July 31, 2026

The Weapon of Prayer 

Prayer-Equipment for Preachers

When you read the heading of this chapter, you get the impression that it is only for preachers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Two very important things came from this chapter that got to my heart: 

1. Not praying tells God you do not need Him! “Not to pray is not only to declare there is nothing needed, but to admit to a non-realization of that need. This is what aggravates the sin of prayerlessness. It represents an attempt at instituting an independence of God, a self-sufficient ruling of God out of the life. It is a declaration made to God that we do not need Him, and hence do not pray to Him.” E.M. Bounds
2. If you don’t pray for your preacher, you become a stumbling block to his message reaching the heart of the unsaved. “Non-praying officials stood in the way of the Word preached, and became veritable stumbling blocks in the way of the Word, definitely preventing its reaching the hearts of the unsaved.” E.M. Bounds 

The Holy Spirit and prayers of the people are what equip your preacher. If a preacher is not prayerful and anointed by the Holy Spirit, he binds himself and his message will fall flat. However, if the people in the pews aren’t praying for the message, then they become part of the reason his message has no life. If you are sitting in church and think being there is all about you, then you misunderstand your power and need to confess. Even though you are in training, we all are; others are sitting in the same congregation who need the Savior, and not praying for the anointing on your preacher makes you part of the problem rather than part of the solution for the truth being delivered. 

If you feel like this message is harsh, remember: Jesus didn’t hold back or handle people delicately; he gave them the truth whether it hurt their feelings or not.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thessalonians 3:1