‘One Another’ Series - Pray for One Another

 This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

This year, in these podcasts, I am focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Today’s podcast comes from James 5:16. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Earlier in this series I used this same scripture; in this episode I want to specifically address leaders and their responsibility to pray for those who are following their leadership.

I am currently reading “The Top 10 Leadership Conversations in the Bible” written by Steve Moore. I highly recommend this book.

In the chapter entitled “Burden,” Moore writes “Spiritual leaders understand God is the source of both capacity and responsibility for leadership. From that sense of responsibility to God for leadership, we develop a burden for others…

The primary evidence of a burden in the heart of a leader is the ministry of intercession for followers. If God has called you to lead a ministry, he has also called you to pray for that ministry.”

I invite you to ponder that statement for a few moments. Ask yourself, “how regularly and how urgently do I pray for those whom I am leading? How often and how urgently do I pray for the ministry that I lead?”

As many of you know, in addition to serving as Africa Regional Director, for over five years I have been privileged to serve as the Church Multiplication Facilitator (CMF) for VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka. Frequently, when he introduces me in gatherings, he tells others that I “pray for him and his family.” What an honor to be introduced in this way!

Moore also writes, “Leaders with a heavy burden for their followers, and for the mission that draws them together, will fall to their knees in prayer under the weight of such responsibility. Prayer for followers and for the mission increases the burden which increases the need for prayer… Leaders with a burden from God seek divine provision. Leaders without a burden from God seek shortcut solutions.”

In 1 Samuel 12:23, the prophet says, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”

Leaders, Samuel mentions prayer for others before he talks about teaching them. While both are important, I urge you to make prayer the priority.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.