"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons -- but they are helpless against our prayers." Sidlow Baxter
PRAYER ESSENTIALS (Shoulder to Shoulder, pg. 118-119)
There are seven areas in the church that absolutely require prayer on a regular basis. If you faithfully and consistently prayer for the following, your church will recognize powerful blessings:
NEW VISITORS – Pray that God would speak to the hearts of people in your community who do not attend church, and pray that your congregation would reach out and invite new people to church.
PEOPLE TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS SAVIOR – Pray that your church develops a passionate heart for the lost and responds with lifestyle evangelism.
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER – The Spirit of God in us, the Holy Spirit, is the power that brings all the lasting fruit or results in the church. What we can accomplish on our own is extremely limited and short-lived. Pray for God’s anointing power to energize your church and truly make an eternal difference.
A SPIRIT OF LOVE AND UNITY – See Eph 4:1-6
MATURING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST – see Eph 4:11-16
THE LEADERSHIP – Pray for the primary leaders in your church. The staff, the church board, and the key ministry leaders need your prayer support. Pray that they would be full of wisdom, live with integrity, and always put God’s agenda first.
YOUR PASTOR – Here is a weekly prayer plan for your pastor.
HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR
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MONDAY: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR’S FAMILY
- God’s peace and protection
- A growing love relationship with his wife
- A commitment to quality and quantity time together
TUESDAY: PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR YOUR PASTOR
- The mind of Christ
- Godly decision making
- Understanding of biblical truth
WEDNESDAY: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR’S MINISTRY FOCUS
- Clear vision
- Commitment to biblical priorities
- Remain true to his God-given gifts and strengths
THURSDAY: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR’S HEALTH
- Protection of his body and mind
- An extra portion of stamina and strength
- Commitment to stress-releasing activity
FRIDAY: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH
- A heart for God and the lost
- Fresh biblical insights
- Personal devotions not related to sermon preparation
SATURDAY: PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR’S PURITY
- Pure motives
- Pure thought life and faithfulness to his wife
- Pure commitment to complete integrity
SUNDAY: PRAY FOR GOD’S ANOINTING ON YOUR PASTOR
- Strength in his leadership
- Passion in his preaching
- Fruit and joy in his ministry.
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The Apostle Paul understood the significance of having a personal team of intercessors. Five times the Bible records that he solicited prayer partners.
Romans 15:30 – “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.”
2 Corinthians 1:11 – “you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”
Ephesians 6:18-20 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, AND FOR ME, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Philippians 1:19 – “For I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 4:3-4 – “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
1 Thessalonians 5:25 – “Brethren, pray for us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:1 – “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified.”
A pastor in another state once told the story of a dangerous event that happened to him personally on a Tuesday afternoon. A man from his church whom he had known for years sat down with him in the pastor’s study. Soon, much to the pastor’s alarm, a cold attitude of hatred came out of the man. He declared he would enjoy killing this pastor. He knew that killing the pastor would ruin his family and his standing in the community, but he said that the joy of seeing this Pastor die would be worth it.
This pastor knew enough about this man to know that he was an avid hunter, and in possession of many weapons. His intensity mounted as he called this pastor names and cursed his children. Then, unexplainably, he relaxed a bit, said that the Holy Spirit would not let him go any further, and left. Before he left, he also affirmed that he had not yet decided whether or not he would obey the Holy Spirit.
Soon after this encounter, the pastor learned the rest of the story. A group of intercessors from another Church, who prayed regularly every Tuesday, from 12:00 noon to 1:00pm, felt an urge to pray for this particular pastor. When asked to give an account of the prayer meeting, this is what that fellow pastor wrote: “When I was in intercession I had a picture of this man who had easy access to you from your congregation. He had a [demeanor] of violence and murder… We started interceding and travailing and binding the plans that this man had for your harm. I quoted the Scripture: ‘Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil,’ and we felt like, when we were released from interceding, we had really won…
The remarkable testimony is that the man has now repented. He felt that he should sell all of his guns, and is now joyfully attending the church services once again. Intercession made the difference![C. Peter Wagner, Churches that Pray, 90-91]
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