Pray for Hope
12.12: A Day of Prayer for the Poor and Suffering
Presenter (2-4 minutes)
Welcome/prayer
Opening Worship
Opening song (4 minutes)
Offering (4 minutes)
Explanation of Our Prayer Time(5minutes)
Presenter:This service will, in many ways, be a bit unique for a number of us. Christians around the globe have set aside today, 12.12, as a day to focus our prayers on the issues, needs, and crises facing the poor and suffering throughout the world. In the coming minutes, we will be presented with specific needs pertaining both to God’s provision for the need as well as the needs themselves. For each, we will share a bit of Scripture and a few prayer points, then come together in mind and spirit (as a congregation/in small groups/individually) and cry out to God for help, hope, and miraculous intervention. Above all else, this service is about prayer—prayer for God’s grace and love to be seen in the lives of our planet’s most hurting, vulnerable, needy, and even exploited residents.
It is important we remember it is incumbent upon us as believers not to ignore or overlook the most needy among us. The apostle Paul said it well, in Galatians 2:10: “All they asked is that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” [PPT] With billions of lost and needy souls in our world, it’s tempting to resign ourselves to the knowledge that we don’t have the time or money to help them all. But we can, in fact, offer a source of help that accomplishes even more than these other things. We can offer prayer—and so, let us do just that.
This service will include a two-fold focus [PPT]:
- To ask God to raise up workers to serve those in poverty
- To petition God for salvation, justice, safety, water, food healthcare, education, and employment for the world’s needy
For each of the 12 areas of need, we will receive a brief word from Scripture, followed by three prayer points to guide our prayers (individually/in our small groups). Then we will spend time in prayer—the focus of our service. We will begin by asking God to prepare the way for help and hope to be shared among those most needy in our world. We might call it our “Compass for Compassion…”
[A single presenter or a series of presenters can follow, introducing the prayer focus, reading the Scripture, and noting briefly the prayer points. These points can be left on the screen for the duration of that specific prayer time. You might also have the presenter close each focus with a prayer. NOTE: There is also a brief time set aside for a worship chorus between the two main headings of “Compass for Compassion” and “Petitions for the Poor” if you choose.]
Compass for Compassion [PPT](Approx. 5 minutes per prayer point, including Scripture; adjust according to your preference. The service certainly can be as long or short as you choose.)
Pray for God’s Workers [PPT]
Matthew 9:35-38 records a moment when Jesus was moved by compassion at the sight of people in need. In response, He called His people to seek the Father for workers—filled with this same compassion—to go in His love and share the gospel:
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching
the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Let us also pray toward this end, that…
•God will give believers a greater vision and passion to help the lost and hurting.
•Believers will respond to the call to go and help the lost and hurting.
•Our outreach to meet tangible needs among the poorest and neediest will open doors for evangelism.
Pray for God’s Power [PPT]
In Mark 9:22-29, Jesus miraculously changed a young man’s life. He then proceeded to pinpoint where believers can go to find such power active in their lives and ministries. Note how Jesus responded when the boy’s father desperately noted his concerns:
“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out.The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He's dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Let us also pray for God’s power to be active among the needy today, asking that…
•Outreach to the poorest and neediest will be accompanied by miraculous manifestations of God’s power.
•Profound temporal and spiritual needs will be met through God’s power.
•Ministers and missionaries will find newly opened doors of ministry to the poor as a result of God’s power in action.
Pray for God’s Love [PPT]
The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:33-37 offers marvelous insight into the passion of God’s heart for the poor, the rejected, and the needy:
“A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Let us also pray that God’s love would be on display for the poor and needy today, asking that…
•Godly love and compassion will bridge all social barriers and prejudices preventing the poor and needy from being reached.
•Believers will reach out to those who are rejected and outcast, regardless of external pressures or threats.
•God’s love, demonstrated through His servants, will serve as a powerful testimony to the world.
(At this point in the service, you might consider singing a worship chorus before moving into the second category of prayer points for the poor. Suggestions might include “Open the Eyes of My Heart”; “Mighty To Save”; “Great Is Your Faithfulness, O God”)
Petitions for the Poor [PPT] (Approx. 5 minutes per prayer point, including Scripture; adjust according to your preference.)
