What should believers do about praying for one another and for those in ministry?
Believers should never fail to pray for one another and should pray for those in ministry whom God uses to reach hearts. The prayers of the saints sustained Paul, and prayer changes things, so believers should support ministry through persistent prayer and thanksgiving.
Les explains that in verse 11 Paul asks believers to help together by prayer for him, so that thanks may be given by many for the gift bestowed through many persons. What sustained Paul in ministry, and what sustains ministry today, is the prayers of the saints. Therefore, believers should never fail to pray for one another, pray for those in ministry, and pray for others God is using to reach hearts. He adds that prayer changes things. This fits the surrounding context: Paul trusted the resurrected Christ to deliver him from great death and to keep delivering him, while the Corinthians' prayers joined in that work.