Twenty Reasons Why Every Pastor Needs an Intercessor
by Pastor Dag Heward-MIlls
When you understand what intercession does, you will never stop praying for ministers. Our existence on this earth is constantly under threat. Although we don’t realise it, we are in danger from so many things. Intercession comes in as a blockade between you and those perils. Sometimes we are so vulnerable and we don’t even know it!
Remember that to intercede means to intervene, interfere or to mediate. Intercession means to come between so as to modify the course of events. An interceding person becomes situated between things.
When Paul listed the dangers he had been through as a minister, he was actually making a list of things that he needed intercession for.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in LABOURS more abundant, in STRIPES above measure, in PRISONS more frequent, in DEATHS oft. Of the Jews five times received I FORTY STRIPES save one. Thrice was I BEATEN with rods, once was I STONED, thrice I suffered SHIPWRECK, a night and a day I have been in THE DEEP; In JOURNEYINGS often, in perils of WATERS, in perils of ROBBERS, in perils by mine own COUNTRYMEN, in perils by the HEATHEN, in perils in the CITY, in perils in the WILDERNESS, in perils in the SEA, in perils among FALSE BRETHREN; In WEARINESS and PAINFULNESS, in watchings often, in HUNGER and THIRST, in fastings often, in COLD and NAKEDNESS. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2 Corinthians 11:23-27, 29
The twenty dangers that the apostle Paul encountered are actually the twenty reasons why every minister needs prayer.
Twenty Dangers That an Apostle Encounters
1. Labours more abundant (long hours of work)
2. Stripes above measure (unbearable physical afflictions)
3. Prisons more frequent (political and governmental harassment)
4. Deaths oft (near death experiences)
5. Forty stripes save one (special personalised intimidation)
6. Beaten with rods (having rubbish thrown at you)
7. Once stoned (mob attacks, breaking of walls and political hatred)
8. Shipwrecked three times (the danger of car, train and plane crashes)
9. The deep (the danger of drowning)
10. Journeyings often (the danger of travelling and accidents)
11. Perils of waters (the danger of eating and drinking things you’re not used to)
12. Perils of robbers (theft of church properties, offerings, mobile phones)
13. Perils in the city (prostitution, immorality, muggings, armed robbers)
14. Perils in the wilderness (the danger of being a foreigner)
15. Perils of the sea (more dangers for the travelling minister)
16. Perils among false brethren (spies in the church, secret service agents everywhere, disloyal people)
17. In hunger (no money for food)
18. In thirst (no money for drinks)
19. In cold (danger of inadequate heating, risk of catching infections)
20. In nakedness (no appropriate clothes, winter coats, etc.)
Excerpt From: Dag Heward-Mills. “Transform Your Pastoral Ministry.” iBooks.
When you understand what intercession does, you will never stop praying for ministers. Our existence on this earth is constantly under threat. Although we don’t realise it, we are in danger from so many things. Intercession comes in as a blockade between you and those perils. Sometimes we are so vulnerable and we don’t even know it!
Remember that to intercede means to intervene, interfere or to mediate. Intercession means to come between so as to modify the course of events. An interceding person becomes situated between things.
When Paul listed the dangers he had been through as a minister, he was actually making a list of things that he needed intercession for.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in LABOURS more abundant, in STRIPES above measure, in PRISONS more frequent, in DEATHS oft. Of the Jews five times received I FORTY STRIPES save one. Thrice was I BEATEN with rods, once was I STONED, thrice I suffered SHIPWRECK, a night and a day I have been in THE DEEP; In JOURNEYINGS often, in perils of WATERS, in perils of ROBBERS, in perils by mine own COUNTRYMEN, in perils by the HEATHEN, in perils in the CITY, in perils in the WILDERNESS, in perils in the SEA, in perils among FALSE BRETHREN; In WEARINESS and PAINFULNESS, in watchings often, in HUNGER and THIRST, in fastings often, in COLD and NAKEDNESS. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2 Corinthians 11:23-27, 29
The twenty dangers that the apostle Paul encountered are actually the twenty reasons why every minister needs prayer.
Twenty Dangers That an Apostle Encounters
1. Labours more abundant (long hours of work)
2. Stripes above measure (unbearable physical afflictions)
3. Prisons more frequent (political and governmental harassment)
4. Deaths oft (near death experiences)
5. Forty stripes save one (special personalised intimidation)
6. Beaten with rods (having rubbish thrown at you)
7. Once stoned (mob attacks, breaking of walls and political hatred)
8. Shipwrecked three times (the danger of car, train and plane crashes)
9. The deep (the danger of drowning)
10. Journeyings often (the danger of travelling and accidents)
11. Perils of waters (the danger of eating and drinking things you’re not used to)
12. Perils of robbers (theft of church properties, offerings, mobile phones)
13. Perils in the city (prostitution, immorality, muggings, armed robbers)
14. Perils in the wilderness (the danger of being a foreigner)
15. Perils of the sea (more dangers for the travelling minister)
16. Perils among false brethren (spies in the church, secret service agents everywhere, disloyal people)
17. In hunger (no money for food)
18. In thirst (no money for drinks)
19. In cold (danger of inadequate heating, risk of catching infections)
20. In nakedness (no appropriate clothes, winter coats, etc.)
Excerpt From: Dag Heward-Mills. “Transform Your Pastoral Ministry.” iBooks.
