3/8/98, SS, Pastor Brackett

I.  The Biblical warrant for praying for pastors
Acts 4, 12; Phil. 1:19; Rom. 15:30; 2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:19; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18
Sometimes extraordinary prayer [with] particular fervency is needed.  Other times it is just in our ordinary prayer with regular focus, frequency and fervency needed to pray for our pastor. 

II.  The fundamental concerns
    A.  Their preservation from the enemies of God
    B.  Their proclamation of the Word of God

1. The issue of deliverance
2. The issue of contrition
3. The issue of divine enablement
4. The issue of courage and right manner
5. The issue of the Word of God needing to run and have free course

III.  Several motivations for praying for pastors
    A.  It is our obligation to pray
    B.  It is both essential and effectual in its instrumentality.  "You have not because you ask not."
    C.  Because of the vital necessity of their work.  Eph. 4
    D.  Because of the exceptional difficulty of their work
    E.  Because of the frailty of the men themselves
    F.  Because of the indirect ministry of their work for us

If you do well, it is because your pastor is praying for you and preaching to you, so when you pray for him, you are praying for yourself.