'll need to make.

SHAME - I'm no good
(Wrong thinking, as you're precious in God's sight!)

GUILT - I did something wrong.
(Repentance is what is required by God, to make
things right with Him.)

- Jesus will help you know the difference, and He'll guide you in your understanding, and give inner healing. This is what the Bible-Believing Church Body is for!

23rd - Thursday’s post: #56 Spiritual Arrogance C. Peter Wagner

25th- Saturday's post: Mysterious Ways/Somebody, please help! Julia Eie

26th- Sunday's post: God is in the Crisis Max Lucado

Sunday evening's post: Grace and Peace Apostle Peter

A popular post: Reasons to Love Conviction Elaine Price - "Conviction of sin is not enjoyable, but it is the first step to forgiveness. We will never repent of sins if we do not know they are wrong in God’s sight.