The fifth wheel

"Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith." - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

I once had a very nice office chair. It rolled on five wheels and moved whenever and wherever I desired. Over time one of the wheels broke into a million pieces. For a while I replaced it with a tennis ball... but that didn't do the job. The whole chair lost its value and effectiveness because one wheel was gone. I needed five wheels, not just four.

Ministry is a lot like that chair. We can be well prepared with all the training and skill available, but without the fifth wheel of prayer, we won't roll. Paul was a premier missionary with a stellar record of conversions and successful church plants. He was thoroughly studied in the Scriptures and could stand toe to toe with any philosopher of his day. Yet, to keep rolling, he needed "fifth wheel" people who would pray for his ministry.
Your pastors and missionaries have been called of God, academically prepared, and chock full of experience. But they will never roll for God on a tennis ball. They need the fifth wheel of prayer. My friend, you can be, and need to be that wheel. "Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored".