Remembering Our Leaders

“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.  He had James, the brother of John, put to death…he proceeded to seize Peter also…So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying for him” Acts 12:1-5.

When thinking about this passage this morning I am led to consider my own pastor and leadership of our church.  This scenario plays out in my mind and strikes the very core of my heart.  The message of God was emerging on a large scale during this time.  Many were coming to the faith and required the tenacious shepherding of a leader who walked with the ultimate Shepherd.  Peter led the church with spiritual authority and credibility.  His passion for bringing others into the faith was the motivation for everything he did.  ‘It’s important to understand that Peter was the leader of the early church.  He was their trusted pastor, the person whom everyone looked to for guidance – he was the one who slept, ate, and walked with Jesus.  To say the church was devastated is an understatement.’ Spirit Hunger, p. 86.

I am a member of an amazing church with leadership that has a mission of inviting all into a living relationship with Christ.  They work diligently and tirelessly to communicate this message, apply this message and plant this message deep in our hearts.  They make it look easy…they make it look perfect …they are putting spiritual oxygen in dead places.  I can’t imagine walking into church one Sunday with the news that our pastor has been arrested by a group of extremist who has already murdered another in our church.  I know that our church would relentlessly be on our knees, begging God for his rescue and deliverance.  Peter was a threat to the power of darkness and so is our pastor.

There is a power of darkness out there who at every turn seeks to destroy any Christian leader who poses a threat against evil.  As our church leaders emerge in God’s power and purpose, it is imperative that we are a praying Body for our pastors.  We must pray like they are in danger…we must include them in our prayers throughout the day as they face trials and temptations.  We must give them the benefit of our doubts, and look for ways that we may help them instead of demanding more of them.  We all have a responsibility to love our Christian leaders, keep them covered in prayer and work as tirelessly for them as they work for us.  Many preachers are on Satan’s radar to enslave them and bind them in spiritual chains.  Instead of wondering what else they can do for us, let us take the lead and find ways to further the message in our own churches by our own hands.  Let’s take some spiritual responsibility in our circles of influence and not assume it’s the churches duty alone.  As a church, let us pray for all of our leaders who God is using to invite all people to connect with His heart in this never changing commission.

'Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.' Hebrews 13:7