I just finished a letter to a friend who was a little downcast because...
...he felt he had no purpose within the Body of Christ. This seems to be such a common feeling, because many of us incorrectly believe that ministry is always supposed to be exciting, and that it means traveling all around, preaching, evangelizing, appearing on Christian TV, etc. While these things are part of some ministries, there really is so much more.
If I can encourage someone here, let me share something Christ has revealed to me about ministry, which is that intercessory prayer (praying on behalf of other people and situations) is one of the most important ministries of the Church. Intercessory prayer is the oil that keeps the gears of the Church in motion, especially in these End Times, when the spiritual warfare against the saints is so great, and Christians and their ministries are under attack everywhere. I don't think there is a more effective type of ministry than prayer.
The prayers of God's people can cause the sick to be healed: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick..." (James 5:15a). Prayer can move mountains or shut up the heavens so that it doesn't even rain, as we see in verse 17 of the same chapter of James: "Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are [he was an ordinary person], and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." Not bad!
Of course, intercessory prayer is, for the most part, a work and ministry that has no glamour or recognition. Not too many folks are going to see us "praying in secret," as Jesus instructed us to do. But guess who is going to see us? It is the Lord. Jesus says in His Word that when we pray in secret He will reward us openly (see Matthew 6:5-6). This kind of fervent, consistent praying is a behind-the-scenes role, but a vital one. And the Lord has called us to it. Any Christian can pray at least some of the time, and for those of us who happen to have lots of time on our hands, our prayer ministry can be even more effective.
So when I wrote back to this dear Christian friend, who felt he had no purpose, I told him that, out of all the types of ministry anyone can do, prayer is the most important. I hope he will realize what a great ministry and calling he has, and what a needful place any of us can fill as intercessory prayer warriors in and for the Body of Christ.
D.B.
If I can encourage someone here, let me share something Christ has revealed to me about ministry, which is that intercessory prayer (praying on behalf of other people and situations) is one of the most important ministries of the Church. Intercessory prayer is the oil that keeps the gears of the Church in motion, especially in these End Times, when the spiritual warfare against the saints is so great, and Christians and their ministries are under attack everywhere. I don't think there is a more effective type of ministry than prayer.
The prayers of God's people can cause the sick to be healed: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick..." (James 5:15a). Prayer can move mountains or shut up the heavens so that it doesn't even rain, as we see in verse 17 of the same chapter of James: "Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are [he was an ordinary person], and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." Not bad!
Of course, intercessory prayer is, for the most part, a work and ministry that has no glamour or recognition. Not too many folks are going to see us "praying in secret," as Jesus instructed us to do. But guess who is going to see us? It is the Lord. Jesus says in His Word that when we pray in secret He will reward us openly (see Matthew 6:5-6). This kind of fervent, consistent praying is a behind-the-scenes role, but a vital one. And the Lord has called us to it. Any Christian can pray at least some of the time, and for those of us who happen to have lots of time on our hands, our prayer ministry can be even more effective.
So when I wrote back to this dear Christian friend, who felt he had no purpose, I told him that, out of all the types of ministry anyone can do, prayer is the most important. I hope he will realize what a great ministry and calling he has, and what a needful place any of us can fill as intercessory prayer warriors in and for the Body of Christ.
D.B.