Pray for Salvation [PPT]
Luke 4:18 compels us to reach the poor with salvation, just as Jesus came to do.
[Jesus said,] “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.”
To that end, we pray that…
•The poor and needy among us will respond to the message of the gospel and receive God’s greatest gift, salvation.
•The life-changing power of the gospel will fill the hurting and needy with hope beyond their circumstances.
•Freedom found only in Christ will liberate the poor from life-destroying choices and addictions.
Pray for Justice [PPT]
The Psalmist, in Psalm 140:12, declared:
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
To that end, we pray that…
•God will protect the poor and needy from unjust forces within their cultures and governments.
•Believers will provide strong, consistent examples of justice to those who are too often exploited.
•Christians will be moved to pray for those in our world who suffer most from injustice and exploitation.
Pray for Safety [PPT]
Psalm12:5 declares:
“Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD.“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
To that end, we pray that…
•God will protect the poor and needy from exploitative abuses such as human trafficking and forced labor.
•Christian workers will have the wisdom and resources needed to protect and help those in danger.
•Christians will be moved to offer prayer and financial support to ministries helping the poor escape dangerous situations and settings.
Pray for Water [PPT]
Isaiah 41:17 offers a powerful promise to the poor and needy living in areas where clean safe water in an often-unobtainable luxury:
The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
To that end, we pray that…
•God will protect the poor and needy from water-borne diseases.
•God will lead the poor and needy to find good, healthy sources of water.
•Christians will respond to requests for help in supplying clean water to the needy in times of crisis.
Pray for Food [PPT]
Proverbs 22:9 offers a challenge to us as we pray for the malnourished and starving around the world:
A generous man will himself be blessed,for he shares his food with the poor.
To that end, we pray that…
•Christians will respond to requests to help the hungry around the world.
•The poor and needy will learn new and effective ways to grow and produce more food.
•Leaders of impoverished nations will freely allow food and aid for the poor to flow into their countries, and that the aid will be used properly.
Pray for Shelter [PPT]
Isaiah 25:4 gives us this promise regarding the Lord:
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress,a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.
In light of this promise, we pray that…
•God will provide shelter for the needy through the generous help of believers around the world.
•Christians will respond to the call, and travel to needy places to help build shelters for the poor.
•God will encourage the poor and needy that He is their shelter and hope no matter the storms of life.
Pray for Healthcare [PPT]
In Luke 10:34,35, the Good Samaritan’s caring actions help us recognize our needed response when presented with the poor and hurting who are desperate for compassionate healthcare:
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”
In light of this parable, we pray that…
•God will provide ample resources for ministries that provide Healthcare to the poor and needy.
•God will protect the poor and needy from the threat of epidemic, especially in the wake of natural disasters.
•Advances in medicine will provide remedies and immunizations that are more accessible to the poor.
Pray for Education [PPT]
Second Timothy 3:15,16 remind us of the powerful value of strong education:
From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
As we ponder the great worth of reading and studying God’s Word, we are reminded to pray that…
•God will provide for ministries that offer the hope of education to the poor and needy.
•The truths and principles of Scripture can be freely taught in areas of poverty and oppression.
•Christian ministers and missionaries can use education as an opportunity to reach the poor and needy with the gospel.
Pray for Employment [PPT]
First Thessalonians 4:11,12 describes the importance of consistent hard work.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
For that reason, we do well to pray for those most desperate for employment, asking that…
•God will meet the need for employment experienced by so many around the globe.
•National economies will grow and prosper in third-world countries, offering opportunities to the poorest in our world.
•The poor and needy who receive help and begin to prosper will in turn share their resources with those desperately in need.
Closing
Presenter:Let us endeavor to make prayer for the poor and needy a very real priority far beyond 12.12. It has been said that, “Prayer for the poor and suffering will have an incalculable impact throughout the world and in the lives of countless people.” May we, in response, follow the lead of Psalm 109:4…
I give myself to prayer.
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