Yes, we must pray for our spiritual leaders, and we must also remember to pray for one another. Apostle Paul did not forget to pray for the believers who were dispersed beyond Jerusalem. He left them a benediction in Hebrews 13:20-21, “ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

A benediction is a pronouncement of God’s blessing by the minister upon the congregation he is ministering to. A benediction is a prayer seeking for God’s blessing. Paul’s benediction opens the door for us to see what is inside the heart of Paul. The content of the benediction is rich concerning who God is. It gives us a concise picture of God and of Christ. With this rich understanding of who God is, we can then know what He can do to us and for us.

1. God is the God of peace . It means that God is the Source of true peace. All other peace are false. For only God can give us true peace. No one can have peace apart from God. If a person will turn to God, he can experience the peace of God no matter how much trouble and stress are still lingering around him. Regardless of the circumstances and situations, the God of peace can bring peace to a man’s soul. What man has to do is to turn his life over to God. Peace is like a seed. When we turn to God, He plants the seed of peace in our soul. And it will keep growing and growing. When we walk with God in obedience and love, the seed of peace flourishes and blossoms.

2. God is the God of resurrection and of life. The firstfruit of resurrection is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who has died and never has to die again. All others who may have been raised from the dead through the power of God by the hands of Christ and the Apostles, let us know that they all died again. But for the resurrected Lord Jesus, He lives forever. Do not belittle this point simply because you do not see it now or experience any of it now. God will raise us up and give us a new life, a life of exaltation and glory forever and ever. And if there is anything man needs, it is eternal life. A life that will never end. And only God can raise one from the dead and give him eternal life.

3. Jesus Christ is the great S hepherd of the sheep . Jesus Christ came to this world for a purpose. He came to be our Shepherd. A shepherd is one who looks after his own sheep. Jesus is the perfect picture of a loving shepherd. He guides, provides and protects His sheep all the time. He brings them to green pastures and still waters. However, the highest and greatest thing that a good shepherd can do for His sheep is to willingly give of his life for them. Indeed Jesus has done it, and therefore His sheep are saved and belong to Him forever. Jesus Christ is the One who established the everlasting covenant between God and man. He did so by shedding His precious blood which means He died for us by taking our sins upon Himself and bore the guilt and judgment for our sins. When He died, He died as the Perfect and sinless Sacrifice. Therefore what He has done was accepted by God. He established a new and living way unto God’s presence. And this is God’s will for man: to approach Him through the blood of Christ. His blood is the everlasting covenant and His blood is life.

4. God is the One who perfects us in every good work . Knowing that our God is a God of peace, the God of resurrection and life, and Jesus is our Shepherd and His blood is the token of the everlasting covenant between us and God, what can He do to us and for us? According to Hebrews 13:21, Apostle Paul says He will “... make you perfect in every good work to do His will.” This is what God can do and desire to do for us. Apostle Paul knew this and that’s why he pronounced this benediction upon the believers. God has a will for every one of us, but there is only one way it can be perfected. Know that the will of God is not perfected in us by our own good works and efforts. We can try and spare no effort to do God’s will according to our own way and method, but we will only fail. The will of God can only be perfected in us by God Himself. This is the work which He is doing for us. God must work within us, stir us and give us His strength and wisdom for every good work. The word “work” has the idea of energizing. We remember the old advertisement of the toy rabbit beating the drum using the “Energizer” battery that outlasts all other rabbits which used other battery brands. Well, it may prove “Energizer” battery is better than all others, but it will also be depleted in a matter of time. It does not energise forever. But God’s strength and wisdom for us will never be depleted. It will never run out. It is unlimited. It is overflowing, beyond what we could imagine and expect. God wants us to rely on Him and trust in Him completely all the time. The moment we fail to look up, and start looking at men or self, we begin to fail. But when we look to Him believing in Him and trusting in Him, He will perfect us for every task. The word “perfect” means to be made complete or to be fully equipped. God gives us all the necessary tools and equipment to do His will. Let us use them wisely and be sure to give all glory and honour to God, and Him alone. That is why the end of the benediction is that the glory of God be given unto Him forever and ever. Our existence is for His glory. Our ultimate aim and purpose in life is to glorify Him.  Our prayers made for the spiritual leaders and for one another must also be done for this purpose which is to glorify God forever. May God help us. Amen.